"I never took part in the French Revolution, but I did meet Napoleon. That little Corsican had an astonishing presence. He only had to look at someone once, and they would submit. Sometimes I even thought he was a wizard." After greeting a passing friend, the vampire Giovanni continued, "Do you know how he treated his finance minister? He showed him barely more respect than a servant. At least with servants, he had to pretend to be approachable. I heard the British Ministry of Magic erected a statue called Magic Is Might. Was Voldemort also a reader of The Prince?"
"I don't know. What do you think, dear?" Severus asked silkily. His beautiful half-Veela wife was busy eating sashimi and had no time for him.
"People liked heroes. In October 1795, Napoleon was remarkably successful in using cannon fire to suppress a riot. He killed so many civilians, yet the civilians still regarded him as their protector. But he was not a First Consul like Caesar. When he tried to communicate with the Republic's legislators, they fiercely opposed him. Later, Napoleon had no choice but to have his brother Lucien bring in a group of soldiers to arrest them. The remaining legislators all agreed after that. Once Napoleon came to power, he put an end to all 'freedom' and began ruling with an iron fist. After feeling pain in their own flesh, those who worshipped and supported him were precisely the most unruly Jacobins. Like a circus animal trainer, he made those frenzied people docile and obedient again."
"Do you know how the French Revolution actually broke out?" Severus asked.
"I thought the books made it very clear. The people of Paris stormed the Bastille."
"I want more details."
"What's in it for me?" Giovanni asked with a wild smile.