The Story
Bonjour! I'm Napoleon Bonaparte, born on August 15, 1769, on Corsica, an island in the Mediterranean Sea controlled by France.
I came from a not-so-rich noble family, but I managed to go to a military school in France. It was hard there because the other kids laughed at my accent and the fact we weren't that wealthy. But, I didn't give up, and I finished school when I was 16, ready to change the world.
My big moment came in 1793 during the French Revolution when I was put in charge of big guns, or artillery, at a battle in Toulon. I kicked out the British forces, and people started noticing me. I moved up fast, and by 1799, I took over the French government and became the First Consul of France.
In 1804, thinking France needed to be steady, I made myself Emperor. Some people didn't like the idea of a king again, but many supported me because I had made a lot of good changes in law, schooling, and running the country. I made things fair, gave jobs to people who were good at them, and ended the old system of lords and serfs.
For the next 10 years, I led France in a lot of wars, known as the Napoleonic Wars. My big army won many fights across Europe, and France got bigger than ever. At the height of my power, I ruled over a large part of Europe.
But, I wanted too much and it led to my downfall. The big mistake was trying to invade Russia in 1812, where I lost a lot of my soldiers. Over the next few years, the countries I had upset got together and beat me. In 1814, they sent me away to the island of Elba.
In 1815, I got away from Elba and went back to France. This time, known as the Hundred Days, ended at the Battle of Waterloo, where I was beaten by the British and the Germans. Then, I was sent away again, this time to a far-off island called Saint Helena in the South Atlantic.
I lived the last six years of my life on Saint Helena, often not feeling well. I died on May 5, 1821. Some people say I was poisoned, others think I died of stomach cancer.
In the end, I had a crazy life, going from nothing to being the Emperor of France, then being sent away to die on a far-off island. I'm remembered for my drive, my skill as a soldier, and the good changes I made in France. I am Napoleon - a soldier, a leader, a changer - and people still remember me today.
