Military Leader · 1769 – 1821
Napoleon Bonaparte
Little-Known Facts
- Napoleon was not unusually short; the 'tiny Napoleon' myth stems from British propaganda and a confusion of French and English units.
- He briefly escaped his first exile on Elba and returned to rule for the 'Hundred Days' before Waterloo.
Myths & Misconceptions
Was Napoleon extremely short?
No. At around 1.68 m (5'6"), he was about average height for a Frenchman of his era; the myth came partly from British caricature.