The rise, fall and legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte

They say that, other than Jesus Christ, probably more has been written about Napoleon than any other ruler. In the early 1800s, Napoleon was the emperor of France and created many reforms and laws that are still followed today. Even the United States adopted some of them.

It seems he was always at war and was finally defeated in 1814 by England, Russia, Austria and Prussia. He was sent to the island of Elba, where, after 300 days, he escaped, marched to Paris while picking up military supporters on the way, and took over France again. The king of France, Louis XVIII, took off.

Then the countries above that had defeated Napoleon did not accept his return and attacked him again. At the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, against England and Russia, Napoleon was winning, but then came 50,000 Prussians, leading to Napoleon’s defeat.

During this two‑day battle, France lost 25,000 killed and wounded; the allies lost 23,000 killed and wounded. About 6,000 horses were also killed. The allied soldiers were buried, but the French were stacked in a pile and burned.

Napoleon was defeated again after only 100 days back in France and was then exiled to the island of St. Helena, which was 1,200 miles from Africa in the South Atlantic — too far for another escape. He died there in 1821 at age 51. Some say he died of stomach cancer; others say he was poisoned. However, he was given comfortable living quarters and did well there.

He is now in a huge above‑ground wooden casket, with several nested inside one another to supposedly preserve his body, in Les Invalides in Paris. I have visited it, and it is impressive.

Roger Gregory served as a captain in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. He is a Priest River businessman.