Changes

Napoleon needed cash to fight a new Third Coalition against him, and also to pay for a failed attempt to quell a rebellion against France in the Caribbean Saint Dominigue (Haiti).  To raise cash, Napoleon sold the massive territory from present-day Louisiana through the American Northwest.  The southern region that is now the American State of Louisiana had already implemented the Napoleonic Code, and still uses it to this day (unlike the other 49 states of the United States).  Napoleon sold this massive tract of land to the United States for a few million dollars in 1803, in what Americans call the “Louisiana Purchase” (it included far more than what is now the State of Louisiana).  Then, in 1804, Napoleon declared himself emperor of France and proceeded to conquer or acquire as much territory in Europe as possible.  He did very well until he failed to conquer Great Britain, which had a superior navy that defeated Napoleon’s fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.  English Admiral Horatio Nelson was the hero of that battle.

Napoleon needed cash to fight a new Third Coalition against him, and also to pay for a failed attempt to quell a rebellion against France in the Caribbean Saint Dominigue (Haiti).  To raise cash, Napoleon sold the massive territory from present-day Louisiana through the American Northwest.  The southern region that is now the American State of Louisiana had already implemented the Napoleonic Code, and still uses it to this day (unlike the other 49 states of the United States).  Napoleon sold this massive tract of land to the United States for a few million dollars in 1803, in what Americans call the “Louisiana Purchase” (it included far more than what is now the State of Louisiana).  Then, in 1804, Napoleon declared himself emperor of France and proceeded to conquer or acquire as much territory in Europe as possible.  He did very well until he failed to conquer Great Britain, which had a superior navy that defeated Napoleon’s fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.  English Admiral Horatio Nelson was the hero of that battle.

But Napoleon continued to win victories on continental Europe, and by 1812 his empire included all of it except Sweden, Portugal and, near Asia, the Ottoman empire.  Then came Napoleon’s undoing: his invasion of Russia in the winter of 1812.  It is virtually impossible to conquer Russia with a wintertime invasion, because the weather is frightfully cold and the Russian people are extremely resilient, willing to live on rats rather than surrender.  The German Adolf Hitler failed in a similar mistake in invading Russia during the wintertime in World War II.

But Napoleon continued to win victories on continental Europe, and by 1812 his empire included all of it except Sweden, Portugal and, near Asia, the Ottoman empire.  Then came Napoleon’s undoing: his invasion of Russia in the winter of 1812.  It is virtually impossible to conquer Russia with a wintertime invasion, because the weather is frightfully cold and the Russian people are extremely resilient, willing to live on rats rather than surrender.  The German Adolf Hitler failed in a similar mistake by invading Russia during the wintertime in World War II.

Napoleon made other strategic mistakes also.  His blockade against Great Britain in 1806, known as the Continental System, did not help him.  His Peninsular War against Spain from 1808 to 1813 was hurtful also.

Napoleon made other strategic mistakes also.  His blockade against Great Britain in 1806, known as the Continental System, did not help him.  His Peninsular War against Spain from 1808 to 1813 was hurtful also.

By 1813 Napoleon’s army was weak enough for the Fourth Coalition to defeat it, at the [[Battle of Leipzig]].  By 1814 Napoleon could see that he would have to give up his throne, and his opponents sent him off to an island in Mediterranean known as Elba.  Napoleon remained banished there for a year, but escaped in March 1815 to grab power over France again for “The Hundred Days.”  But in June 1815, the Prussia and Great Britain defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, and this time Napoleon was shipped to the distant island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, where he died in 1821.   

By 1813 Napoleon’s army was weak enough for a massive army of opponent nations to finally defeat him, at the [[Battle of Leipzig]].  The coalition of forces from Austria, Prussia, Russia and Sweden outnumbered Napoleon's army by a two-to-one margin.  By the following year, in 1814, Napoleon could see that he would have to give up his throne, and his opponents sent him off to an island in the Mediterranean known as Elba.  Napoleon remained banished there for a year, but escaped in March 1815 to grab power over France again for “The Hundred Days.”  But in June 1815, the Prussia and Great Britain defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, and this time Napoleon was shipped to the distant island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, where he died in 1821.   

In a fascinating historical investigation about ten years ago, scientists analyzed hair samples from Napoleon’s corpse and found arsenic.  This led the scientists to conclude that Napoleon had died from poisoning.  But then other scientists said that the arsenic was from hair tonic, not poisoning, and that no one had murdered Napoleon after all.

In a fascinating historical investigation about ten years ago, scientists analyzed hair samples from Napoleon’s corpse and found arsenic.  This led the scientists to conclude that Napoleon had died from poisoning.  But then other scientists said that the arsenic was from hair tonic, not poisoning, and that no one had murdered Napoleon after all.