Bonaparte was born August 15, 1769. His family was Italian; his original last named was spelt Buonaparte. In 1796 Bonaparte dropped the u. Bonaparte was the second child born out of eight children. At the age of 10, Bonaparte was accepted into a military academy of Brienne in northern France. Bonaparte had a difficult time fitting in, because he was not French. At the age of 15, Bonaparte was accepted into the Ecole Militaire in Paris, the royal military school founded by King Louis XV. In September 1785, Bonaparte joined the artillery at 16 years old; he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Bonaparte ranked 42nd out of 56 students commissioned by Louis XVI that year. (Schlesinger jr. 17-18). Bonaparte was sent to an artillery
…show more content…
In June 1788 Bonaparte rejoined his regiment by then unrest was already building. On July 14, 1789, a Paris mob stormed the Bastille prison. (Schlesinger jr. 19). Bonaparte watched the fall of the Bastille. (Univ. of Penn. Knarf.english.upenn.edu paragraph 1). This marked the onset of the French Revolution. The revolutionaries took over the government. Although King Louis XVI was still alive, his powers were limited. Bonaparte did not take a direct part in those events, but was overjoyed to hear of the abolition of laws that kept petty nobles confined to the ranks. This meant that he did not have to place limits on his ambition, he could rise as high as he wanted in the French army. (Schlesinger jr. …show more content…
Maximilien Robespierre led the committee of public safety. Robespierre was a lawyer who was opposed to the monarchy. Robespierre was the force behind the reign of terror, a period of brutality in France that lasted from June 1793 to July 1794. Anyone with privileges or wealth was at risk of being killed. Families were swept from their homes and executed by furious crowds of French peasants, who were tired of poverty. Thousands who supported the monarchy or were suspected of supporting were sent to the guillotine. Within just nine months, more than sixteen thousand people were guillotined. (Elaine Landau
In June 1788 Bonaparte rejoined his regiment by then unrest was already building. On July 14, 1789, a Paris mob stormed the Bastille prison. (Schlesinger jr. 19). Bonaparte watched the fall of the Bastille. (Univ. of Penn. Knarf.english.upenn.edu paragraph 1). This marked the onset of the French Revolution. The revolutionaries took over the government. Although King Louis XVI was still alive, his powers were limited. Bonaparte did not take a direct part in those events, but was overjoyed to hear of the abolition of laws that kept petty nobles confined to the ranks. This meant that he did not have to place limits on his ambition, he could rise as high as he wanted in the French army. (Schlesinger jr. …show more content…
Maximilien Robespierre led the committee of public safety. Robespierre was a lawyer who was opposed to the monarchy. Robespierre was the force behind the reign of terror, a period of brutality in France that lasted from June 1793 to July 1794. Anyone with privileges or wealth was at risk of being killed. Families were swept from their homes and executed by furious crowds of French peasants, who were tired of poverty. Thousands who supported the monarchy or were suspected of supporting were sent to the guillotine. Within just nine months, more than sixteen thousand people were guillotined. (Elaine Landau