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Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon as a young officer during the revolution (by Charlet)
Sabre donated to Napoleon
Joséphine, first wife of Bonaparte; he had this wedding cancelled when he decided to look for a new young and aristocratic wife.
One of Napoleon's horses
Napoleon portrayed by Gérard; such images pleased his soldiers' taste.
A bust of Napoleon by Antonio Canova, representing him as a Roman Emperor.
Letter of Napoleon to Marie Louise (1810); though he still hadn't met his fiancée, he wrote to be very pleased of her good qualities
Napoleon and Marie Louise's marriage.jpg
The King of Rome (after Lawrence).jpg
The legend of Napoleon began very early and never ceased... this is just a sample of Napoleonic memorabilia.JPG
AddiodiNapoleonealfiglio.jpg
Napoleon couldn't celebrate his name day... so historians provided a Saint Napoleon who resembled the Emperor a lot!.jpg
The Museum hosts some 50 satirical prints on the Emperor and his age.JPG
Death of Napoleon.jpg

Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the best knows character in history. Born in Ajaccio in 1769, he took part in the French Revolution, became Premier Consul of France and was crowned Emperor in 1804, along with his wife Joséphine Beauharnais. He was the most powerful sovereign of all Europe, and a most brilliant general, but he lacked an heir: this is why,having his first wedding cancelled, he started looking for a new wife, preferrably one who could give him access to aristocratic families. In 1810 he married Marie Louise of Austria, first-born of one of his long lasting enemies, the Austrian Emperor. A year later they celebrated the birth of their son, Napoleon Francis, who was called "King of Rome". 

When Napoleon was sent to exile to Elba, Marie Louise and her son took refuge in Austria; neither of them was allowed to see or write to Napoleon again, especially so after the Hundred Days and his second exile to Saint Helena, where he died in 1821. While the ex Empress was created Duchess of Parma, her son was compelled to remain in Vienna, under the surveillance of his Grandfather.