Napoleon a hero?

[Canuckkev]

Hey others have asked for help with their homework...

I have to write an essay about whether Napoleon I was a hero, or not? I would like to know what other people's views are...

[GregT]

what is napolean ? I think i heard its a type of jappenesse ceral :confused2

[Nick]

I believe Napoleon could be called a hero. He screwed up with that whole invading Russia in the winter thing, but other than that he was a hell of a leader from what I read.

[Canuckkev]

Well for a long time I thought it was a kind of ice cream...

But he was the Emperor of France from 1799-1815(well...not the whole time...but you get the picture). Anyways, he is one of the most fascinating men in history, for many reasons, which I don't care to list here...

[Canuckkev]

Originally posted by Nick
I believe Napoleon could be called a hero. He screwed up with that whole invading Russia in the winter thing, but other than that he was a hell of a leader from what I read.

But was losing hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and causing more food shortages and larger debt, without even permanently gaining any territory, I don't see how that is anything heroic. Sure he was one hell of a military leader, but it wasn't like he was defending France. He was attacking, and ultimately losing.

[GregT]

i think i saw a cartoon with him in it on Cartoon Network ,

[Toefur]

Well, ask yourself: Did napoleon do anything heroic?

He may have been a great war leader, may have kicked some arses and invaded some lands... but was anything he did something you could classify as heroic?

So here's a definition of hero: A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life: soldiers and nurses who were heroes in an unpopular war.

I don't know much about Napolean, but I doubt he did anything that would make him heroic...

[Canuckkev]

Exactly what I think Toefur. I want to see the other side of the issue though. If his domestic policy is enough to counter balance his foreign policy.

[Belgiumdude]

he killed thousends of people , how could he be a hero?

[Giancarlo]

I like his liberal reforms (the word liberal of the day had a different meaning), he reformed schools and started the legion of honor (or something like that).

His military conquests were good, despite invading Russia. That was a mistake.

[Nick]

Originally posted by Toefur
So here's a definition of hero: A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life: soldiers and nurses who were heroes in an unpopular war.

When Napoleon abdicated, he was exiled to a small island and only given 1,000 soldiers. He escaped exile with his men and marched back home to become emperor. Louis XVIII, who did a ----ty job as emperor, sent a wave a troops to attack Napoleon in the mountains. When they met up, Napoleon showed great courage by risking his life and stepping up to the troops and ripping open his shirt to show he was unarmed. He then followed up with a speech to the troops, who after hearing it, joined Napoleon's army. Wave after wave of troops, Napoleon's great leadership won over them all. He then marched into France reclaiming it with his men from Louis XVIII. The people saw him as their hero because he made Louis XVIII get the hell out of the country.


That's basically what happened. I guess being a hero might be kind of in the grey, but he was one hell of a leader.