Napoleon

Napoleon was that little guy with big power. Napoleon was about 5 feet 3 inches tall. Yet when he was alive he was probably the most powerful man in the world. Napoleon is forever connected to shortness. In fact we have a phrase in the English language which comes from Napoleon. The term "Napoleonic Complex" is usually applied to a man that is really short and overcompensates for his shortness by being really aggressive. You've probably met a person like this; a short person who is insecure about their height and eager to prove themselves. They are always getting in fights and conflicts. Napoleon lived through the French Revolution. He was 20 years old when the third estate rose up and took the Bastille in 1789. By the time he was 30, Napoleon was the top general in France. He had control of the French army and used the army to take control of the French government. Suddenly, he was the most powerful man in France. Napoleon decided to make himself emperor of France, and the French voters supported him. He had the Pope come up from Rome for the celebration where he was crowned emperor. Some thought it strange that the people of France would except an emperor - after all, they had just killed their own king and given power to the people during the French Revolution. But the time period after the revolution was unstable - and Napoleon fit right in. Napoleon created some stability in France. The country was tired of the chaos of The French Revolution and the Reign of Terror, and the people welcomed a guy who could take charge. Napoleon helped the economy by setting up a fair tax code and a national bank.  He helped the government by fighting corruption and hiring competent officials. And he helped the governments relationship with the church. Napoleon also helped completely rid France of the Feudal system - which was pretty much on its way out after the French Revolution. Napoleon didn't want to only rule France. He wanted to take over all of Europe. With Napoleon's military leadership the powerful armies of France went throughout Europe. Napoleon eventually controlled all of Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. In Europe, only the island nation of Great Britain was free from Napoleon's control. Napoleon had control of the largest European empire since the Roman's. Napoleon's dreams were ruined when he tried to invade Russia. His army wasn't able to make it all the way to Russia. When retreating back to France his army died of Russian attacks and the weather. Surrounding countries knew Napoleon was weak so they attacked him and he surrendered. He was sent off to a remote island to never return. Napoleon didn't give up, a few years later he returned to France when Louis XVIII wasn't doing a good job. He became a hero of France again. Soon, he tried to take over the world again and Britain attacked him and he lost. He was sent off to a even further island and died six years later. Three famous military leaders (Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and Hitler), all made huge mistakes by trying to invade Russia. Russia is giant (the worlds largest country measure by land), and has brutally cold and snowy winters. These leaders felt they could move on and conquer Russia after they had conquered Europe. But all were defeated by determined Russian soldiers and the cold of winter.