Napoleon Bonaparte: The Strategic Genius

His name was Napoleon Bonaparte and he was, above all else, a master propagandist. He made use of his extraordinary way with words to publish political manifestos, newspapers, and, later, his autobiography. He regularly commissioned portraits and sculptures and was acutely aware of how to present himself in the best light. Even when he made moves to crown himself Emperor, he used propaganda and political nouse to convince the populace that it was their idea.
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Credits:
Host - Simon Whistler
Author - Steve Theunissen
Producer - Samuel Avila
Executive Producer - Shell Harris
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Biographies by the book, get Napoleon Bonaparte's biography from Amazon: amzn.to/2zjX2NZ
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• Joseph Stalin: The Red...
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Source/Further reading:
Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts (Kindle Edition)
Napoleon: Rise of an Empire by Alexander Kennedy (Kindle edition)
Napoleon PBS Documentary

[@Biographics]

Hello everyone. We've been experimenting with a bit of a podcast (a few people were asking for audio versions so they can get Biographics while doing other things)! Fair warning: none of these are new biographies, but rather me having a bit more of a free form chat around the script. I'd love to know what you think, if these are useful, wanted etc :). Thanks, Simon. Links: iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/biographics-history-one-life-at-a-time/id1450405839?mt=2 Sitcher: www.stitcher.com/podcast/biographics-history-one-life-at-a-time Website: biographics.blubrry.net/ RSS: biographics.blubrry.net/feed/podcast/ Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/6N9PS4QXF1D0OWPk0Sxtb4 Trolled people: open.spotify.com/show/0JzjzwJcRqFZ3BcACtahh8?si=MG5HSm1oT0GTNm_r8_HQcg

[@michaelclark277]

Can you do a video of Ragnar lothbrok Vikings

[@michaelclark277]

Or anything Vikings

[@Native_love]

Your best video ever!

[@marquisdelafayette1929]

You should do a video on the Marquis de Lafayette. One of the richest and well connected men in France he gave up a life in the court of Louis XVI at 19 to come fight for the Americans during the revolution. He had been forbidden to go and bought his own boat and snuck out as a woman to go. During his first battle at Brandywine he was shot in the leg while leading the men in a retreat. He attracted attention from Washington and ended up becoming like a son to him. He went back to France and lobbied for the naval support which eventually won the war.

[@northwest2647]

I've read he was a standard 5'7

[@shizukajoestar614]

"Never fight too often with one enemy, or you will teach him your art of war." -Napoleon Bonaprate

[@militaryjunkie6207]

European counties *Uses Napoleon tactic*

[@Animemesverse]

@@militaryjunkie6207 hi Marshall

[@Kevin-cm1dn]

Kinda awkward cause France and British have been fighting for centuries

[@hoanirutledge1048]

This is why majority of combat sport rematches go the other way in the second match

[@deepyamandas1192]

Awkwardly that's what he did

[@Alpha1200]

The fact that Napoleon faced down armies and they just defected to him is still the most badass moment in history.

[@tomviktorsson5052]

not that badass actually lol . The Germans leaded themselves into the second world war after all , like the French, they lost everything , had nothing to lose and everything to gain .

[@Alpha1200]

@almightyinferno Indeed I did.

[@boho3785]

Russia has entered the chat....

[@WorshipinIdols]

OneOnOne1162 George Washington did the same after the Army mutinied because the continental congress defaulted on its IOUs and didn’t pay its soldiers (and especially the officers) the money it owed.

[@JeanSweeny]

If u need/want a hero, I know of no one more qualified. It's hard to destroy Hamilton.

[@shaun_b]

"My enemies are many, My equals are none" - Napoleon Bonaparte

[@phantomechelon3628]

*Arthur Wellesley has entered the chat*

[@Rollin..]

​@@phantomechelon3628Not even close to his equal

[@phantomechelon3628]

@@Rollin.. You might want to re-take history and find out who won the battle of Waterloo...

[@Rollin..]

@@phantomechelon3628 Oh come on bro.. you just proved 2 things. 1. My point 2. That you didn't even read about the battle of waterloo Wellington is extremely overrated, he himself knew that he couldn't beat Napoleon, so his whole strategy was that Prussia will save his british ass, not to mention that Napoleon's army was far from its prime due to the fact that they didn't have the time to train.

[@Eli-xf1en]

@@phantomechelon3628lmao you got absolutely wrecked son

[@arronkeegan484]

Correction: He didn't declare himself 'Emperor of France', he was declared 'Emperor of the French'. As in not an Emperor over a territory, but over a people

[@fahoodie1852]

Arron Keegan It doesn’t sound like much but it makes a big difference

[@GuavaConQueso]

Arron Keegan so he’s the French messiah?

[@rezandrarizkyirianto-1933]

@@fahoodie1852 "...that's why it is said so in the coins. 'Napoleon, Emperor of the French' not 'Napoleon, Emperor of France'. The people doesn't belong to him, he belongs to his people..."

[@awesomelegion9950]

I want to like this but the number is just perfect.

[@rezandrarizkyirianto-1933]

@@awesomelegion9950 Not anymore

[@jadawin10]

Napoleon Bonaparte. THE military genius. General at 24 years old. Fought 60 battles, lost only 8, mainly at the end of his career, against a wide european coalition...

[@WorshipinIdols]

So? The battle of Ealyu was a draw. The whole Spanish campaign was a disaster to which he didn’t even personally attend. Generalissimo Prince Alexander Suvorov brother. -63-0. -58 consecutive years of frontline military service. -5 times wounded in combat. -winner of every single award, medal and order Russia had to offer (with a significant part of his career still left to go).

[@geert574]

Against shitty opponents sure, de Tolly, Nelson, Wellington, even lazy Kutuzov kicked his arse

[@WorshipinIdols]

Geert Matthys Kutuzov was an excellent leader and General until he got too old (55 at Australitz he read Napoleon like a book and was then over ruled by Alexander the first). By 63 at Borodino, 7 more years of palace intrigue and war with the Turk took its toll).

[@WorshipinIdols]

Geert Matthys Are u 5 years old or just a fool? Nelson was an admiral, Wellington didn’t win nothing, Wellington was saved by Blucher, the real hero (for the coalition) of Waterloo. Barclay de Tolly was one of the best. Which fool beat Napoleon?

[@benkenobi671]

Had Grouchy done his job and Blucher never made it to the battle, Napoleon would have won Waterloo as well... and this would have been with the inferior position on the field.

[@tengkualiff]

Every time someone wants to conquer the world: "Let's go for Russia next!" "Damn it!"

[@snakey934Snakeybakey]

Genghis Khan: Hold my Airag!

[@Normal_Boii]

Prussians: hold my mustache

[@Bronze_Age_Sea_Person]

Mongols:We're the Exception!

[@gravyboat2370]

Page 1 chapter 1 first paragraph of the book .."how to do war" states.....don't invade Russia.

[@bookmouse770]

Yes, yet the Soviet Union collapsed by itself. Puff

[@drrockkso8882]

Fun fact: Napoleon was actually not short. His recorded height of 5'2" was measured in 19th-century French feet/inches, which used a different scale than English feet/inches did at the time. Napoleon's height was equivalent to approximately 5'6" in modern imperial feet/inches, which was the average height of a European male in his era. The enduring image of Napoleon as an insecure short man is almost entirely a product of English wartime propaganda. Cartoonists and pamphleteers in England and other countries fighting the French would draw Napoleon as a short, angry, almost-juvenile tyrant in order to ridicule him for political purposes. Napoleon was well-aware of these depictions and often lamented the damage it did to his reputation. Ironically, he was more insecure about the false perceptions of his height than he was about his actual height.

[@elliejelly8815]

I’m still taller than him, what a small little Manlet

[@0lyge0]

"Ironically, he was more insecure about the false perceptions of his height than he was about his actual height." So he was still insecure about his height.

[@yohanncunche6089]

Damm true

[@erwinsmith4118]

@@0lyge0 😂😂😂😂😂

[@PatriSjodin]

Thank you! Thought of this as soon as it was mentioned!

[@kasperandersson2385]

Yes Napoleon, the man abdicated in 1840 and died 1821. Truly a man like no other.

[@ApostleMan222]

How did they not catch that

[@ApostleMan222]

He meant 1814 - eighteen FOURTEEN!

[@mbgal7758]

I thought I was crazy too. When I saw he abdicated in 1840 I thought I was wrong because I could have sworn Waterloo was in 1815. I’m glad I wasn’t wrong and and it was just down to Napoleon’s superpowers 😆

[@johnofmalta]

@Kasper Boney was a retro vintage future call back time traveler. 19th Century Bitch! JoM

[@ernestoA.1999]

He was like I rather die first than Abdicate😂😂

[@anthonyelenga8939]

You conveniently forgot to mention that when he took power, he found a country in chaos at war with everyone and within 5 years, stabilized the economy, rewrote the laws, ended the chaotic revolution, brought back interior peace and unity in country where everyone hated each other, transformed a mob of untrained troops into the most formidable and effective military of his time. And that is even without mentioning the civil code, the french academy, the bank of France, and the support to science (e.g.metric system, Egyptology), and the comission of several public works, projects, general improve in living condition for his people. Plus he was not short. He had an average height for a man of his time. Plus he did defeat Russia before the russian campaign, during the prussian campaign

[@Sacto1654]

The metric system was originally developed under Napoleon's auspices to drastically simplify weights and measurements. An idea that was *WAY* ahead of its time.

[@orangtua3540]

Well said Anthony. Napoleon achieved all of the things you mention, which is why he was one of the greatest leaders of all time. It's a great pity there's no one around of his stature nowadays. As for his physical stature; as the old saying goes, "Many good things come in small packages"!! :]

[@anthonyelenga8939]

@gipcambero When Napoleon took command for the first time, the french armies were losing everywhere. The British has seized control of Toulon, the Austrians were invading and french campaign in the low countries was going poorly. After the siege of Toulon, that he won, he was immediately given command of the army of Italy, because the republic was having setbacks after setbacks. Also by the time he invaded north Italy and beat the Austrians there, the army of the Rhine which had crossed into German territory was beaten. They were saved only because Napoleon was heading towards Vienna so they had to call their armies to stop them. And we know the rest, from this point on, the french army was better organized, better supplied, their morale was as high as ever due to the soldiers having complete faith in their leader, he increased the speed at which the army moved and instaured the Legion d'honneur to promote meritocracy, hence so many brilliant generals and marshalls of the Empire. So, yeah "he transformed a mob of untrained soldiers to the most formidable army of his generation"

[@SadCheetah]

His military genius was only 1/10th of his overall genius, he modernized nearly all things, industry and workers rights, military, etc to say he was an amazing man is underselling it, it was only by the desire of decadent monarchs that he was undone.

[@prof.m.ottozeeejcdecs9998]

anthony elenga Thanks, Anthony! Fortunately today, the French are proud of his accomplishments! All of them. We still use some of those... and most don't even know it!

[@nappythegreat667]

Thanks for your compliments

[@tonygreene81able]

Haha! You guys are so dumb. Lol. Funny though

[@tonygreene81able]

@Drunknapoleon, General I mean Emperor, shall I prepare the men for the invasion in the east? Lol

[@napoleoni4761]

I loo napoleon i

[@dangleeballsii8034]

I love u ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@matelego130]

"I loved democracy" emperor paplatine

[@wheelman1324]

If there was one historical figure I would want to talk to, it would be him.

[@Artaee]

really no others

[@wheelman1324]

@@Artaee There’s tons of others. Napoleon is just at the top of the list.

[@saywhatnow2173]

Same. I always wanted to talk with a Military genius. Like Julius Caesar and Frederick the Great

[@66kaisersoza]

@@wheelman1324 Alexander the great

[@ernestoA.1999]

Outskirts of Infinity no doubt , no other man in history has achieved so much glory by himself

[@nicktamer4969]

When your enemies called you "the god of war" and they felt the need to elaborate a strategic protocol (the Trachenberg plan) saying: "if Napoleon is on the battlefield, avoid the fight; if he's not, try something", it means you achieved something in the art of war.

[@Eli-xf1en]

“Napoleon is a torrent. Moscow will act as a sponge to soak him up”

[@Biographics]

The myth that he was short stems primarily from the fact that he is listed as 5 feet 2 inches tall at the time of his death. However, this is 5 feet 2 inches in French units. In modern international units, he was just shy of 5 feet 7 inches. - Sorry for the confusion.

[@bradleymurphy5941]

im 5"8 and im short...napoleon was a short arse too

[@annatarlordofgifts2442]

i was about to say

[@annatarlordofgifts2442]

he seemed short cause he was always surrounded by his tall ass guard

[@MrVvulf]

I'm glad you came in quickly with a correction, because I had a really embarrassing rebuttal for you www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/03/napolean-bonaparte-having-been-short-is-a-myth/

[@cernowaingreenman]

I thought everyone in this century knew that the shortness was a myth based on a deliberate misunderstanding. I can't believe your researchers missed this one, Simon. Off with their heads!

[@JimFortune]

"Today I found out that Napoleon Bonaparte was not in fact especially short. The myth that he was short stems primarily from the fact that he is listed as 5 feet 2 inches tall at the time of his death. However, this is 5 feet 2 inches in French units. In modern international units, he was just shy of 5 feet 7 inches." Mar 23, 2010

[@arturs2436]

Yes a myth and the painting(around 00:49) the vid uses to tell he is short is not his but in fact is his older brother:Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte(First King of Naples then later King of Spain).

[@AbelJasso]

Jim Fortune That’s right. Napoleon was not short. I’m kinda disappointed that this channel would say that, especially considering that every other piece on Napoleon these days has this as an attention grabber at the beginning, yet it missed the guys on this video completely

[@christineparis5607]

He also had a habit of surrounding himself with very tall aides de camp, which pointed up the "little general" nickname, which was really more about his youth, not his height. A great novel written from the point of view of Napoleon's first fiance is called Desiree. She was very young (14) and her older sister had already married the oldest brother, Joseph Bonaparte, who needed her dowry. Napoleon threw over Desiree for Josephine, needing political clout in Paris more than a large dowry. Getting the last laugh, Desiree married a Marachel of France, who was adopted by the old house of Vasa in Sweden, ultimately becoming king, and Desiree, Queen. Her descendants are still the royal family of Sweden today. Wow.

[@JimFortune]

Abel J The great irony is that the quote is from "Today I Found Out" eight years ago. I only went looking for the quote because I thought I remembered Simon pointing this out. ;->

[@mannyorange3098]

Jim Fortune quantity not quality

[@militaryenthusiast485]

Well yes I am a great man. Britain didn’t declare war in France, they declared war on ME

[@marshalsoult3860]

hey sire!

[@revolutionarymarxist-lenin7252]

Same energy as: I'm not trapped in here wth you, you're trapped in here with ME!

[@eliegbert8121]

"I am not the emperor of france, I am the emperor of the french"

[@sexymexijesse]

Oui Monsieur! And don't worry, you are definitely average height!!! For the time...😉 British Propaganda: Hold my Fish and Chips...

[@bsmi1361]

🤣

[@TheChintu-il3sq]

"5 coalitions made of nations to defeat one man and a nation" thats a proof of his power and greatness, he carved on pages of history that he's greatest hero for the french!!

[@michaelbrett3749]

So hes like Hitler Russia USA and the British empire finally made him shoot himself. napolean tried to commit suicide but failed just like he failed to make a French empire

[@bregjejabra25]

"History is a set of Lies agreed upon". Napoleon Bonaparte.

[@deepyamandas1192]

His height rumour told in 1 sentence

[@bregjejabra25]

@@deepyamandas1192 Welll.......Who controlled really Napoleon from behind the scenes? Real Truth in an Infinite Universe that this Earth is part of told in 1 sentence...

[@davido3026]

@@bregjejabra25 FREEMASONRY controlled him!! They rose him to power and destroyed him !!! He was a stupid minion!

[@siddharth8166]

Reading this quote in history class

[@marshalsoult3860]

@@davido3026 wtf are you blabbering about? are you one of those lunatics with theories with no backup information?

[@pspreng]

You mistakenly say that Napoleon abdicated in April of 1840, which was long after his death in 1821.

[@pspreng]

I know he said it correctly but the text displayed at the bottom of the screen showed the year as 1840.

[@gothicadam6476]

Yep, i saw that too :-)) it's at 17.00 and i think it must be 1814.

[@BoonesFarm50]

saw that too, good catch sir

[@holdenroberts6973]

That's because he died in 1940 at the hands of German soldiers.

[@backchat8086]

I saw him with Elvis in McDonald's just 2 days ago

[@odirilechristos6043]

"Even when I'm gone I shall remain in people's minds the star of their rights, my name will be the war cry of their efforts, the motto of their hopes" Napoleon Bonaparte. The man's been dead for 200 years and still captures the fascination of the world ought to be the greatest man who's ever lived

[@-mason-6538]

Julius Caesar is the greater man

[@danyd8262]

Alexander the Great might have him beat

[@Vaginaninja]

He doesn't capture my fascination. He was just a freaking loser. No better than Putin

[@toppat_royale]

Napoleon idolized Caesar and Alexander, he is great, but not the greatest.

[@odirilechristos6043]

I think he surpassed them

[@joonaslehtonen7965]

One of the greatest man that ever lived. His only fault was that at one point he stopped listening his aids and started to believe himself to be invincible.

[@fatboibrian9047]

he might've still kept his position as emperor if he has kept talleyrand

[@christoforospaphitis4090]

usually that's what happens when you always win, one needs to remember his/her roots to keep him grounded. Pride (αλαζονία) in Greek histories (tales - historical or otherwise) is the number one sin any great man or person of a certain skill can commit and it will lead him/her with mathematical accuracy to his/her downfall. Pride was considered to have such a disastrous effect that would be considered akin to blasphemy and in mythology Gods would interfere to strike the sinner down - cautionary stories for children.

[@Dino-god69]

Tends to happen when you take on the world 🤣

[@fatboibrian9047]

@Divalvaro I meant before that

[@fredericksmith7942]

As they all do…

[@TheCactus1234]

For some one who is so accurate I find 3 errors 1) At minute 12 a picture of Archduke Franz Ferdinand appears except he was born then. 2) Napoleon abdicated in 1840 yet he died in 1821 3) At minute 19 during the battle of Waterloo a picture is shown from the charge of the Light Brigade from the Crimean war. Really Simon I think there is an issue of quality control here Ashley

[@gappuma7883]

I thought how come he got a photograph and not Napoleon ?!

[@thatdude9091]

I don’t think pictures mature too much...

[@kingofthejungle3833]

don't forget that the British combined with the Spanish to fight the Royal Navy, which resulted in the French losing their navy

[@BH-2023]

And he wasn't 5'2", but closer to 5'7"/5'8"

[@drfredostein4410]

@@BH-2023 5’2” is in French unit, he commented clarifying that

[@fatalshore5068]

You didnt mention one of the central reasons for his military success. He purged the french army of aristocratic leaders and promoted men of low birth based purely off of merit, making them extremely loyal to Napoleon. This was unheard of in Europe at the time and made his army the strongest and best led army on the continent. Still a great video!

[@michaelbrett3749]

It was the biggest army in numbers. Just like Hitlers. But he killed off so many Frenchmen that France never recovered again . Check the population statistics. We dont give credit to big armies winning battles, We give credit to the underdogs like Wellingtons thin red line at Waterloo who routed the Imperial Guard ,or old guard, or young guard, who cares they all died or ran away. le Gaurde Recule. Run away everyone the British will bayonet us and steal our hats.

[@Eli-xf1en]

Well he preached that but many times he handed out positions to nobility and close family. He only used merit based promotion as a propaganad a tool

[@BoraCM]

He was 5'7" in English inches.

[@thomashazlewood4658]

While it is informative of Bonaparte's story, the video offers no insights into Napoleon's 'strategic genius'.

[@petulantpeterturbo]

Well that’s the point, it’s a biography after all.

[@rhammanuel4162]

Napoleon is 5'6 but this idiot said he's just 5'2

[@falseprofit2569]

@@rhammanuel4162 yes he technically was 5'2 but in a different measurement I read a comment a bit higher saying yes he was 5'2 in french feet/inches but in english feet/inches he was 5'6 idk I forgot what they said exactly

[@kobiesboxing4956]

@@falseprofit2569 Read the same comment.

[@kobiesboxing4956]

I also felt cheated because I watched this just so I could get insight into Napoleon's strategies. I mean I already knew Napoleon's history, but I did learn some things about him.

[@BlackKing.2000]

“ The Royal Navy smashed the combined Spanish British Fleet” lmao ok

[@vespelian5769]

That's the power of rum for you!

[@nswanberg]

That did not make sense to me as well.

[@ahkilleuskosmos6836]

@@JA-eq5um It wasn't that the French navy was bad, it was simply the British navy that was too good.

[@skylar_kada]

Vespelian literally made me lol 😆

[@AHSANALI-tb3hs]

I was confused too and rewind it multiple times.

[@BillyMartin4Life]

12:09 that's the wrong picture, the person in the picture is Archduke Franz Ferdinand, not Francis II

[@jspirmann]

Kevin Gonzalez im glad you noticed too. i was about to point that out.

[@Treblaine]

It should have been obvious even to them that it's not the correct image because IT'S A FUCKING PHOTOGRAPH!

[@theimperiumoftheamericas8419]

Finally someone else noticed. I thought I was going crazy.

[@firstlastyoutube]

yeh

[@InvictvsNox]

Okay good, I'm still having my coffee in the morning but seeing Franz Ferdinand and then "the Spring of 1800" threw me off entirely.

[@melissacorrigan9238]

Im still learning the whole story, but an ancestor in my family was one of the army members that helped hide him during the war to survive and later knighted a Bartholomew for helping him so loyally.

[@GustavoRodriguez-cv5qw]

Nobody cares.

[@halfofapicture]

That’s epic. What was the ancestor’s name?

[@melissacorrigan9238]

@@halfofapicture I will need to go back into my ancestry account as my MIL helped me find it. I don’t speak to anyone on my mothers side so when MIL found this out we learnt more about where my side of the family came from. Unfortunately I don’t remember the last name so I will be happy to update when I know it for sure!

[@melissacorrigan9238]

@@GustavoRodriguez-cv5qw then isnt it a good thing you can get back into living your miserable life of not caring? Magic huh? 😂

[@GustavoRodriguez-cv5qw]

@@melissacorrigan9238 Magic would be if you had a brain that works 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:30 - Chapter 1 - Early life 3:05 - Chapter 2 - Military academy 4:50 - Chapter 3 - Paris in flames 6:40 - Chapter 4 - Taking control 8:50 - Chapter 5 - Victory after victory 11:40 - Chapter 6 - Absolute power 14:30 - Chapter 7 - Austerlitz 15:40 - Chapter 8 - The russian campaign 16:50 - Chapter 9 - Exile & return 18:20 - Chapter 10 - Downfall

[@8honey874]

“Napoleon was 5’2” *Also than proceeds to show a picture of Louis Bonaparte*

[@MsGilli1995]

that really hurt

[@fahoodie1852]

8 Honey That was Joseph

[@danielgardner3193]

Nice video Simon, sorry for being pedantic, but Napoleon was 5”2 in French inches, which is about 5”7 in British inches, making him about average for the time.

[@christineparis5607]

Daniel Gardner WE KNOW!!!!

[@Henchman1977]

As soon as I heard that I'm like "triggered!"

[@Johnny3Batony]

He was above the average height for that time.

[@boogerie]

Owen Connelly addresses this common argument in a footnote in his book BLUNDERING TO GLORY. At his death, N's entourage measured him & recorded that he was 5' 2". The argument that " 5 feet 2 inches in French units" equals "5 feet 7 inches" in British Imperial units. But as Connelly points out that would assume they had in their possession a pre-revolutionary yardstick! N introduced the metric

[@varolussalsanclar1163]

he was "above average" in height for the time only because Europe had a much younger population back then, with a much greater proportion of the population consisting of children and young adolescents than today, hence the lower average height of a male compared to today. So he was still pretty short for a full grown adult man from France.

[@theparadigm8149]

France in 1799: “Yay! We are no longer a monarchy!” Napoleón: “Yeah, Imma ‘bout to do what they call a ‘pro gamer move’...”

[@theparadigm8149]

@Nogent Yeah, and think that’s because of Napoleon. He was a great military leader that became a national hero for his work during the Revolution. He got power via a coup de ta of the consulate, which was very corrupt and unstable at that time. The French people didn’t know Napoleon wanted to be an emperor, but they also didn’t when he did

[@bruh-uq2zx]

“If you put a quote under my name, people will believe it.” -napoleon Bonaparte

[@100dfrost]

Napoleon was five feet seven inches tall.

[@Biographics]

The myth that he was short stems primarily from the fact that he is listed as 5 feet 2 inches tall at the time of his death. However, this is 5 feet 2 inches in French units. In modern international units, he was just shy of 5 feet 7 inches. - Sorry for the confusion.

[@christineparis5607]

Biographics No confusion, people are more sensitive about Napoleons height than they are about the fact that their life goals have been pathetically reduced to griping at strangers about old, trivial facts that have no bearing on history anyway.

[@boogerie]

Owen Connelly addresses this common argument in a footnote in his book BLUNDERING TO GLORY. At his death, N's entourage measured him & recorded that he was 5' 2". The argument that " 5 feet 2 inches in French units" equals "5 feet 7 inches" in British Imperial units. But as Connelly points out that would assume they had in their possession a pre-revolutionary yardstick! N introduced the metric

[@tashaosby2470]

Dante Froghst

[@caglargenc4999]

stalin was a hobbit as well, 5 feet 6 inches lol

[@yohannbiimu]

Ludwig van Beethoven's life is very much linked to Napoleon, with his composition of the E major 3rd Symphony which he initially titled "Bonaparte," but later called "Eroica" ("Heroic Symphony, Composed to celebrate the memory of a great man"). He changed this title due to Napoleon's crowning himself Emperor, which completely changed his view of him as a true humanitarian reformer. At Napoleon's death in 1821, he remarked regarding the second movement (Marcia funebre - Adagio assai) "I have already composed the proper music for that catastrophe." The Eroica Symphony is one of the most written-about musical compositions ever, and it ought to be talked about in a future biography of Beethoven.

[@VaxtorT]

You failed to mention that he challenged 40 other boys when being bullied. After beating the best of them they soon left him alone afterward.

[@Michael-jo9jz]

I proudly made a research paper about Napoleon Bonaparte my freshman year of high school. The topic was "Your hero". I got an A+

[@tyson6695]

History lesson 101: DONT INVADE RUSSIA!

[@sibiria8816]

Tyson these guys all end up in russia sooner or later

[@tylerfleming1662]

Everybody fucks that part up tho

[@jrnbloodaxehaugen678]

There is a way to invade Russia. Just don't get so ahead of yourself while doing it

[@jagpalsukhraj]

@@tylerfleming1662 except for the mongols

[@tylerfleming1662]

@@jagpalsukhraj hahahahaha you got me

[@AndrewTateOfficial]

16:56 damn, napoleon was so OP that even death couldn't keep him subdued for long. he came back from the grave 19 years later, just to abdicate and say "you didn't beat me. I quit"

[@wouterkessel4852]

One thing you had wrong though was that most of the problems at his final battle were actually caused by the overconfidence of his generals, not tactical mistakes made by himself. (Like general Ney's charge with all the cavalry into British square formations which left Napoleon's flanks open.) Also the Old guard was purposefully held back because they were just as much morale support as actual high quality soldiers, as long as they remained in the field the army wouldn't surrender or retreat. This meant that if something went wrong while they where in the field the remainder of the army would almost certainly lose hope and break into a full retreat.

[@politicaljustice2136]

It should also be mentioned that he is one of the 2 people in history to have spent the night in the egyptian pyramid and come out alive and sane

[@yankees29]

space chowkidar who is the second?

[@politicaljustice2136]

@@yankees29 not sure but if i remember correctly it is edgar cayce.

[@kimmedavid]

@@politicaljustice2136 Not True I am the second

[@michaelbrett3749]

He was not sane.

[@samkay3419]

Napoleon was 5' 7" in English measurements. The average Frenchman at the time was 5' 5" in English measurements. The "Napoleon was short myth" was from his height being measued in French Imperial units of 5' 2" which equalled the English 5' 7". He looked small next to his" Old Guard" who were 6' tall plus a tall bearskin hat.. The " Little Corporal" was a term of endearment by his bodyguard. The British took the bearskin hats and adopted them after Waterloo.

[@Godsglory777]

Napoleon was the epitome of what people want in a leader, but rarely do people know what they want or what's actually good for them.

[@jarhead21100]

People know what they want in a leader, they simply don't know what it costs.

[@Godsglory777]

@@jarhead21100 think of all the people that voted Joe Biden into office...lol...do people really know what they want in a leader?

[@jarhead21100]

@@Godsglory777 they wanted a guy who wasn't Trump. They didn't know what it would cost.

[@flankspeed]

The devil it had been unchained... the soldiers they loved him..... Who wrote your script? An Italian?

[@Biographics]

An Australian with creative license by an Englishman.

[@harrybishop6534]

Thank you! These videos are great, but I find that really distracting - it’s called pronominal apposition, or ‘double subjects’ (e.g. “the French, they surrendered”).

[@sikkableeat5614]

I think English is not his first language, the accent is flawless but he has weird syntax sometimes.

[@MsJubjubbird]

It's done for dramatic effect. He's trying to keep these interesting and not just lectures

[@jlr108]

@@MsJubjubbird Doing it once is dramatic effect. Doing it repeatedly is annoyingly distracting.

[@PhilliesNostalgia]

16:58 He died 1821 He abdicated 1814

[@sygmandiasthemage1629]

Napoleon last words: "In Russia, land conquers you".

[@unculturedswine5583]

and now, you may drop the mike

[@karhin9912]

*drops mike wasowsky*

[@cjthegood]

0:46 That was Napoleon's brother Joseph, who became King of Naples and Spain.

[@Kunfucious577]

The craziest part is that he tried to conquer the world and they just sent his ass to another island so he couldn't try to conquer the world again.

[@nicktamer4969]

Napoleon never tried to conquer the world (or even Europe). He just fought back kings who wanted to destroy French Revolution.

[@markhenley3097]

2:06 Why is there a picture of Archduke Ferdinand when you're talking about Francis II?

[@Kriskazam]

Prins van Oranje yeah wtf

[@teaganwalsh7011]

He was 5'2" French measurement which is 5'7" common.

[@emztrue4400]

Can't wait to see 1 million subscriptions! ❤ Love love Biographics.

[@scheimong]

13:47 I think you mean, the royal navy smashed the combined Spanish ***French*** fleet?

[@gutsjoestar7450]

Not exactly. The Spanish French destroyed many British navy and even killed the admiral Nelson who led the British navy

[@gutsjoestar7450]

@Eliot Thexton ah

[@DrewSohl]

His father was smart.He fought,he lost,made peace and did well with the French.

[@christineleblanc4486]

He changed the legal system by codifying the laws, and his system is still used today (not just in France). Also, I'm rather disappointed you didn't mention Josephine. Can we have an episode on her?

[@pemithmithsara7632]

What did you expect; the video is made by a Brit

[@wertyuiopasd6281]

The video maker is an id-iot who doesn't even know that Napoleon was actually 2cm taller than the average man at the time lol. What did you expect?

[@digitalstories2179]

No feminists please get out

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

At 30, he was in charge ...pretty impressive

[@ryankiel4895]

He was one of the most gifted men in history, to be sure. I am realizing that his pride, ambition and pure avarice for power have little equal.

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

@@ryankiel4895 we could talk about short men, and their personalities ...I believe Napoleon was around 4'10," or 5'1" in this area 🤔

[@GerryBolger]

Emperor Vespasian would make a fascinating topic to discuss. He saved the Roman Empire from the brink of self distruction by being uniquely caring, open minded and strong. He was also born to mule hearding peasants and only gained his position by sheer merit. There are few rags to riches stories quite as huge in scale as his.

[@LmaoMoni]

He was 5'7"...

[@Key212]

The Liberal Teen taller then me forever alone ..... Lol

[@Biographics]

The myth that he was short stems primarily from the fact that he is listed as 5 feet 2 inches tall at the time of his death. However, this is 5 feet 2 inches in French units. In modern international units, he was just shy of 5 feet 7 inches. - Sorry for the confusion.

[@LmaoMoni]

Biographics oooooooo

[@jimbobjimjim6500]

Why did you still say he was short then?...........

[@rickynotricardo6328]

Jimbobjim jim yeah thats still short

[@LiveFreeOrDie2A]

The difference in locations between his first exile and his second exile is just wild. His 1st on Elba was only 5 miles off the Italian coast. His 2nd on St. Helena, was 1,000 miles off the closet coast.. of Africa!

[@pollgone9675]

"there is nothing we can do" Napoleon 2023

[@firefox3249]

17:00 I'm pretty sure Napoleon was long since dead by 1840. I'm also pretty sure that he abdicated in 1814.

[@scook9999]

Wow, just found Biographics for the first time today. Thanks, Simon. I know it's a group, and not just you, but you are great on camera and really make the material pop off the screen. Thanks for you and your group working so hard.

[@Vaginaninja]

Simon is just the disappointing, unattractive face who still hasn't been taught to talk in a normal and pleasant way

[@lamontwilliams4253]

Revisiting this episode - back when Simin’s beard was in its infancy; its first form.

[@jimbeaux89]

Wow man. Napoleon was incredible

[@Zebastian88]

He was not a small man! He was 5 foot, 2 inches but the French inches at the time were longer than the English. Which would make him 1.70 meters today, average/ slightly above average at the time. Even rather large for a Corsican. Shame on you Simon...

[@christineparis5607]

James TheCat It's not much of a crime you know, Simon was only talking about his height, not his....

[@boogerie]

Owen Connelly addresses this common argument in a footnote in his book BLUNDERING TO GLORY. At his death, N's entourage measured him & recorded that he was 5' 2". The argument that " 5 feet 2 inches in French units" equals "5 feet 7 inches" in British Imperial units. But as Connelly points out that would assume they had in their possession a pre-revolutionary yardstick! N introduced the metric

[@ersturdevant2831]

Ego cope. He was short, look at the historical paintings. Deal with it, heightists!

[@Heisenberg882]

@@ersturdevant2831 he was seen as short in paintings because he surrounded himself with the imperial guard, which were some of the tallest and best troops in Europe

[@ersturdevant2831]

@@Heisenberg882 The fact that imperial guards are tall doesn't disprove that Napoleon was short.

[@Truthseeker1515]

My family housed Leaticia (his mother) and his brothers and sisters in Marseille when they arrived from Corsica as refugees from the Paoli regime. We shared similar roots as both of our families were from Genoa. And Italians help each other out, especially those living abroad, even naturalized French as he was. They were poor (many sisters, minimal prospects) and we gave them shelter and clothes....he was a totally unknown artillery lieutenant with very limited career prospects. Lucien (or Luciano) became a very close friend of the family. We possessed love letters between Josephine and Napoleon but these were sold many, many years ago....

[@HeroLanding]

What an honor!

[@Truthseeker1515]

Really?

[@christopherpeery7436]

a small price to pay for salvation

[@Truthseeker1515]

@@christopherpeery7436 I have very mixed feelings. Millions of people died because of him. Without the French revolution, he would have been nothing. And yet he remains adored in France and in the wider world....

[@banditop276]

@@Truthseeker1515 the story is a little more complicated .. that he is responsible for millions of deaths and without him the revolution would not have survived

[@explorer1968]

Napoleon Bonaparte raised from dirt to the throne of France, he was the natural successor of Alexander the Great and of Julius Caesar; then he did the unimaginable mistake of engaging in a two-front war attacking Spain and Portugal while invading Russia. Sent twice into exile, he got the brilliant idea of writing his memoirs: even in permanent defeat, he overcame the death of forgetfulness living through this day as a hero for the ages, something his enemies couldn't avoid!!

[@catsupchutney]

Wild how a person could be sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for stealing bread, or death for striking a superior officer in anger, but Napoleon is simply exiled. Even in defeat the powerful are handled with kidskin gloves.

[@leabeggs8079]

my favourite channel on youtube. as always an excellent video Simon.

[@camorinbatchelder6514]

Vive l’Empeurer!

[@diegoavnet93]

TRoL MaRz Empereur*

[@paulmcdonough1093]

scared of the British

[@matios83]

Trolling is a hobby. Even for me.

[@sephirrothvt]

Napoleón was not a narcissist, just a rich dude that got close to strong powers and took over, then failed on his goal, he knew what war meant for his people and tried to take over Europe for his people.

[@leobestbote4244]

I learnt loads about Napoleon during highschool and you left out a lot of his accomplishments and many battles fought, however it's a good summary of the story of a great man

[@TheHoagie13]

11:58 Um.......Franz Ferdinand II wasn't even alive in 1800. IDK why you chose a photo of a guy who didn't exist yet, plus photography wasn't invented yet!

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

It is an incorrect photograph but photography was first being experimented with in the early 1700's. The major trouble was capturing permanent images. But images in a liquid that would disappear if shaken or exposed to too much light where achieved by 1717. Through the rest of the 1700's and early 1800's people experimented with a variety of techniques until in the 1820's the first true permanent photographs where done that still exist today. The chemicals used in "modern" analog photography where discovered in the 1600's including their light-sensitive properties being observed. It's shame nobody put two and two together earlier or we could have had photographs as far back as the 1630's.

[@ChapmanFilms]

WOW I was just think this morning why hasn't Simon done a video on Napoleon??? Then I check my You Tube Feed... Boom.. Napoleon. Kind of creepy you read my mind. Good video too. Maybe when you get the time do Charles de Gaulle?

[@Biographics]

We did a video on our sister channel a few years ago about Napoleon as well. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5POgmyQe7dppK8 - Shell

[@ChapmanFilms]

Well going to watch it now

[@georgebush5310]

This is all the motivation I need to work

[@fishjj76]

Best two sentence summary of the Battle of Austerlitz. Love these videos.

[@johnwilliamsjr5540]

people laugh at me for being short but then when they see how much taller I am then they are when laying down they stop laughing real fast

[@martinfawkes595]

Napoleon was not a short man for the time. As others have pointed out he was only measured at 5’2 because French and British measurements were different at the time. He would be measured at 5’7 today which was average height back then

[@benreilman5349]

Martin Fawkes yea that was an obvious mistake that really annoyed me.

[@omfug7148]

This reminds me of people who refer to Hitler as a small man--he was 5'9 about average, the SS were exceptionally tall by design, I suppose that Hitler standing next to several SS officers would seem short, LOL, why shortness is being conflated with evil and authoritarianism is something we might ponder, LOL, although Stalin was only 5'4..

[@boogerie]

Owen Connelly addresses this common argument in a footnote in his book BLUNDERING TO GLORY. At his death, N's entourage measured him & recorded that he was 5' 2". The argument that " 5 feet 2 inches in French units" equals "5 feet 7 inches" in British Imperial units. But as Connelly points out that would assume they had in their possession a pre-revolutionary yardstick! N introduced the metric

[@michaelbrett3749]

Martin ...the women who met him described him as short not average alo his clothes show he was 5-2

[@boomerhgt]

One of my favourite You Tube Biography channels great job

[@justadudegaming3081]

Napoleon really experienced the motto: Winter is coming!

[@wholeNwon]

Quite a few silly mistakes. Surprised that you aren't more careful. There are incorrect illustrations, dates, other images, dialog, etc.

[@SKa-tt9nm]

Surprised you haven’t created your own video yet. Im sure it’ll be vastly superior.

[@wholeNwon]

@@SKa-tt9nm Why bother? I just want to be passively entertained. And YT does that. Sometimes I want to be informed and YT usually does that well enough.

[@petulantpeterturbo]

wholeNwon Judging by the amount of comments saying his information is incorrect, I’d trust his word sooner than I trust yours.

[@ldblokland463]

The first transition music was "the sugar fairy" ironic, since it was composed by Tchaikovski, a Russian. The conquest that was the begin of Napoleon's end...

[@Spirito_Irzlmine]

Great video I learn so much when watching your videos

[@JeanSweeny]

"The greatest man of action in 19th century Europe"--Winston Churchill He was extraordinary in more ways than one can wrap the mind around. All the miles from Europe to Africa to Russia without motor; enlightenment itself on horseback.

[@JeanSweeny]

@steve hammond I understand why this argument sounds credible, but Rousseau, Montesquieu and Voltaire built and remained a big part of his foundational thought process. And life happens. Ideas behind the enlightenment are mutually exclusive from real life only as written by philosophers of the enlightenment, or if you were royalty. I see his life's work inexorably driven by the "Enlightenment".

[@JeanSweeny]

@steve hammond I understand why this argument sounds credible, but Rousseau, Montesquieu and Voltaire built and remained a big part of his foundational thought process. And life happens. Ideas behind the enlightenment are mutually exclusive from real life only as written by philosophers of the enlightenment, or if you were royalty. I see his life's work inexorably driven by the "Enlightenment".

[@philipb2134]

13:50 - Why would the Royal Navy have smashed "the combined Spanish-British fleet"???

[@derpynerdy6294]

Hahahahhaha I just can't but yeah mistakes happen Admiral nelson was too good for navy battle tactics

[@jolyonwagg8249]

You need a new picture editor. She or he is making some absolute howlers.

[@rsears78]

Jolyon Wagg then maybe you should do it........

[@suzannefitch51]

Jolyon Wagg p

[@lmcognitio2049]

Just out of curiosity, I asked Artificial Intelligence (AI) to compare and analyze Simón Bolívar and Napolean Bonaparte, and conclude who was the best example of moral standards and political and military leadership, and this is the answer ChatGPT 4 gave me (just what I've always thought/ knew): 'Simón Bolivar and Napoleon Bonaparte were both great military and political leaders, but their moral standards were quite different. Simón Bolivar was a Venezuelan military and political leader who fought for the independence of several Latin American countries from Spanish rule. He was known for his strong moral code and his commitment to democracy and freedom. He believed in the equality of all people and was a champion of human rights. He was also known for his generosity and compassion, often providing aid to those in need. Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader who rose to power during the French Revolution. He was known for his ambition and ruthlessness, and he was willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goals. He was also known for his authoritarian rule and his disregard for human rights. When comparing the two leaders, it is clear that Simón Bolivar was the better example of moral standards, political and military leadership. He was committed to democracy and freedom, and he was a champion of human rights. He was also generous and compassionate, often providing aid to those in need. In contrast, Napoleon Bonaparte was ambitious and ruthless, and he was willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goals'. ChatGPT 4

[@JoeHynes284]

just found this channel and it's great, i'd enjoy a little more coverage about him becoming emperor if anyone has suggestions

[@esamunaeebsaad389]

Its my first view and I really liked your channel. And was kind of loved it at the beginning when I heard "Dance of the sugar plum fairies". ❤

[@Moriartart]

I love this channel and I love Napoleon so this was perfection ☺️

[@michaelbrett3749]

dear Alexia ...so you love short fat men who are murderers ok

[@valmid5069]

Europe: Let me get this straight, you think that conquering those countries is funny? Bonaparte: *I do. And I'm tired of pretending it's not*

[@meliodas4705]

"There is no immortality, only the memory that is left in the minds of men"- Napoleon Bonaparte, let us hope that we will never forget a military and political genius such as Napoleon.

[@daddysbigrod5276]

Do Hannibal from Carthage!

[@mihaiilie8808]

King Meme Thats a good one and also Napoleon liked Hanibal the most.

[@anthonybraceful1945]

Mihai Ilie EXACTLY, HE DUPLICATED HANNIBALS STRATEGIES THAT WAS THE KEY TO NAPOLEONS MILITARY SUCESS

[@thomascoburn5481]

Yes Hannibal was the goat

[@smallcelledman]

He abdicates in 1814, guys. Don't have your teacher ask you how a man did something nineteen years after his death

[@heftyhugh9086]

I think he just misspoke.

[@maximeperez-raymond3346]

He's yet living and play tennis with elvis on their secret island.

[@OldGuard1815]

Napoleon was not short. He was 5' 6" tall which was average for the time. The 5' 2" mentioned in the podcast was French inches which are bigger than the English inches we tyoically use.

[@Godsglory777]

Very good job sir. You have a special skill for telling history and the facts as they are. I thoroughly enjoy your content.

[@andreipavel4389]

"Archduke Francis II" *shows photo of Franz Ferdinand* Also, Francis II was Holy Roman Emperor, not just a mere archduke. The rest of the clip is quite good though

[@freewal]

Holy Roman Empire was a joke. It was an addition of small provinces leaded by small princes and dukes... As Voltaire said :"The Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire"

[@ulissesrps]

"chaos isn't a pit, chaos is a ladder"

[@johnmoreno4212]

Thank you Simon!

[@eyobzewdie9305]

Best Narration Vivid and Interesting. Thank You.

[@Key212]

Yess!!! Another great one. Watched it on the way to work. I love your channel.

[@Biographics]

We'll assume you weren't driving. - Shell