One of the most famous figures of the past, famous not only in his country, but throughout the world, is the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. He triumphantly marched across Europe with his army, but could not defeat Russia. Returning in disgrace, he was exiled twice and died alone on a distant island.
Napoleon was born on the island of Corsica, in the city of Ajaccio. At the age of nine, he came with his older brother to Paris to study. The poor, hot-tempered Corsican had no friends, but he studied well, and his career was steadily moving up. After the Great French Revolution, in just a year and a half, he turned from a captain into a brigadier general, and two years later he became one of the best generals of the republic. Taking advantage of the crisis of power in France, when there was a real threat of invasion by the Russian-Austrian troops, he rebelled and proclaimed himself the sole ruler - the consul. Both the people and the army supported him, and the history of Napoleon's reign began. Together with the great French army, Napoleon won the war with Prussia, conquered the territories of Holland, Belgium, Germany and Italy. Peace was concluded with Russia, Prussia and Austria, after which Napoleon declared a continental blockade of England. If in the early years the people supported their emperor, then after a while people got tired of constant wars, a crisis began. Napoleon decided to take a desperate step - he declared war on Russia. But the Russians met him with a desperate rebuff, and the great French army began to retreat. The closer Napoleon approached his native country, the more active his ill-wishers became. In April 1814, the emperor abdicated and attempted suicide by taking poison. But the poison did not work, and Napoleon was sent to his first exile - to the island of Elba. On a small island not far from Italy, Napoleon became Emperor. He could keep a personal guard, manage the affairs of the island. During the nine months that he spent here, the emperor carried out several social and economic reforms to improve the lives of the inhabitants. However, the island was under British control and naval patrols kept it under surveillance. Bonaparte's active nature did not allow him to sit still, and less than a year later he fled. The news of the escape was heatedly discussed in Paris, and on February 26, the emperor was greeted in France by jubilant citizens, without a single shot he took the throne again. The army and people supported their illustrious commander. The famous "100 days" of Napoleon's reign began. The countries of Europe threw all their strength into the fight against the great emperor. Having lost his last battle, which took place on June 18, 1815 at Waterloo, he hoped for the mercy of the British, but he was wrong. He was exiled again, this time to the island of St. Helena This island is located 3000 km off the coast of Africa. Here the former emperor was kept in a house behind a stone wall, surrounded by sentries. There were about 3,000 soldiers on the island, and there was no chance of escape. Napoleon, finding himself in complete confinement, was doomed to inactivity and loneliness. Here he died 6 years later, on May 5, 1821. There are different legends about his death, the main versions of what happened are stomach cancer or arsenic poisoning.
