Napoleon

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Napoleon Bonaparte (original: 拿破仑) 1
Alias(es)	General Napoleon; “God of War”; Augustus 192 398
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Bonaparte family; French Republic; Roman Empire 210 397
Occupation/Role	Artillery officer, military commander, First Consul of the French Republic, Emperor of the Romans 26 210 396
Status	Alive; no longer First Consul, but remains emperor and a major public figure as of 1821 552
First Appearance	Chapter 1, “My Brother Napoleon” 1

Ranks and Offices

Rank / Office	Chapter	Notes
Second Lieutenant of Artillery	26	Graduates early from the military academy and is assigned to the Raphael Legion.
Red Army officer	63	Put forward as the prospective commander of the specialized simulated-enemy force devised with Joseph and Carnot.
Lieutenant and Red Army operations officer	73	Promoted by Lafayette in recognition of his Red Army work.
Major	90	Commands and rigorously trains artillerymen during Dumouriez’s attempted mutiny.
General	108	Leads operations during the Toulon campaign and gathers intelligence on enemy fortifications.
First Consul of the French Republic	210	Becomes head of the new three-consul government after nationwide elections.
Imperator	346	Initially refuses the title, then accepts the Imperator Medal after legislative and public pressure.
Emperor of the Romans	396 397	Crowned by Pope Pius VI; establishes the Roman Empire while retaining France’s republican institutions.

Background

Napoleon grows up in Ajaccio, Corsica, as Joseph Bonaparte’s younger brother. Small in stature and frequently mocked for it, he develops a violent, opportunistic fighting style centered on surprise attacks and targeting weaknesses. His brothers fear him, and he often avoids punishment by presenting himself as the victim after a fight. This stops working once Joseph gains Letizia’s complete trust and becomes able to see through Napoleon’s schemes, forcing Napoleon to treat his elder brother with greater respect. 1

He initially views education in France as reconnaissance for Corsican independence: he wants to understand France closely enough to someday defeat it. Though hostile toward the French, he is naturally intelligent and studies mathematics, geography, history, and physics with particular seriousness because he considers them essential to warfare. 2 4

At the Paris Military Academy, Napoleon deliberately provokes noble classmates and officers while maintaining excellent academic results, hoping they will prefer to graduate him early rather than tolerate him. The plan succeeds: he graduates into the artillery as a second lieutenant. 13 26

His Corsican outlook later broadens beyond separatism. He comes to believe Corsica needs education, progress, freedom, equality, justice, and rule of law rather than simple independence followed by stagnation. He proposes writing a history of Corsica to influence its educated leaders, though Joseph challenges his idealism by stressing the role of material interests in politics. 30

Appearance

Napoleon is repeatedly described as notably short, a trait that provokes ridicule and remains a personal irritation throughout his youth. When leaving the military academy, he wears a gray-blue officer’s uniform with a sword, giving him an imposing appearance despite his height. 1 26

• Short stature. 1
• Wears a gray-blue artillery uniform early in his career. 26
• Carries an officer’s sword. 26

Personality

Napoleon is intensely ambitious, confident, and restless. Even as a student, he believes he is destined for exceptional achievements and compares himself to heroes of the Homeric age. His confidence drives him to act decisively, but Joseph repeatedly warns that it can become arrogance and cause him to underestimate opponents. 13

He is a diligent lifelong learner, especially in military subjects. Although strong in geometry and military studies, he can struggle with unusually difficult mathematical problems; rather than abandon his goals, he studies harder and seeks early graduation. 4 25

As a commander, Napoleon combines tactical aggressiveness with concern for morale. During supply shortages, he eats the same poor food as his soldiers, reduces training strain, talks with them daily, and leads them in songs to preserve their loyalty. 90 136

His political ideals and personal ambition coexist uneasily. He publicly presents himself as a defender of democracy, republican institutions, science, and national prosperity, while also pursuing imperial status and enjoying public acclaim. Lucien identifies vanity and susceptibility to “lofty goals” as Napoleon’s greatest weakness; Napoleon acknowledges the criticism but insists he will not sacrifice practical interests for applause. 209 397 534

Abilities & Skills

Military Command and Tactics

Napoleon is an exceptionally decisive commander whose campaigns rely on speed, surprise, modern weapons, and careful anticipation of enemy reactions.

• Uses feints at Valenza to draw Austrian forces away before crossing the Po at Piacenza. 155
• Anticipates a Sardinian cavalry charge and orders Augereau’s counterattack at the decisive moment. 148
• Leads the French across the Alps in winter to surprise Austrian and Sardinian forces. 146
• Takes Milan, besieges Mantua, defeats Austrian relief forces, and compels Beaulieu’s surrender. 156
• Keeps reserves behind the National Guard and uses Davout’s cavalry to disrupt enemy supply lines during the defense against rebels. 99
• Treats artillery as central to modern warfare and helps build the Red Army around effective artillery employment. 66

Troop Leadership

Napoleon earns loyalty through personal attention, clear objectives, and restraint.

• Remembers the names and deeds of his artillerymen. 90
• Explains new weapons and campaign goals to his troops, increasing their confidence before the Italian campaign. 146
• Maintains morale during shortages by sharing soldiers’ hardships and promising improvement. 136
• Suppresses the Paris rebellion without killing a single rebel, preserving the Italian Legion’s image as a disciplined force. 198

Political Leadership and Oratory

Napoleon can mobilize public support through speeches, military prestige, and institutional reform.

• Returns to Paris with his army when rebellion threatens the Republic and proposes a new government. 198
• Uses victory speeches and a political reform program to promise that France will defeat poverty and want as it defeated foreign armies. 209
• Secures the First Consulship through nationwide elections and restructures the legislature to strengthen executive authority. 210
• Publicly affirms French democracy even after accepting the imperial crown of Rome. 396 397

Diplomacy and Statecraft

Napoleon negotiates from a position of military strength but can compromise when it serves French interests.

• Tests Metternich’s intentions during Austrian peace negotiations and remains skeptical of concessions offered merely to delay France. 204
• Reaches an agreement with Austria on peace and weapons-export issues, while imposing far harsher demands on Prussia. 206
• Establishes a strategic partnership between the French Republic and the Roman Empire, including free trade and mutual defense agreements. 397

Academic Interests

Napoleon has sustained interests in mathematics, science, law, and military technology.

• Excels in geometry and other subjects connected to warfare. 4 10
• Studies relentlessly to overcome mathematical weaknesses and graduate early. 25
• Becomes involved with the Academy of Sciences, though he suffers a public setback during a mathematical controversy. 422 424
• Is later publicly regarded as a ruler knowledgeable in military affairs, law, politics, economics, and science. 425

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Gray-blue artillery officer’s uniform and sword upon his first military posting. 26
• Artillery formations, which he considers fundamental to modern warfare. 66
• Minié Rifle-equipped skirmishers and later a largely rifle-equipped Italian army. 146 156
• Captured enemy banners used during his triumphal return to Paris. 208

Relationships

• Joseph Bonaparte — Elder brother, mentor, collaborator, and frequent critic. Joseph sees through Napoleon’s childhood schemes, supports his military rise, and helps formulate the political path to empire. 1 63 223
• Lucien Bonaparte — Younger brother and political ally. Lucien helps protect Napoleon during the coup, later openly criticizes his vanity and reminds him of the family’s real objectives. 198 534
• Pauline Bonaparte — Sister and early confidante. Napoleon shares his initial Corsican-independence ambitions with her. 2
• Louis Bonaparte — Younger brother who accompanies Napoleon to Paris and shows deference to his plans for Corsica. 30
• Lola — Chosen by Napoleon as Empress from the relatives of École Normale Supérieure members; she is Lagrange’s great-niece. 418
• Lazare Carnot — Military reform collaborator who recognizes Napoleon’s potential as a commander and supports his Red Army role. 63 72
• Lafayette — Patron within the revolutionary military establishment who authorizes the Red Army project and promotes Napoleon. 63 73
• Davout — Trusted subordinate whose mounted infantry seizes and holds the bridgehead during the Po campaign. 155
• Augereau — Subordinate who executes Napoleon’s cavalry counterattack and helps implement policy in occupied Milan. 148 156
• Klemens Wenzel von Metternich — Austrian envoy and diplomatic counterpart in negotiations over peace, technology, and arms exports. 204 206
• Pope Pius VI — Crowns Napoleon Emperor of the Romans and praises him as a protector of Catholicism. 387 396

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arc	Chapters	Role
Corsican childhood	1 2	A violent, clever child whose ambitions are initially tied to Corsican independence.
French education and military academy	4 13 25 26	Develops into a serious military student, engineers his early graduation, and enters artillery service.
Red Army formation	63 66 73	Helps establish and train a multi-branch experimental force, gaining recognition as a commander.
Revolutionary wars and Toulon	90 108 114	Commands artillerymen, participates in Toulon’s recovery, and is assigned to develop skirmisher doctrine.
Italian campaign	136 146 148 155 156	Uses superior weapons, winter maneuvers, and aggressive strategy to defeat Sardinian and Austrian forces.
Coup and First Consulship	198 209 210	Suppresses rebellion, presents political reforms, and becomes First Consul.
Imperial project	222 225 346 396 397	Pursues an imperial title without formally abolishing the French Republic, culminating in his coronation as Emperor of the Romans.
Later rule	323 343 432	Promotes military innovation, science, railways, public spectacle, and an expansive naval buildup.
Final years	549 552	Steps away from the First Consulship but remains emperor, healthy, influential, and celebrated at public events.

Notable Quotes

“I was elected by every man in France, one vote each! My legitimacy far exceeds that of any parliament; therefore, the legitimacy of my orders far exceeds that of the so-called laws enacted by parliament!” 210

“Do not lose the big for the small.” 210

“Reactionary things must be knocked down, just as dust in a house must be swept away!” 157