Lauded and loathed: Why the French still can t get enough of Napoleon â 200 years after his death
For many in France, Napoleon Bonaparte is the epitome of French achievement, having conquered much of Europe and remade the structures of his country. But it s a complicated legacy for the sharp-tongued emperor against whom most modern French presidents are still measured 200 years after his death.
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Almost every modern French president is measured against emperor who died in exile on May 5, 1821
Posted: May 02, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: May 2
For many in France, Napoleon Bonaparte, who died on May 5, 1821, is the epitome of French achievement, the man who conquered much of Europe but also remade the structures of his country. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)