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PREFACE. |
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INTRODUCTION. The Revolutionary
Epoch in Europe — Corsica as a Center of Interest—It’s Geography—The People
and their Rulers — Sampiero — Paoli — His Success as a Liberator — His
Plan for Alliance with France — The Policy of Choiseul — Paoli’s Reputation
— Napoleon’s Account of Corsica and of Paoli — Rousseau and Corsica. |
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CHAPTER I: THE BONAPARTES IN CORSICA.
The
French Occupy Corsica — Paoli Deceived — Conquest of Corsica by France
— English Intervention Vain — Paoli in England — Introduction of the French
Administrative System — Paoli’s Policy — Origin of the Bonapartes — Carlo
Maria de Buonaparte — Maria Letizia Ramolino — Their Marriage and Naturalization
as French Subjects — Their Fortunes — Their Children. |
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CHAPTER II: NAPOLEON'S BIRTH AND INFANCY.
Birth of Nabulione or Joseph — Date of Napoleon’s Birth — The Name Napoleon
— Corsican Conditions as Influencing Napoleon’s Character — His Early Education
— Influenced by Traditions Concerning Paoli — Charles de Buonaparte as
a Suitor for Court Favor — Napoleon Appointed to Brienne — His Efforts
to Learn French at Autun — Development of His Character — His Father Delegate
of the Corsican Nobility at Versailles. |
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CHAPTER III: NAPOLEON'S SCHOOL DAYS.
Military Schools in France — Napoleon’s Initiation into the Life of Brienne
— His Powerful Friends — His reading and Other Avocations — His Studies
— His Conduct and Scholarship — The Change in His Life Plan — His Influence
in His Family — His Choice of the Artillery Service. |
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CHAPTER IV: IN PARIS AND VALENCE.
Introduction to Paris — Death of Charles de Buonaparte — Napoleon’s Poverty
— His Character at the Close of His School Years — Appointed Lieutenant
in the Regiment of La Fère — Demoralization of the French Army —
The Men in the Ranks — Napoleon as a Beau — Return to Study — His Profession
and Vocation. |
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CHAPTER V: PRIVATE STUDY AND GARRISON
LIFE. Napoleon as a Student of Politics — Nature of Rousseau’s
Political Teachings — The Abbé Raynal — Napoleon Aspires to be the
Historian of Corsica — Napoleon’s First Love — His Notions of Political
Science — The Books He Read — Napoleon at Lyons — His Transfer to Douay
— A Victim of Melancholy — Return to Corsica. |
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CHAPTER VI: FURTHER ATTEMPTS AT AUTHORSHIP.
Straits of the Bonaparte Family — Napoleon’s Efforts to Relieve Them —
His History and Short Stories — Visit to Paris — Secures Extension of His
Leave — The Family Fortunes Desperate — The History of Corsica Completed
— Its Style, Opinions, and Value — Failure to Find a Publisher — Sentiments
Expressed in His Short Stories — Napoleon’s Irregularities as a French
Officer — His Vain Appeal to Paoli — The History Dedicated to Necker. |
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CHAPTER VII: THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE.
The French Aristocracy — Priests, Lawyers, and Petty Nobles — Burghers,
Artisans, and Laborers — The Great Nobles a Barrier to Reform — Mistakes
of the King — The Estates Meet at Versailles — The Court Party Provokes
Violence — Downfall of Feudal Privilege. |
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CHAPTER VIII: BONAPARTE AND REVOLUTION
IN CORSICA. Napoleon’s Studies Continued at Auxonne — Another
Illness and a Furlough — His Scheme of Corsican Liberation — His Appearance
at Twenty — His Attainments and Character — His Shifty Conduct — The Homeward
Journey — New Parties in Corsica — Salicetti and the Nationalists —Napoleon
becomes a Political Agitator — And Leader of the Radicals — The National
Assembly Incorporates Corsica with France and Grants Amnesty to Paoli —
Momentary Joy of the Corsican Patriots — The French Assembly Ridicules
Genoa’s Protest — Napoleon’s Plan for Corsican Administration. |
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CHAPTER IX: FIRST LESSONS IN REVOLUTION
CORSICA. French Soldier and Corsican Patriot — Paoli’s Hesitancy
— His Return to Corsica — Cross Purposes in France — A New Furlough — Money
Transactions of Napoleon and Joseph — Open Hostilities against France —
Thwarted a Second Time — Reorganization of Corsican Administration — Meeting
of Bonaparte and Paoli — Corsican Politics — Studies in Society. |
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CHAPTER X: TRAITS OF CHARACTER.
Literary Work — Essay on Happiness — Thwarted Ambition — The Corsican Patriots
— The Brothers Napoleon and Louis — Studies in Politics — Reorganization
of the Army — The Change in Public Opinion — Napoleon Again at Auxonne
— Napoleon as a Teacher — Further Literary Efforts — The Sentimental Journey
— His Attitude Toward Religion. |
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CHAPTER XI: THE REVOLUTION IN THE RHONE
VALLEY. A Dark Period — Bonaparte, First Lieutenant — Second
Sojourn in Valence — Books and Reading — The National Assembly of France
— The King Returns from Versailles — Administrative Reforms in France —
Passing of the Old Order — Flight of the King — Bonaparte’s Oath to Sustain
the Constitution — His View of the Situation — His Revolutionary Zeal —
A Serious Blunder Avoided — Return to Corsica. |
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CHAPTER XII: BONAPARTE THE CORSICAN
JACOBIN. Bonaparte’s Corsican Patriotism — His Position in His
Family — Corsican Politics — His Position in the Jacobin Club of Ajaccio
— His Failure as a Contestant for Literary Honors — Appointed Adjutant-General
— His Attitude toward France — His New Ambitions — Use of Violence — Lieutenant-Colonel
of Volunteers — Politics in Ajaccio — Bonaparte’s First Experience of Street
Warfare — His Manifesto — Dismissed to Paris — His Plans — The Position
of Louis XVI. — Bonaparte’s Delinquencies — Disorganization in the Army
— Petition for Reinstatement — The Marseillais — Bonaparte a Spectator
— His Estimate of France — His Presence at the Scenes of August Tenth —
State of Paris. |
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CHAPTER XIII: BONAPARTE THE FRENCH JACOBIN.
Reinstatement and Promotion — Further Solicitation — Napoleon and Elisa
— Occupations in Paris — Return to Ajaccio — Disorders in Corsica — Bonaparte
the French Jacobin — Expedition against Sardinia — Course of French Affairs
— Paoli’s Changed Attitude — Estrangement of Bonaparte and Paoli — Mischances
in the Preparations against Sardinia — Failure of the French Detachment
— Bonaparte and the Fiasco of the Corsican Detachment — Further Developments
in France — England’s Policy — Paoli in Danger — Denounced and Summoned
to Paris. |
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CHAPTER XIV: A JACOBIN HEJIRA.
The Waning of Bonaparte’s Patriotism — Alliance with Salicetti — Another
Scheme for Leadership — Failure to Seize the Citadel of Ajaccio — Second
Plan — Paoli’s Attitude toward the Convention — Bonaparte Finally Discredited
in Corsica — Paoli Turns to England — Plans of the Bonaparte Family — Their
Arrival in Toulon — Napoleon’s Character — His Corsican Career — Lessons
of his Failures — His Ability, Situation, and Experience. |
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CHAPTER XV: "THE SUPPER AT BEAUCAIRE."
Revolutionary Madness — Uprising of the Girondists — Convention Forces
Before Avignon — Bonaparte’s First Success in Arms — Its Effect Upon his
Career — His Political Pamphlet — The Genius it Displays — Accepted and
Published by Authority — Seizure of Toulon by the Allies. |
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CHAPTER XVI: TOULON. The
Jacobin Power Threatened — Bonaparte’s Fate — His Appointment at Toulon
— His Ability as an Artillerist — His Name Mentioned with Distinction —
His Plan of Operations — The Fall of Toulon — Bonaparte a General of Brigade
— Behavior of the Jacobin Victors — A Corsican Plot — Horrors of the French
Revolution. |
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CHAPTER XVII: A JACOBIN GENERAL.
Transformation in Bonaparte’s Character — Confirmed as a French General
— Conduct of his Brothers — Napoleon’s Caution — His Report on Marseilles
— The New French Army — Bonaparte the Jacobin Leader — Hostilities with
Austria and Sardinia — Enthusiasm of the French Troops — Bonaparte in Society
— His Plan for an Italian Campaign. |
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CHAPTER XVIII: VICISSITUDES IN
WAR AND DIPLOMACY. Signs of Maturity — The Mission
to Genoa — Course of the French Republic — The “Terror” — Thermidor — Bonaparte
a Scapegoat — His Prescience — Adventures of his Brothers — Napoleon’s
Defense of his French Patriotism — Bloodshedding for Amusement — New Expedition
against Corsica — Bonaparte’s Advice for its Conduct. |
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CHAPTER XIX: THE END OF APPRENTICESHIP.
The English Conquest of Corsica — Effects in Italy — The Buonapartes at
Toulon — Napoleon Thwarted Again — Departure for Paris — His Character
Determined — His Capacities — Reaction from the “Terror” — Resolutions
of the Convention — Parties in France — Their Lack of Experience — A New
Constitution — Different Views of its Value. |