Why the French worship Napoleon as a hero is beyond me (though, come to think of it, they ARE French, so what do you expect?) because more proof has come to light as to just what a madman he was and that he was no more of a hero than Kaiser Bill and Hitler.
After his defeat by Great Britain in the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon (who counted the hypocritical Americans amongst his allies) was imprisoned by the British on the island of St Helena which was, and still is, a British colony. But, despite being safely locked up (he should have been in a padded cell), he still thought that he could invade Britain and that the British would eventually join him after the conquest, according to a diary kept by a British officer stationed there.
The 7th August 1815 entry in the diary kept by Denzil Ibbetson says: 'Napoleon talks of invading England with 200,000 Infantry & 6,000 Cavalry, but was uncertain of the disposition of the people of England, whether they would be for or against him, as he was induced to believe a great number would join him.'
His confidence may have come from the time he escaped from the British when he left the Mediterranean island of Elba and returned to power in France.
But escape this time was not to be. Old Boney died whilst still in British captivity in 1821. His cause of death remains a mystery, but the initial autopsy said he died of stomach cancer. The autopsy also revealed evidence of a stomach ulcer, and it was the most convenient explanation for the British who wanted to avoid criticism over their care of the dictator (no silly European Human Rights Act in those days).
However, a Swedish dentist said in 1955 that Napoleon may have been murdered by being poisoned with arsenic. The wallpaper in Napoleon's cell was coloured by an arsenical compund, as was commmon in (usually green) British-manufactured wallpaper at the time.
Secret diary of Napoleon's jailer reveals how deluded dictator thought he could still conquer Britain AFTER Waterloo
By Luke Salkeld
16th June 2010
Daily Mail
For a man of diminutive stature, there was little that stood in the way of Napoleon's military ambitions.
Even, it seems, being exiled to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
A newly discovered document reveals that the former French leader was still plotting to invade Britain after he was sent to end his days on the island of St Helena.
Napoleon on his deathbed, in a sketch by British officer Denzil Ibbetson. It is included in his collection of diaries and sketches which are being put up for auction
Deluded: A newly-discovered document reveals that Napoleon was still plotting to invade Britain after he was sent to end his days on the island of St Helena after France's defeat to Britain in the Napoleonic Wars
A diary kept by a British officer stationed there reveals how the defeated Emperor also believed the British would join him after his conquest.
The 1825 journal of Denzil Ibbetson describes Napoleon's plans to conquer the country that imprisoned him after the Battle of Waterloo.
Ibbetson describes the prisoner as: '...very corpulent, about 5ft 6inches high', and adds that he has 'short brown hair, sallow complexion, broad shoulders and has at times a very ferocious countenance'.
And he wrote on August 7, 1815: 'Napoleon talks of invading England with 200,000 Infantry & 6,000 Cavalry, but was uncertain of the disposition of the people of England, whether they would be for or against him, as he was induced to believe a great number would join him.'
His amazing confidence may have stemmed from his previous escape from the British when he left the Mediterranean island of Elba and returned to power in France.
In the diary Ibbetson records the story of how Napoleon convinced the people of Grenoble to join him following his return to his homeland.
He wrote: 'September 8th. Walked with the Admiral. I asked him of Napoleon ... touched upon the subject of his leaving Elba.
Enlarge
As well as diaries and drawings the collection includes a lock of Napoleon's hair cut the morning after his death in 1821, when the military leader was 51
'The Admiral said that when he Landed in France, with 600 men the people of Grenoble hesitated whether they would join him, upon which Napoleon opened his great coat, & said "kill your Emperor" this produced the desired effect they immediately joined him.'
Ibbetson was a talented artist and alongside his diary, many drawings and paintings of Napoleon and St Helena make up a fascinating archive which is due to be sold at auction later this month.
The collection includes a lock of Napoleon's hair cut the morning after his death in 1821, when the military leader was 51.
There is also a drawing of Napoleon on his deathbed and detailed measurements of the dead Frenchman's head.
Ibbetson was the Commissary officer on the British colony of St Helena and his historic belongings were later taken to New Zealand by his son in 1864.
Sentence: Longwood House, where Napoleon lived and died in exile on St. Helena
Remote: The hillside on St Helena, where Napoleon was exiled alongside the British officer. It is only accessisble by cargo ship from Cape Town every three weeks
They were kept in a suitcase for years by this descendants who did not realise the full significance of the treasures until they attended a charity valuation day at an auction house.
The full archive is being sold by auctioneers Art and Object in Auckland, New Zealand, and is expected to fetch up to £100,000.
Hamish Coney, from the saleroom, said: 'The direct link to a recorded officer who played such an important role in Napoleon's life and whose connection is so close makes this collection unique.
'When we first saw the collection we organised a family conference and found out that it had always been kept in a suitcase.
'They were aware of it, but it had just been passed down the line and they just hadn't thought about it that much until they opened it earlier this year.'
He added: 'Denzil Ibbetson was a talented artist and the Commissary officer on St Helena who married there and had a family.
'The archive includes drawings and watercolours of people and places on the island, hair cut from Napoleon the morning after he died and other items.
'The diary is of particular interest as it tells how Napoleon still planned his invasion of Britain.'
After his death Napoleon was buried on St Helena, but his remains were later moved to Paris.
dailymail.co.uk
After his defeat by Great Britain in the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon (who counted the hypocritical Americans amongst his allies) was imprisoned by the British on the island of St Helena which was, and still is, a British colony. But, despite being safely locked up (he should have been in a padded cell), he still thought that he could invade Britain and that the British would eventually join him after the conquest, according to a diary kept by a British officer stationed there.
The 7th August 1815 entry in the diary kept by Denzil Ibbetson says: 'Napoleon talks of invading England with 200,000 Infantry & 6,000 Cavalry, but was uncertain of the disposition of the people of England, whether they would be for or against him, as he was induced to believe a great number would join him.'
His confidence may have come from the time he escaped from the British when he left the Mediterranean island of Elba and returned to power in France.
But escape this time was not to be. Old Boney died whilst still in British captivity in 1821. His cause of death remains a mystery, but the initial autopsy said he died of stomach cancer. The autopsy also revealed evidence of a stomach ulcer, and it was the most convenient explanation for the British who wanted to avoid criticism over their care of the dictator (no silly European Human Rights Act in those days).
However, a Swedish dentist said in 1955 that Napoleon may have been murdered by being poisoned with arsenic. The wallpaper in Napoleon's cell was coloured by an arsenical compund, as was commmon in (usually green) British-manufactured wallpaper at the time.
Secret diary of Napoleon's jailer reveals how deluded dictator thought he could still conquer Britain AFTER Waterloo
By Luke Salkeld
16th June 2010
Daily Mail
For a man of diminutive stature, there was little that stood in the way of Napoleon's military ambitions.
Even, it seems, being exiled to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
A newly discovered document reveals that the former French leader was still plotting to invade Britain after he was sent to end his days on the island of St Helena.
Napoleon on his deathbed, in a sketch by British officer Denzil Ibbetson. It is included in his collection of diaries and sketches which are being put up for auction
Deluded: A newly-discovered document reveals that Napoleon was still plotting to invade Britain after he was sent to end his days on the island of St Helena after France's defeat to Britain in the Napoleonic Wars
A diary kept by a British officer stationed there reveals how the defeated Emperor also believed the British would join him after his conquest.
The 1825 journal of Denzil Ibbetson describes Napoleon's plans to conquer the country that imprisoned him after the Battle of Waterloo.
Ibbetson describes the prisoner as: '...very corpulent, about 5ft 6inches high', and adds that he has 'short brown hair, sallow complexion, broad shoulders and has at times a very ferocious countenance'.
And he wrote on August 7, 1815: 'Napoleon talks of invading England with 200,000 Infantry & 6,000 Cavalry, but was uncertain of the disposition of the people of England, whether they would be for or against him, as he was induced to believe a great number would join him.'
His amazing confidence may have stemmed from his previous escape from the British when he left the Mediterranean island of Elba and returned to power in France.
In the diary Ibbetson records the story of how Napoleon convinced the people of Grenoble to join him following his return to his homeland.
He wrote: 'September 8th. Walked with the Admiral. I asked him of Napoleon ... touched upon the subject of his leaving Elba.
Enlarge
As well as diaries and drawings the collection includes a lock of Napoleon's hair cut the morning after his death in 1821, when the military leader was 51
'The Admiral said that when he Landed in France, with 600 men the people of Grenoble hesitated whether they would join him, upon which Napoleon opened his great coat, & said "kill your Emperor" this produced the desired effect they immediately joined him.'
Ibbetson was a talented artist and alongside his diary, many drawings and paintings of Napoleon and St Helena make up a fascinating archive which is due to be sold at auction later this month.
The collection includes a lock of Napoleon's hair cut the morning after his death in 1821, when the military leader was 51.
There is also a drawing of Napoleon on his deathbed and detailed measurements of the dead Frenchman's head.
Ibbetson was the Commissary officer on the British colony of St Helena and his historic belongings were later taken to New Zealand by his son in 1864.
Sentence: Longwood House, where Napoleon lived and died in exile on St. Helena
Remote: The hillside on St Helena, where Napoleon was exiled alongside the British officer. It is only accessisble by cargo ship from Cape Town every three weeks
They were kept in a suitcase for years by this descendants who did not realise the full significance of the treasures until they attended a charity valuation day at an auction house.
The full archive is being sold by auctioneers Art and Object in Auckland, New Zealand, and is expected to fetch up to £100,000.
Hamish Coney, from the saleroom, said: 'The direct link to a recorded officer who played such an important role in Napoleon's life and whose connection is so close makes this collection unique.
'When we first saw the collection we organised a family conference and found out that it had always been kept in a suitcase.
'They were aware of it, but it had just been passed down the line and they just hadn't thought about it that much until they opened it earlier this year.'
He added: 'Denzil Ibbetson was a talented artist and the Commissary officer on St Helena who married there and had a family.
'The archive includes drawings and watercolours of people and places on the island, hair cut from Napoleon the morning after he died and other items.
'The diary is of particular interest as it tells how Napoleon still planned his invasion of Britain.'
After his death Napoleon was buried on St Helena, but his remains were later moved to Paris.
dailymail.co.uk
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