Soldiers of My Old Guard Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821) was born in Corsica into a family descended from Italian nobility. Resentful of the French monarchy for conquering the island from Genoa, he still attended both school and the military academy in the country. Graduating in 1785, he served in the army in various ranks overseas until the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789.

He initially supported the revolution and quickly climbed the ranks due to his impressive successes in battle. After his leadership during the Italian campaigns of 1796 - 1797, where he was victorious against Austria and other European powers, his tactical genius became apparent and he was sent to lead a military campaign in Egypt.

Hearing rumours of political instability in France he returned in 1799 and staged a coup d'Etate, created the French Consulate, and became its First Consul, effectively ending the revolution and beginning his rise to power, which would culminate in his becoming the Emperor of France in 1804.

Napoleon's ambitions extended well beyond France. His first major battle, known as the Battle of Marengo, was a huge triumph against the Austrians for control of Italy, which they had retaken while he was overseas.

Great Britain declared war on France in May 1803, which began a series of conflicts that lasted until 1815 known as the Napoleonic Wars. By 1805 Sweden, Russia, Austria, Naples and the Ottoman Empire had all formed a coalition against France, but Napoleon continued to sweep victoriously throughout Europe, his only defeat being the Battle of Trafalgar against the British in 1805.

Later the same year the battle which he called his greatest victory - the Battle of Austerlitz, where he defeated combined Austrian and Russian Forces and gained Central Europe - occurred. The Battle of Jena-Auerstedt a year later led to the fall of Prussia, and, by 1812, the French Empire controlled all of mainland Europe with the exception of Portugal, Austria (who had signed a peace treaty instead), and what remained of the Ottoman Empire.

It appeared he could do no wrong until he made the fateful decision to invade Russia. The Battle of Borodino was one of the bloodiest campaign of the Wars. France technically won when Russia retreated, but the battle had seriously depleted Napoleon's forces. Refusing to capitulate, he moved forward onto Moscow only to find it had been burned and abandoned and there was nothing left to support his troops throughout a Russian winter, so they began the long retreat back to France loosing tens of thousands of French soldiers along the way.

Britain, Austria, Prussia, Spain and Portugal then formed an alliance with Russia and, though he had rebuilt his army with more willing recruits and won several victories since, Napoleon was finally defeated at Leipzig in October 1813.

Withdrawing from Germany he returned to Paris and managed to hold off the Allies until March 1814. While his armed troops were prepared to continue fighting he lost the support of his generals, and was forced to abdicate six days later.

On 20 April 1814 Napoleon made this historic farewell speech to his remaining faithful 'Old Guard' from the courtyard in Fontainebleau Palace.

These men were the elite of Napoleon's Grand Army, chosen from the Imperial Guard, and trained to fight in intensive programs including hand to hand combat. They were a formidable force often referred to as 'The Immortals.'

Fiercely devoted to Napoleon, many had been with him for 20 years and served in as many campaigns. As such, they were still with him at Fontainebleau and prepared to continue to fight with him to the end.

In this speech Napoleon is thanking them for their devotion and service to him and to France and asking them to continue to serve her in his absence. He still believes at this point that, with them and his troops who would still follow him to death, that they could win this war too, but it would be a war on their home ground. Paris had already surrendered to the allies and France would be torn in two and many of its people killed and he professes that he loves her too much to let that happen.

The sacrifices he refers to are not so much the life he has given up for her in the past, but what he is giving up for her in the present and the future. Although he did obviously give her 20 years of his life at war and gave up the woman he loved so he could provide an heir to the throne.

Part of the abdication document of 11 April 1814 states "...Emperor Napoleon, faithful to his oath, declares that he renounces, for himself and his heirs, the thrones of France and Italy, and that there is no personal sacrifice, even that of his life, which he is not ready to make in the interests of France."

Napoleon was sent into exile to the island of Elba, an island off the coast of Italy, but managed to escape 10 months later. With his ever faithful Old Guard and many supporters from along the way, he marched triumphantly into Paris where he again proclaimed himself Emperor.

He would only hold the throne for 100 days before he was defeated at Waterloo by the combined English and Prussian forces. This time he was exiled to St Helena off the coast of Africa, where he stayed until his death. Louis XVIII ordered that the Imperial Guard and the Old Guard be abolished, some ended up enlisting in the king's army but many lived their lives hoping for the return of their beloved emperor.

Napoleon did begin to chronicle his history, but died before completing it. It was published as "Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte (1816-1821): An unfinished autobiography." He also wrote another in 1799 titled "Notes on the Egyptian Campaign: A memoir of Napoleon's military campaign in Egypt". Most amazingly, he wrote a short romantic novel in 1795 titled "Clisson and Eugenie".

As a point of interest, more books have been written about Napoleon Bonaparte than about anyone else in history. The last estimate was over 300,000.