Napoleon's missing hand, explained

[@overratedwood]

If Napoleon is still alive today, hoodie with front pouch would be his favourite jacket no doubt.

[@Melonist]

But would he put both of his hands in there?

[@socerbeast9]

those are everywhere in the DC area lol

[@agungsuryapangestu2446]

@@Melonist and

[@MichaelJ44]

He was a free mason

[@derpynerdy6294]

@@MichaelJ44 Proof? It’s just cool at that time and he copied it Literally every military commander back then love to do that And because it’s also difficult to paint fingers and hand

[@ivanpb1983]

This video taught me that Americans really don't know too much about Napoleon.

[@owlephant5016]

Americans don't know too much about anything, really.

[@Dinochicken10]

Anything with Europe we have no clue

[@brianrkf]

I came here looking for this comment, and I was not disappointed.

[@paytowin8468]

Even though Napoleon sold Louisiana to the USA in 1803

[@Fireiscool255]

@@Dinochicken10 I mean we know that britin taxes colony of 13

[@TheAllarie]

The sharpie on the book is sparking my anxiety

[@Bas_Lightyear]

Was just about to comment this! Was there really any need to draw all over the book?! Even for the sake of a video..

[@roderickbraganca]

i was just going to comment that.

[@fether835]

hopefully it was erasable or my anxiety gonna rise

[@StellaMariaGiulia]

Yeah, even if it's just a silly paperback

[@vaibhav0055]

Same

[@bonafidemonafide7810]

*Ill save you 8 minutes of your time‚ The answer is: "It was a cliche in paintings at the time because it was seen as a modest noble pose"*

[@susanvino2845]

Thank you

[@flowrepins6663]

i think is a masonic code. karl mark and churchill did the same.thing. regular joes didnt did that stuff

[@phillawrence5148]

Thanks mate

[@jamiemacdonald5203]

@@flowrepins6663 princess harry does it in a few pics too.

[@Eishvar]

Thank you kind stranger

[@jean-paul4071]

The funny fact about Napoleon, is that he didn’t even start that many wars. At the beginning everyone declared war on France because it was no longer a monarchy, then Napoleon beat them all up. And then they take revenge, etc. Of course he also started his own wars but like, the difference between him and other European countries, is that he won.

[@abdulla-Xshe4ro]

Yep europe was afraid that France's revelution would spread revolutionary ideas especially since europe was mostly monarchy at the time.

[@thinhvo3893]

He wasn't even in power for the first 2 coalition wars. He was simply a general. The only reason it consider part of napoleonic wars simply because how he literally carried the French to victory 80% of the time.

[@dippyzippyzeal2556]

Hmmm? He was a mason????? I like what u said! Hands are hard to paint! Or the duration of exposure ... photography! George Washington? What if masons signal with a hidden hand! Beatles? Dung 🐞 beetle?

[@KashifKhan-iw2ns]

But in reality he was as power hungry as any other European leaders.

[@alex8130a]

Its funny how at first it was because they were no longer a monarchy and then later because he himself became the monarch, basically scaring all the other kings

[@AbrahamLincoln4]

Imagine making a movie parody of Napoleon and for the whole movie, Napoleon has his hand in his shirt while doing simple everyday stuff.

[@mikaelleonbriones6356]

In one picture of your you make a similar pose with your hand in the back instead

[@mariacostea3234]

😂😂😂🤷🏼‍♀️

[@joshgetsmoneybitch1084]

OMG ABRUHAM LINCOLM HOW ARE YOU LIFE???? THAT IS VERY COOL 😎

[@poofsquid8870]

Identity theft is not a joke Jim

[@afonsotrigueiros6947]

Someone call snl

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

*Stop sending me letters, kid!*

[@matelego130]

i think he was trying to send it to me.

[@kushpatel1313]

Why are u alive?

[@tarik3432]

Sir Napoleon, could u do it on a cold rainy night in Stoke tho?

[@kfraser3783]

And I’m the King!

[@generaljeanmoreau6853]

@@kfraser3783 Anyman who says I am the king is no king

[@clyde2178]

Fun fact: When Napoleon returned to Paris all European countries declared war on him. Not France literally Napoleon only.

[@poiserosie6493]

What?

[@Justin-pe9cl]

He was a very naughty boy.

[@1ena585]

While that's true, it was only because the king was still the legitimate ruler of France, so declaring war on France would have meant declaring war on the king as well.

[@pinheadlarry7266]

@@Justin-pe9cl Nice reference

[@n00bm4str69]

That doesn't sound funny.

[@snowstrobe]

And of course, he wasn't that short. His height was average for those days. Though perhaps not among the aristocracy.

[@rjfaber1991]

He was perfectly average for the time, actually. The whole misunderstanding comes from the fact that his height measured in pieds and pouces (French pre-metric equivalents of Imperial feet and inches) was confused with his height in feet and inches, and because a French pied was longer than an Imperial foot, this made him look short. Of course Napoleon played a major part in spreading the metric system throughout the world, so he inadvertently solved the very issue that plagues his legacy.

[@snowstrobe]

@@rjfaber1991 Oh yeah, I'd forgotten why the mix up.

[@rjfaber1991]

@Anna Gonzalez Is there such a distinction in reality? Most people are, on balance, somewhere in between, aren't they? I can tell you that while Napoleon is often villified as a tyrant in the English-speaking world, he is almost universally seen as a hero in continental Europe, even in the countries that fought against him at the time. Reality will be somewhere in between, as always.

[@dntgswgoh8052]

@Anna Gonzalez it was above average at the time

[@s.f.2480]

@Anna Gonzalez Well he's good and bad at the same time. But he is still the best general in history for me.

[@andre5006]

I’m surprised this is new to people. I’m pretty sure males of the British Royal family still do this today

[@johnnygillert2215]

I was surprised too, guess they were not as educated...

[@herewegoo2677]

Only Americans don't there education system is really failing them

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

Don't you mean "their", seems like your system isn't too good either

[@romancultist6089]

@@Jon.A.Scholt Regardless of grammar, you failed to dispute his point. It's common knowledge that changing the subject is seen as an admission of ignorance.

[@crazwolf9825]

This is not new to people. Only ignorant left. We on the right have known about this for long time. Except it wasn't that is was a prominence pose, it is a freemason pose. The hidden hand.

[@thanos8948]

It's not a missing hand guys, he's just scratching his chest hair.

[@priyenswiss2002]

😂

[@Guthix198]

Masonic hand symbol

[@user-ds8jt5mi2h]

Lol

[@Bountyhopper]

Idk who has chest hair on there stomach

[@yasinhassani3929]

he must be on tramadol or something like that :D u know

[@michaelcarroll4503]

As a historian, the hand in coat is shown as a proper stance or show of power in history. Though it wasn't common to see historical figures to this, Napoleon was especially related to the pose. There are many reasons people do it, at the time it was mainly a style type of thing for anybody.

[@aWomanFreed]

Yeah…..that’s not it

[@supersaartje12]

Is a masonic symbol

[@supersaartje12]

Look up Washington

[@lilspoonyskod]

​@@supersaartje12you are right

[@Kyrelel]

The real question here should be: How do so many young people NOT know he always had his hand in his jacket!?

[@jaojao1768]

More like Americans

[@hackman669]

@@jaojao1768 Sadly America has a very short history. We are not taught much before the 19th century. Mean while Europeans know about a thousand years of history.

[@thesunking7365]

@@jaojao1768 we are thought about a lot of history it's just that most people are bored with the class and tend to forget what they learn after they past the class

[@M.G.2000]

I'm more worried about the fact that some of the people interviewed didn't even know what Napoleon looked like. Haven't they been in high school?

[@i.t9390]

@@jaojao1768 Nope not all I know this

[@Finkelfunk]

Fun fact: The fact that the clock shows 4:15 and Napoleon seeming to have worked all night does have a bit of truth in it. Napoleon, especially during wartime, was rumored to sleep no more than 4 hours a night (not continuously mind you, from 12am - 2am and 5am - 7am usually with time to work from 2am - 5am), sometimes sleeping as little as two hours in his wars for weeks on end.

[@fredericchopin4821]

That’s actually a pretty cool fact hahahahah

[@nicholasgutierrez9940]

He even did it during battles. Just set up a plan and got his commanders to execute it while he slept.

[@akshaysinghrai]

Exactly....War, what is it good for? Not for your circadian rhythm.

[@RRobespierre1794]

@@nicholasgutierrez9940 apparently at the battle of wagram he went to sleep for 15 minutes in the middle of the largest European battle up to that point

[@viscountbp]

Don't quote it to the boss tho or else the boss reply would "he must have sleep through Waterloo!"

[@Exosfear13]

"that's what napoleon looked like?" bruh

[@mkg994]

That guy thinking of stalin lol

[@СергійСергійчук-у6с]

Americans...

[@dziban303]

He works with some 🥔s, doesn't he

[@hajileserpud9539]

@@mkg994 Sir... you dear mock me ?!?!

[@hippojuice23]

This is why older people have a certian disdain for younger people.

[@olleani]

In swedish sign language you actually do the hand inside the shirt gesture to sign the name of Napoleon. I'm gonna tell my mom how old that gesture is now.

[@theexcelsior_0024]

I remember a Finnish Legend that The reason Napoleon held his hand inside his jacket was because he was a huge fan of salmiakki, so he always held a small box of it inside his coat so that he could have quick snacks :D

[@NapoleonCalland]

@@zamppa3974 I'll make a note to try it! ;) 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🇫🇷🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🇫🇷🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🇫🇷🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🇫🇷🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@louloubrubru8692]

I like that legend! I didn't know about it until now but it's funny haha

[@thepoglin8479]

god i wish that would be the reason

[@nevize6660]

@@warningsign101 at least they arent US bees

[@henlofrens]

in NL we have candies called Napoleons that use exactly the same imagery as a marketing strategy. They are good candies too.

[@fyzxnerd]

I am with you, I can't imagine Napoleon Bonaparte with anything less than a hand in his jacket and a "demure" look on his face.

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

Demure? I always thought it was... almost an attempt to hide a look of self-satisfaction

[@emilt.m.6418]

i remember that the first question i ever had when i learned about napoleon was the hand thing, surprised not everyone noticed it

[@asilma6378]

I'm french and people always forget that more than his military victories Napelon created the "Code civil". He created civil law and it's use by half of world population today. He also expensed the metric system to France and Europe (with wars). He unified France. So he isn't considered as a tyran in France (even if he killed milion of people with his wars) Sorry for my english 😊

[@jo-vf8jx]

He’s also the reason why some places drive on the right hand side and not the left.

[@andrecalatre]

Indeed! I would add as well that a lot of silly stereotypes about Napoleon (and France in general) are also because Anglo-Saxonic culture spread everywhere, first with the British Empire and then with US. So the image we tend to get was the image his enemies at the time tried to pass and not necessarily the image and legacy he left in his country and allies.

[@sonicluffypucca96]

Poland 🇵🇱 loves ❤ Napoleon too.

[@stt.9433]

@@jo-vf8jx that's a myth.

[@uncitoyen_8614]

It's not "his" wars but the wars of the (british) allied coalitions

[@HighKingTurgon]

I'm stunned that so few of your colleagues did the hand thing-the hand thing is my go-to!

[@themuskratianempire]

Can I just say that Napoleon is the only person in history who could pull the hand-in-jacket look off? The other guys looked horrible when doing it.

[@kittogashi8561]

George Washington... massive 'yikes' moment seeing that.

[@henrydelay1821]

Custer and Sherman look pretty cool doing it imo

[@noahleach7690]

I think the original tunics looked better.

[@faintsmile363]

i think it depends on the artist

[@thathistoryiscoolguy]

Except Sherman

[@Robin-jk6wz]

For the record, George Washington was just hidin' his Glock. Nothin' fancy.

[@MausOfTheHouse]

Not a glock. Everyone knows that he used a 1911. Duh

[@AbrahamLincoln4]

John Wilkes Booth was hiding his derenger.

[@sontalks]

@@MausOfTheHouse no. He used a 1775 Rebellion

[@shinsenshogun900]

@@AbrahamLincoln4 Security was never that tight since your election tbh Abe

[@whatareyoudoingstepcomment4029]

i'll be suprise if george washington holding his NFB (nuclear football briefcase)

[@hermannthefisherman2960]

Obviously it's because he accidentally glued his hand to his coat

[@UtsavChaudhury]

Step-emperor! Help I'm stuck..

[@raien6092]

With flex tape

[@ahmadahli487]

When I was 7 my brother told me that a cannon hit his hand

[@tortillawrapper5454]

Mon-emperur

[@Robin-jk6wz]

@@UtsavChaudhury "What are you doing Step-Emperor?"

[@Cruor34]

I'm surprised how many people didn't think of him with his hand in his coat... I actually couldn't think of a picture where he didn't have his hand in his coat. I remember asking as a kid 3 decades ago why he did it and I was told the stomach pain one you mentioned, that he had an ulcer on his stomach. I never thought to investigate more as a kid, as an adult told me so it must be true. Then 30 years later this video randomly pops up.

[@Coolmark123]

This is a video I didn’t know I needed

[@linus6695]

du bist echt dumm

[@spr6065]

This was a video I didn't need

[@kemo2547]

Its the hidden hand of freemasonry

[@ronpoirier2763]

Hiding your hand like that is a sign that he's a Freemason. You see many prominent paintings of old & pictures of new have men doing the exact same thing. Think of it like the modern day throwing up a gang sign. It shows what gang he's with as well as letting other members know he's a member. I would assume he was a high ranking/degree member of his Masonic Lodge.

[@Razorcarl]

True

[@kingisaacius9712]

Plot Twist: Napoleon was missing a button on his jacket and didnt want it to be seen

[@MeetThaNewDealer]

Now it all makes sense

[@gudea5207]

So basically: Napoleon is depicted like that because it’s a common device of portraiture and he is a widely depicted individual so it’s associated with him. That’s all that really needed to be said.

[@kemo2547]

Its a hidden hand of freemasonry

[@gaiusjuliuscaesar3808]

@@kemo2547 wot

[@kemo2547]

@@gaiusjuliuscaesar3808 google it brother

[@nebulousisgod]

@@kemo2547 Eyeroll

[@ronpoirier2763]

Hiding your hand like that is a sign that he's a Freemason. You see many prominent paintings of old & pictures of new have men doing the exact same thing. Think of it like the modern day throwing up a gang sign. It shows what gang he's with as well as letting other members know he's a member. I would assume he was a high ranking/degree member of his Masonic Lodge.

[@douglas136]

It's sad that people in their 20's and 30's didn't recognize a portrait of Napoleon.

[@IwannaDomyCrush]

Yes because some angry French dude must be known by everyone

[@MrMah-zf6jk]

@@IwannaDomyCrush ah yes, because the guy who is considered one of the greatest military commanders of all time, who sold the USA a third of their territory, and redrew the map of Europe in a way that set up WWI isn't important.

[@IwannaDomyCrush]

@@MrMah-zf6jk Of course, that is why everyone from Asia and Africa should know about the short European dude!

[@MrMah-zf6jk]

@@IwannaDomyCrush yes, they should, because whether you like it or not, Europe has had a massive impact on the world.

[@paulangelopineda2534]

"it's hard to draw hands" -every artist out there

[@Stormchxser]

YES IM SO BAD AT DRAWING HANDS AAAAAA

[@adly.prastya]

"-evey"

[@priyachoudhary9896]

Me who always hides it behind their backs. *YES*

[@adly.prastya]

@@priyachoudhary9896 genius

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Obviously he's hiding cheese from me

[@H-N-K]

Yes, he should have given the cheese to or great leader.

[@Lee247Jamaica]

Kim u on aviation channels now here

[@shivaniarunkumar1248]

Supreme leader..I see ur comment I reply.

[@paweszczepanski6738]

Ahahahahahahhhaahhahahahahaha

[@zainmudassir2964]

Greetings Supreme leader

[@alphagoat2035]

I thought that painting of him riding on a horse was the most famous one

[@whynot-tomorrow_1945]

"Napoleon Crossing the Alps"

[@firstnamelastname4249]

It is his most badass though

[@shauryakadian7754]

5:15 Napoleon be like : HEY! I HAVE AN AVERAGE HEIGHT FOR THE TIME

[@tempulus9228]

Fellow Oversimplified viewer ;)

[@shauryakadian7754]

@@tempulus9228 yessir you also are a man of culture

[@amirulleonhardt1341]

SACRA BLEEUUUUUUUU!!!! (sorry, i am not french, btw) ;)

[@Zalmoksis44]

This is pretty strange that a bunch of well educated people have difficulties recognizing Napoleon.

[@bumblebeeeoptimus]

"well educated"

[@StudentInFrance]

You must remember that these are Americans. They know American history but not much European history.

[@Astrhal]

@@StudentInFrance american history ? XD this country is 500 years old

[@StudentInFrance]

@@Astrhal You can fill a book with minute details. ;)

[@Astrhal]

@@StudentInFrance indeed, but generaly school doesnt go to much in depth, the goal it to have a general understanding of history, more than in depth knowledge about a particular event

[@jackcloud4728]

To be fair asking Americans about history was never going to end well

[@omniaveritas2427]

Even French people don't know about napoleon apart from waterloo and that's only because of Abba

[@jeromecoward9370]

@@omniaveritas2427 you clearly didn’t grow up in France, he is one of our most famous influential figures

[@rostamdastan9272]

@@omniaveritas2427 you're funny !

[@mickgovernor]

what?

[@keepmehomeplease]

To be fair, asking Europeans to not generalize an entire country never ends well.

[@BrandonCuringtonOfficial]

There was a point during 8th grade where I got too obsessed with 18th century European history that I always struck the "hand in pocket pose" whenever somebody took a picture of me. I always thought it was pretty badass

[@dalcomaroni9837]

Hi Giorno!

[@aWomanFreed]

It’s ok, the masons like em young

[@vigolevigo7625]

I love how Vox pulled out an 8min video for a question that can be answered in 2 sentences

[@KoiYakultGreenTea]

That’s how your write essays and journal articles for researching. Bring a ton of evidence and explain why that aligns with the statement

[@orangepenguin2975]

Gotta get that add revenue

[@Alia-bc3rc]

So, long story short: "because old dudes in history did it."

[@cgt3704]

Its false. The reason why he did it is because he had a stomach pain.

[@batenerelkevincarlander1725]

@@cgt3704 Thats one of the theories. The hand in coat gesture is common in paintings tho and in aristocracy

[@garyermann]

@@cgt3704 It seems unlikely. If Napoleon is hiring people to paint him, he can choose how to portray himself, it's not like these are candid photos. If the hand in the coat was him signaling his stomach pain, why would he choose to be painted in a pose that draws attention to his health issues? Given the long history of the hand in coat gesture that predates Napoleon, it seems much more likely to be a reference to that practice, than to anything related to his health.

[@dylankornberg4892]

From a history major here: that is a reason for a TON of stuff throughout human history

[@rftkohiah9136]

Its called the hidden hand. Those in control speak in symbols.

[@erstwhilerambler]

Someone gonna talk about that guy at 4:35? He’s really enjoying himself.

[@kidkurmudgeon-0_o]

ah yes Adriaen Brouwer's "Peasant invents 2nd base"

[@australium7374]

Probably dead

[@thomashaeyen6942]

@@australium7374 of course, why not

[@vegancookies340]

That’s jokes

[@sethalexanderg]

He didn't hide his height. He's 5'2

[@jaysonbrandon9505]

Because he was a Freemason. He’s just saluting his rank to other masons.

[@ldynasty]

In two hundred years, there will be another video like this titled: "Asians' V-shaped fingers, explained" ✌

[@bertafjertafisalukta2302]

Omfg

[@AryFerreiradaCunha]

That needs to be made today!

[@jannat3109]

✌

[@GeneralLiuofBoston1911]

And watch it be wrong

[@prepurstep9669]

Hahahaha

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

"Luckily they banished him to an island" *"But he came back"*

[@jeanlannes2611]

Lucky for who?

[@brobroman425]

But then he came back and staged another coup d'etat

[@gurrrn1102]

And then they banished him to another island

[@brobroman425]

@@gurrrn1102 k

[@lucasfoliattideazevedo4445]

And never came back again.

[@haiminhbui1]

Napoleon: Hey im average height for the time you yerk

[@priyachoudhary9896]

*ooooohhhh Nooooooooo*

[@Justin-pe9cl]

Average height? There’s a tax for that.

[@xananymous431]

Tbh Napoleon was actually 5 ft to 5'5 ft.. The same height as an South East Asian people.. So my guess Napoleon wasn't short, he was just born on the wrong side of the planet!

[@byakugan641]

@@xananymous431 Average SEA people: "Dude...... Uncool"

[@rvb6516]

This description of Napoleon is so demeaning - dude was a legend he went himself on the battlefields & fought his own wars - he thought of himself as immortal

[@olleani]

Well truth to be told is that he did actually faint when he did his coup. His brother has to help him during the coup.

[@jabscha7051]

The Fairly Oddparents taught me that he was holding a croissant under his waistcoat

[@kahmylion2]

@Joe Blow was just about to say.. symbolism .. by their symbols you can identify them..

[@Mark-zu6oz]

Maybe he was just happy to see someone.

[@JTytshorts]

I love how KZbin answers the questions I didn’t even know I had

[@laken1804]

😂😂😂

[@ohnenamen2843]

It’s saying a lot about Americans that y’all didn’t know what Napoleon looked like

[@dozobi1510]

Most people would have forgotten about him after they're done with they high school history classes.

[@Ghost-jy3cd]

@@dozobi1510 maybe in the US but definitely not in Europe

[@GeneralGoldChannel]

He isn’t that important to America

[@MW-ep4kb]

says alot about vox employees

[@ohnenamen2843]

@@GeneralGoldChannel Neither is Lincoln to Europeans. We still know what he looked like.

[@israel8847]

It’s called the hidden hand of masonry, the sign of the master of the 2nd veil.

[@webstercat]

Yes

[@onewayticket2148]

All artists be like: Fingers are hard to draw man 😭

[@darkgreen3047]

Truth

[@Lawliet734]

0:50 "Like a pole? Am I wrong?" She heard "Napoleon" and associated his name with "pole," but obviously doesn't know who he was.

[@AuntieLux]

Nah I think she was just looking for something to hold as a prop

[@erstwhilerambler]

@francessmaala I love it! Alas, you give her far too much credit. (Please tell me you’re being sarcastic.)

[@riptidemonzarc3103]

Well Napoleon *did* "liberate" Poland...

[@TheOfficialEpicTree]

It's because he's holding the Apple of Eden of course.

[@spectrobit5554]

it took longer to find this comment than it should

[@malcolmmacgregor8837]

Been playing AC2 just recently, nice reference my dude.

[@australium7374]

He’s hiding an enchanted golden apple from sapnap

[@cardinal3728]

A man of culture

[@aspiretospidey]

@@spectrobit5554 my thoughts exactly.

[@sandeepgill9975]

Guess you could say he single-handedly conquered Europe

[@johnstevenson9956]

I never would have guessed that so many people didn't know about the "hand in the shirt" pose. I thought by now it was practically a cliche!

[@kentvesser9484]

Yeah, it is kind of embarrassing as an American that so few knew anything about him. But in fairness few Americans know US history all that well let alone that of foreign nations. I bet you could have really embarrassed these co-workers by showing them a portrait of Napoleon that was actually a portrait of George Washington or Thomas Jefferson and see how many didn't even notice the switch.

[@darlingusa2pettee57]

masonic hidden hand

[@jebeb6663]

These were literally the worst people to ask, not a single one of them seemed to know anything but the name Naploean

[@johnstevenson9956]

@@jebeb6663 Oh yeah, I've heard of him! I believe his last name was Dynamite, right?

[@days7687]

@@darlingusa2pettee57 Napolean was never a Mason, pretty sure he hated Masonry

[@masa-qi8cx]

Napoleon: Why does it always have to itch during a portraitshoot.

[@bobyale6159]

“I’m just tucking my shirt in.” - Rudolph Giuliani

[@prateekbhurkay9376]

Surprise Borat reference

[@hoodedkupo8537]

am I the only one that heard the hand in coat thing was a symbol of free masonry?

[@ThomasTubeHD]

Vox: “electoral college,explained” Me: boring Vox: “Napoleon’s missing hand, explained” Me: FINALLY, USEFUL INFORMATION

[@horizelux2212]

haha we all love the "less Important" stuff than the useful and educational videos, don't we!

[@Kardia_of_Rhodes]

"Why is everyone I ask not doing the hand gesture?" Firstly, everyone you asked is American. Secondly, I'd bet 20$ everyone you asked has little to no passion for history.

[@scipioafricanus5871]

Or maybe it was like one of those "surveys" they do for entertainment, where they ask Americans to find US on a map without names, and they edit out all the ones that gets it right.

[@zeldov5735]

@@Udamouse it's usually a pretty awful one, soo...

[@steveystovey]

Well, they ARE Vox employees, I wouldn’t assume they’re too bright.

[@erstwhilerambler]

It doesn’t require a “passion for history” just a passable education and a wee bit of non-self-absorbed observation.

[@libbybollinger5901]

More accurately, they have little to no passion for postures and hand positioning in 19th European portraiture. I don’t think overall passion for history has a lot to do with it, it’s pretty specific.

[@lorenrenee1]

I’m kind of surprised people in the US have never seen that painting, it’s quite famous.

[@fourlightsorchestra]

I'm American, I thought everyone here that attended regular public school had seen it. I was surprised a bunch of them didn't know. I thought it was common knowledge over here.

[@MadManchou]

@@fourlightsorchestra A bunch of these people didn't know who he even was. At most they knew they'd heard the name. And this is probably one of the ten most influential individuals in the history of the world.

[@fourlightsorchestra]

@@MadManchou it blows my mind too. I’m guessing the public high school I attended was just better than wherever they went. Napoleon is a pretty relevant figure in history, also parodied in pop culture. If you live in the west, I don’t know how a person could be ignorant to his existence.

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodcl4824]

@@fourlightsorchestra my guy this aint important for modern day

[@fourlightsorchestra]

@@yourfriendlyneighborhoodcl4824 why? What is important then?

[@Mitthradata]

Like, NO That's a very famous sign of early freemasons communicating their status with each other, and at the time of Napoleon it wasn't a secret anymore but still it showed connection to the brotherhood

[@berryberrykixx]

I've watched this a few times and there's one thing that is driving my anxiety NUTS. Napoleon's hand is not in his coat. It's in his waistcoat! A coat is meant to be worn outdoors and taken off once indoors unless it is part of a suit. Even then, jackets and such still get removed. Waistcoats were part of the ensemble and kept on, both indoors and out. Even the book you highlighted says so (or it said some variation of "westkit", which is the same thing)! Waistcoats are basically vests. In fact, that's exactly what they are.

[@jeffsmith8197]

And why did men wear vests or waistcoats? Because trousers had no pockets.

[@KF1]

coat is short for waistcoat, as we no longer use that word in everyday use. So when they say "coat", just use the power of context instead of trying to take things so seriously or literally.

[@NotAnotherKuromi]

@@KF1 The word coat is only used as a shortening for an overcoat though, so I see the confusion & inaccuracy point.

[@antonarnell814]

It also serves the function av hiding the "mechanical parts" of the trousers. Same as with the stripes on the outer seams of certain types of trousers (uniforms & white tie).​@@jeffsmith8197

[@nsahandler]

Nobody's going to answer WHY this fashion caught on? Officer coats had no pockets.

[@nsahandler]

@Graf von Losinj No, it's not. Stop being silly.

[@nsahandler]

@Graf von Losinj >now nothing but crickets

[@ronpoirier2763]

@@nsahandler Here's a simple explanation. Hiding your hand like that is a sign that he's a Freemason. You see many prominent paintings of old & pictures of new have men doing the exact same thing. Think of it like the modern day throwing up a gang sign. It shows what gang he's with as well as letting other members know he's a member. I would assume he was a high ranking/degree member of his Masonic Lodge.

[@nsahandler]

@@ronpoirier2763 I'm a Mason mate you're full of trash

[@ronpoirier2763]

@@nsahandler and a Merry Christmas to you to.

[@TheSaltyAdmiral]

You actually marked the book with the sharpie, now I have to take a shower and buy a new computer.

[@basit.ganie02]

Vox: Napoleon's missing his hand. Me: There's nothing we can do.

[@ernestoA.1999]

It was a pose Napoleon used to show calm and stable leadership, Napoleon was a man with no nerves , in situations where most generals would have been overwhelmed mentally, he was always calm was like if it were nothing to him, always stronger than adversity.

[@JoseSilva-ht8es]

yes I too saw the video.

[@FoolsKyber]

He is holding an apple of eden that's hidden in his shirt.

[@Seven-uu3ot]

The only right answer

[@Kuemerah]

insert " *i understood that reference* " meme

[@manus5423]

its his cell phone he is hiding

[@shikhar10001]

I like this theory 👌

[@michaelobrien5891]

It's in our minds.

[@robikin4563]

Bruh that sharpie scribble on the book was the visual equivalent of the sound of nails across a blackboard.

[@zelly4914]

Forget Napolean, tell me more about Jacques-Louis David. What an artist!

[@thomascatty379]

Jacques-Louis David is one of the greatest painter of all time, truly a mindblowing artist

[@muadibadder3345]

Basically, Napoleon just reignited a trend in portraits because of his pose.

[@ronpoirier2763]

Hiding your hand like that is a sign that he's a Freemason. You see many prominent paintings of old & pictures of new have men doing the exact same thing. Think of it like the modern day throwing up a gang sign. It shows what gang he's with as well as letting other members know he's a member. I would assume he was a high ranking/degree member of his Masonic Lodge.

[@muadibadder3345]

@@ronpoirier2763 and also, tbh, that whole hand inside the jacket thing is still pretty gangsta, even for today's standards. Since most gangsta poses include hands in pockets, but instead of breast jackets it's gangsta hoodies 😂

[@YahYou813]

Watch when vox does a video on "duck face" 50 years from now.

[@Tustin2121]

They should do a video on it now, because I have no idea why people would want to take a picture of themselves doing that...

[@chrissycox7166]

@@Tustin2121 I guessed it's because face looks slimmer and lips look thicker

[@moniquita720]

Because the artist has anxiety when he has to draw hands. I know. We've all been there.

[@DOLfirst]

Or by the time the artist got to the hand and said hands take a while the model said, "just hurry it up will ya! How 'bout I tuck my hand in my waistcoat." And the artist replied, "That works for me." and to himself, "whew"

[@Canessa1298]

it really surprises me that so many people dont know that he puts his hand on the jacket or that he was not short, but maybe i expect too much. Epic History TV has an amazing series about the Napoleonic Wars

[@scintillam_dei]

Superficial PG Disney-esque version of history, rather than the true history.

[@Jasmine-ot8br]

Wait he wasn’t short ???

[@stefthorman8548]

​@@Jasmine-ot8br5'6 average height for the time

[@theinquisition_]

Just saying, George Washington’s portrait was hilarious 😆

[@DOLfirst]

Lol ikr?

[@Bnio]

Good ol' George "Purple Nurple" Washington

[@Fran-mh2ef]

Bacon: duuude! Your profile pic is off the chains! ⛓

[@andresmanz]

“I really thought that everyone I asked would do....” well, you asked Americans.....

[@daniellanctot6548]

Oh, snap! (But it’s 100% true)

[@praisethesunstudios7931]

I’m American and I enjoy and know a lot about history.

[@DOLfirst]

@@praisethesunstudios7931 It seems the anti American comments are rampant on this video. Evidently, those who had the history of Napoleon drilled into them found an opportunity to bash all Americans and the American education system.

[@erstwhilerambler]

OK, patriots... Don’t get too riled up. 🙄

[@mswijn]

@@erstwhilerambler ???

[@hsfox2792]

Civil war generals: "Write that down! Write that down!"

[@ketan6182]

I remember reading somewhere that Rulers at the time struck such a pose in paintings to signify peace-time at the time of painting. Hand under coat is apparently a sign that the painting was done at a time when the country wasn't under any danger. Tbh I've seen no other ruler put such a pose

[@eileenengelbrecht1783]

Him drawing all over the book in a marker is giving me mad anxiety!

[@scottmattern3437]

Blown away that not every single person did not know that hand gesture of Napoleon.

[@inscrutablemungus4143]

Listen. If a gentleman's hand is underneath his garments, that means precisely one thing.

[@dreamscape31]

We got a Rudy Giuliani situation here

[@Fran-mh2ef]

Oh my gosh!! Yall so funny!😁😅😅😅😅

[@generaljeanmoreau6853]

But if it comes out....would that be sticky as glue?

[@TEboh-dy6ut]

“lil boney”

[@jonathanstensberg]

Literally Everyone: Duh, you just tuck a hand inside the jacket. People at Vox: *visible confusion*

[@mehmetgurdal]

This gesture actually a part of our lives now. I see a lot of people putting one of their hands to their pockets. It's an easy way to portray yourself with an artistic assymetrical pose.

[@RaccoonNation]

You’d think more people are interested in his missing “member”

[@thatdude1853]

It's in a box in a basement in New Jersey.

[@cleotavaresacompanhantedel8647]

Paulo kogos

[@thejusmsajeem4107]

I'm now going to pose in all photos with one hand in my shirt 🤣

[@mstessdowney]

🤣🤣🤣

[@mystier3423]

Too 😅

[@laust6259]

This pose will no longer be a sign of status, it will be a sign that you watch vox

[@rajendrakhanvilkar9362]

Mee too 😁

[@PACKERMAN2077]

I pose and all of my portraits with one hand down my pants... But all of those pictures go straight to the hub anyways

[@sahilnimsarkar5175]

meanwhile people with animated hand gestures: WHY AM I ALWAYS TARGETED???

[@peterfahey9088]

Hard hitting journalism, man. HARD. HITTING. JOURNALISM.

[@diorwhitfield]

It’s called “The Hidden Hand”, it’s not just Napoleon, but other famous politicians, presidents, leaders, etc. have done this over the course of history... pretty interesting....

[@ogloc8845]

Freemasons

[@Lebby1074]

I’ve never even thought of this question in my entire life, but I still need to watch this entire video right now

[@Ron-hr5uf]

He wanted ppl to know he had the gat on him

[@jimjam8653]

I was looking for this comment. It's obviously for this reason.

[@anthonyinvictus4438]

I bet if Napoleon was alive he would just say it was cold every time his portrait was taken

[@georgedoganis6708]

He was showing to his fellow Freemasons that he was one that’s all

[@ernestoA.1999]

George Doganis wrong , it was a common pose at the time, used to show calm and stable leadership, nothing to do with freemasons

[@gaiusjuliuscaesar3808]

But, everyone did it, does that mean everyone was a freemason then?

[@johncale1849]

Dont waste youre time replying to them George .... these guys are lost

[@ernestoA.1999]

john cale just because u or anyone is a freemason, doesn’t actually mean everyone is

[@johncale1849]

@@ernestoA.1999 Who is talking about everyone? ... you think common people had portraits drawn?

[@ltmcolen]

actually he wasn't smaller than his contemporaries , the French inch is a little larger than the imperial one. That's why in England they thought he was 5'4" while in fact he was 5'6"...which wasn't so small in the era.

[@1963felonee]

5'6-5'7 and the average height was about 5'8, even Wellington was 5'8 or 5'9. He surrounded himself with much larger people and that's the 2nd biggest reason we think of him as short, the biggest is it made for good slander so the British ran with it

[@kirxa8588]

The paintings of him with his hand being hidden is me when I don’t feel like drawing hands and just do the hands behind the back pose.

[@rosecolouredglasses]

i appreciate the smooth segue from napoleon's hand to the rattan chair

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

@6:32 That's not Napoleon, that is General Rapp bringing his captured standards.

[@ShaDoW-uc7bn]

Thank you! I knew it certainly wasn’t Napoleon, but I didn’t know who it was.

[@Pelopen3bc]

Came here to say that. Thank you.

[@GrayCatbird1]

At that moment the guy is talking about how « other rulers » would pose, so I believe this was meant to be an example of someone else than Napoleon doling a dramatic pose.

[@gunter6377]

@@GrayCatbird1 he was talking about the difference of the pose in in other paintings of napoleon. They simply thought the guy in the middle was napoleon and didn't even check

[@agnostic47]

90% of Americans when asked to "pose like Napoleon Bonaparte" said "who?".

[@Nietabs]

Yeah... 😔

[@هدي-ه8ظ]

90% out of 100 probably.

[@jesusdaholy]

Ok I doubt they at least don't know who Napoleon was...

[@warthoggoulags1679]

@@jesusdaholy they probably think it's a tyrant

[@jesusdaholy]

@@warthoggoulags1679 sadly you maybe right

[@joenowak6811]

This gesture is a masonic gesture that signifies being a Master Mason and represents the "hidden hand". This "hidden hand" is Freemasonry, and the historical record of powerful people making this gesture provides proof of the true power, control and influence of Freemasonry that extends over our world throughout our history.

[@C1133M]

Prince Harry likes to this specific symbolism too, his uncle is head mason I believe

[@bishyaler]

This is shameful how many of these people didnt even know what Napoleon looked like.

[@2adamast]

Remember my father saying isn't that Hitler? Because during the war he never took an opportunity (having problems with the gestapo) to see him on newsreels

[@clownfromclowntown]

When I was a kid I thought he just had a tiny lil pocket in there

[@gamercarmen3957]

Lets make tiny pockets a thing

[@xStarstargirlx]

Keep making these fun-fact videos - I love them. I know these things are probably kind of minor to learn about, but they are actually interesting cause such a small thing is a little mirror to the culture and social values of the past.

[@Eric-d2s1z]

That particular full-length portrait of Napoleon is in the National Gallery in Washington, and it's huge. I'm amazed that some people don't know it, even if they've never seen it in person.

[@irai_nesanOfThamizhOrigin]

I always thought that it was like us keeping our hands in the pant pockets for no real reason while posing for a picture