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Napoleon to page 135

Ability to compartmentalize:  sections of life like cupboard drawers, he pulls them open when that's what he's involved in, shuts them when he moves on.  Sleep = closing all the drawers.

Warmonger?  War was declared on him far more often than he declared it on others.

Poor reputation today is partially based on Hitler's admiration of Napoleon and the fact that both were involved in disastrous Russian campaigns.  Comparison not apt.

N. as great reader with particular interest in Roman/Greek (war) history

Native language is Corsican. Always spoke French with heavy accent. Learned French at 10, but his education in France made him FRENCH through and through. Corsica was basically a protectorate of France.

Nickname is "Straw up the nose."  Clearly intellectually superior at school. Never a true Christian as he never believed that Jesus was God

Believer in Roman equality before the law; not so much for freedom of press, parliamentarianism, human rights.  Merit based. He welcomed the French Revolution.  French Revolution made it possible for him to become a general at 24. Merit.

 He made himself skilled at all aspects of warfare.  Cannons/guns/mortars--he could take them apart, reassemble, understood their inner workings

British opposition is based mainly on politics, not on any "moral" repugnance. Some accuse Napoleon of being a coward.  Absurd--he fought 60 battles, came near death numerous times because of his proximity to the fighting; people near him were killed; struck by a bullet

The word strategy was not used until after Napoleon's death

Josephine: Napoleon falls all over himself with his love letters; she is unmoved, takes lovers in France, doesn't seem to particularly care for him

"As a rule, the educated, professional, and secularized elites were more likely to regard Napoleon as a liberating force than the Catholic peasantry, who the saw the French armies as foreign atheists." p. 95

Napoleon wished to be seen as an enlightened liberator, so he offered conquered lands the hope that eventually they would be independent, self-ruled nations. It wasn't a fake offer; it was what he desired. He prized meritocracy, free-thinking, and nationhood over privilege, localism, and strict Catholicism. He allowed Jews to live anywhere, closing ghettos. Respected science, art, literature, etc.

Also believed in "cruel to be kind." He killed one hundred villagers and burned their village (Italy) as a warning to other villages not to rebel.

Before he was 28, he crossed the Apennines and the Alps, defeated a Sardinian army and six Austrian armies, defeating 120,000 Austrian soldiers.

Enjoyed spending time with his soldiers; a man of the common man



orotundities--odd word

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