Napoleon | MOVIE MUSIC UK

NAPOLEON – Martin Phipps

December 5, 2023 1 comment

Considering what a major figure in world history he was, I don’t remember ever seeing a proper biopic of Napoleon Bonaparte before. Most people know the basics of Napoleon’s life – he was born in Corsica in 1769, and rapidly ascended the ranks of the French army, showcasing his tactical brilliance in various campaigns. In 1799 he seized power in France in a coup, and later in 1804 crowned himself Emperor. Napoleon had a fractious political relationship with England – and indeed with most of the rest of Europe – for most of his life, and he subsequently engaged in many battles during what became known as the Napoleonic Wars. His victory at Austerlitz in 1805 established him as a military genius, but his ambition for European dominance led to a costly and disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812, which eventually resulted in his abdication and exile to the island of Elba in 1814. He briefly returned to power later that year, but suffered a final defeat by the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and he was ultimately exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, where he died in 1821. During this time Napoleon also engaged in a torrid love affair with the aristocratic widow Josephine de Beauharnais, who eventually became his wife. Read more…