Image: Jacques-Louis David
About This Quiz
He was often called the “Little Corporal” in his startling rise to military power at the end of the 18th century. Then he became a god of war, gathering political power and military might seemingly at will. He was Napoleon Bonaparte, a French hero for the ages. But what do you really know about this often misunderstood general?
The map of Europe looked very different in the late 1700s. And as Napoleon seized power in his home country, he set out to take more and more territory for himself. As a result, he made enemies of countries like Britain and Prussia and Austria — and they decided to fight back. What do you know about the wars that consumed Europe during Napoleon’s reign?
Early in his career, Napoleon gained a reputation as a fearless leader who created amazing battlefield strategies. He consistently defeated other armies, earning respect even from generals who had fought many wars. What do you know about the biggest battles of Napoleon’s life and how they affected his country?
In the end, Napoleon’s power began slipping, in large part because of the vast forces gathered against him. France was in for a titanic showdown with its mortal enemies. What do you know about the fateful events that found Europe throwing hundreds of thousands of men into bloody combat?
Take this deadly Napoleon quiz now! We’ll find out if you can outmanuever one of the craftiest military men of all time!
Napoleon Bonaparte was a famous general from which country?
Japan
France
Napoleon was a French general who led his country to the apex of European power in the late 1700s and early 1800s. He is still regarded as one of the best military minds in history.
America
Advertisement
Napoleon was supposedly short. How tall was he?
about 4’
about 5’7"
One myth about Napoleon is that he was short. He was actually 5 feet 7 inches tall, which was very average for his era.
about 4’11"
Advertisement
Napoleon wasn’t just a general. He was also ______.
an astronomer
emperor
Napoleon’s military victories made him a hero in France. He eventually elevated himself to emperor — and he answered to no one.
a shoe salesman
Advertisement
In 1799, how did Napoleon become emperor?
He murdered all other politicians.
in a coup d’etat
He executed a coup d’etat, forcibly taking political power to augment his military might. He made himself emperor in 1804.
through the line of succession
Advertisement
In the 1809 Battle of Wagram, Napoleon defeated _____.
Asia
Australia
Austria
At the Battle of Wagram, Napoleon’s men defeated the Austrians. The victory increased the emperor’s grip on the continent’s politics.
Advertisement
During Napoleon’s rise to power, other European countries banded together in a series of ______.
tribal ceremonies
coalitions
Nations like Britain and Prussia saw Napoleon’s rise and confronted him with their armies in a series of coalitions. Numerous alliances failed to bring Napoleon to heel.
big parties
Advertisement
In 1812, Napoleon opted to invade which nation?
Russia
In 1812, Napoleon sought to add to his dominion by invading Russia. But things didn’t go quite as he planned.
United States
Libya
Advertisement
What happened after France invaded Russia?
Russia murdered Napoleon.
France surrendered.
France had to withdraw.
French troops were weak and overextended in Moscow. Depleted by winter, the men were forced to withdraw from Moscow, a sign that other Europeon nations took as hope of Napoleon’s lessening power.
Advertisement
What was a major effect of France’s doomed invasion of Russia?
France’s military suffered major losses.
Napoleon’s invasion of Russia cost him many, many men — troops who would later have been very useful to keep other nations at bay.
Napoleon lost an arm in battle.
Vodka supplies ran low.
Advertisement
True or false, did Napoleon manage to capture Moscow?
true
The French army drove the Russians all the way back to Moscow ... and then they abandoned the great city. Napoleon’s men swarmed in and took the city.
false
Advertisement
In 1814, European allies invaded France and took control of Paris. What did they do with Napoleon?
They hanged him.
They exiled him.
The allies exiled Napoleon to an island off of the coast of Tuscany. But Napoleon didn’t take his punishment without a fight.
They kept him as a political puppet.
Advertisement
In 1815, what happened during Napoleon’s time in exile?
He took up karate.
He became deathly ill.
He escaped.
Napoleon decided to escape from exile. He did just that, and was soon back in his home country, ready to take power again.
Advertisement
In October 1816, Napoleon had 185,000 troops at the Battle of Leipzig. How many did the Allies have?
about 1.2 million
about 320,000
The Allies were ready for Napoleon this time. They had about 320,000 troops, vastly outnumbering the French, who had just 185,000.
about the same number
Advertisement
At the Battle of Leipzig, Napoleon’s men tried to retreat across a bridge. What happened?
Russian spies set it on fire.
The bridge collapsed from too many panicking soldiers.
A French solider blew up the bridge.
As French troops fled across the bridge, a panicky French solider detonated explosives too soon, collapsing the only escape route. Tens of thousands of French troops were forced to surrender.
Advertisement
What was the outcome of the Battle of Leipzig?
major French defeat
At the Battle of Leipzig, the Allies tore through Napoleon’s army. It was a decisive victory for the Allies.
minor Allied defeat
indecisive
Advertisement
Where was Napoleon during the French Revolution?
He was in school in another country.
He was a trained assassin.
He was an officer in the military.
During the French Revolution, which started in 1789, Napoleon was a promising young officer. The conflict gave him plenty of occasions to shine, and that's exactly what he did.
Advertisement
How old was Napoleon when he became a general?
24
The young officer was so brilliant in military matters that he became a general at just 24. And he was just getting warmed up.
34
44
Advertisement
When he was just 26, Napoleon fought the Austrians and their allies. How did he do?
He won almost every battle.
Even at the age of 26 , Napoleon was outmaneuvering enemy generals. He won almost every battle in his first major military campaign.
He was soundly defeated.
He retreated at every turn.
Advertisement
Napoleon escaped exile and landed in France with _____ soldiers by his side.
7
70
700
Napoleon had plenty of supporters who wanted him out of exile. He and 700 troops escaped Elba and two days later, they landed in France, and Napoleon set off to retake control of the country.
Advertisement
The Great Powers signed the Declaration at the Congress of Vienna, which essentially said that Napoleon was a(n) ____.
outlaw
Signed in 1815, the Declaration at the Congress of Vienna basically called Napoleon an outlaw. And the Great Powers decided it was up to them to stop him.
psycho
creative weirdo
Advertisement
How did other European leaders feel about Napoleon?
They didn’t trust him.
Napoleon’s rise to power upset leaders in Britain, Prussia, and other European nations. They knew Napoleon’s warring ways would affect their countries in one way or another.
They admired him.
They wanted him to autograph their torsos.
Advertisement
In 1808, Napoleon made his brother king of ______.
Ghana
Spain
The emperor’s power let him do just about anything he wanted. In 1808, Napoleon installed his brother, Joseph, as king of Spain.
America
Advertisement
Which two armies of the Seventh Coalition confronted Napoleon’s men?
USSR and Croatia
Prussia and Britain
Two armies from the Seventh Coalition — Prussia and Britain — blocked Napoleon’s path. The battle they fought became one of the most famous in human history.
U.S. and Turkey
Advertisement
At the Battle of Waterloo, French troops clashed with the British. Then what happened?
The British ran away.
Reinforcements arrived.
British and French forces fought back and forth ... and then vital Prussian reinforements arrived just in time to turn the tide of the battle. The French were crushed.
Napoleon committed suicide.
Advertisement
Why did the French launch the offensive that became known as the Battle of Waterloo?
Napoleon was angry about an assassination attempt.
Napoleon felt that his men were in prime condition.
Napoleon wanted to destroy the Allies’ armies before they could invade France.
With the Allies massing against him, Napoleon knew he had to divide and conquer. In March 1815, his army attacked in hopes of capturing Allied armies before they could attack his.
Advertisement
Which side won the Battle of Waterloo?
United States
America
Seventh Coalition
Napoleon’s unstoppable army finally met its match. The Seventh Coalition pulled off a stunning upset, using superior tactics to stop the French in their tracks.
Advertisement
How many wars made up the Napoleonic Wars?
2
5
The series of five wars that Napoleon’s men fought against the coalitions are called the Napoleonic Wars. In the end, Napoleon finally lost his last war and wound up in exile for a second time.
76
Advertisement
The period after Napoleon’s return from exile until King Louis XVIII retook the throne is called what?
French Civil War
The Short Guy’s Revenge
The Hundred Days
When Napoleon returned from exile, it was the Hundred Days, about the time it took for King Louis XVIII to regain control. It was actually 110 days, but who’s really counting?
Advertisement
Napoleon was exiled again, this time sent to the island of St. Helena, which is _______.
10 miles from Los Angeles
a remote island in the South Pacific
Napoleon was cast off to St. Helena, a remote island in the South Pacific. He lived in a place called Longwood House, a large house that was in disrepair and definitely not suited for a former emperor.
right by Hawaii
Advertisement
How did Napoleon finally die?
complications of shortness
hanged
cancer
Napoleon’s time in exile didn’t help his health. In 1821, after years of being sequestered in poor conditions, he died from stomach cancer.
Advertisement
You Got:
/30
