As a major new film explores the life of the French emperor, Matt Elton asks historians Laura O’Brien and David Andress how we can make sense of the diverse and contradictory aspects of Napoleon’s character and career
The Corsican general who rose to become emperor of France often claimed that he ‘owed everything’ to his mother, Letizia. Dr Laura O’Brien considers the truth of this complicated relationship…
The latest historical epic from Ridley Scott, Napoleon tells of the rise and fall of the French emperor, and explores his tumultuous relationship with Joséphine du Beauharnais. How closely does it match the real history?