Napoleon Bonaparte

Often regarded as one of the most notable figures in French history, Napoleon
Bonaparte led a life full of ups and downs. However, there is key evidence that the postrevolutionary French leader suffered from a slew of mental illnesses throughout is life,
especially following his first run as leader of France. This thesis can be proved accurate
through information derived from web articles and films about the esteemed life of the iconic
French militia leader and emperor; modern medical journals and developments assist is
proving this information to be accurate.
First and foremost, Napoleon Bonapartes mentally issues are partially clear
throughout internet articles centered on the man. In one article on crazyfacts.com, Bonaparte
is explained to once have been moved to tears over finding a dog lying next to its deceased
owners corpse. Well, yes, in many cases, this would cause many people grief, an army
general usually contains a certain degree of internal and emotional strength. This occurrence
can be directly related to depression or extreme mood swings, which are both proven to
cause tremendous emotional strife on the individual suffering from the disorders. Also,
another example from the website is an experience that Bonaparte underwent while visiting
Giza, Egypt. In the Kings Chambers, he underwent a paranormal altercation that left him
visibly shaken up. This could actually be a multitude of things manifesting: a psychological
breakdown because of stress or schizophrenia among others. Through both of these
occurrences, it is evident that there may, in fact, be a problem with his mental health.
Aside from the web articles that focus on the topic, there is evidence of psychological
problems throughout the many documentaries based on Napoleon Bonaparte. In the

Discovery Channel documentary, Bonaparte suffers a multitude of mental breakdowns

following his excel. He suffered through many instances of full on breakdown. Many factors
could play into this slew of suffering and downheartedness. This could be because he missed
leading France, lost almost everything that he cared about in such a short amount of time, or
had a natural mental illness that was not detected during the time. Regardless of the
reasoning, the documentary brings forward precise examples of these mental breakdowns,
with the most notable being Napoleon Bonapartes failed suicide attempt. While he was
staying in St. Helena, many close friends and visitors of Bonaparte would often find him
pacing around his quarters, incredibly emotional in one way or another. He had an incredibly
difficult time sleeping at night, especially after surgically repairing of some of ailments he
faced throughout the war. Modern psychologists, like the psychologists of
psychologytoday.com, claim that there are many physical symptoms that are found in
depression cases, including extreme sadness, insomnia, and change in behavior. All of these
symptoms were present in Bonaparte.
Modern medicine and psychology has developed immensely in the last century,
especially psychological studies focused on the grieving process, those faced with stressful
situations, and the effect war has on veterans. Napoleon Bonaparte faced all three of these
situations almost simultaneously, which does, in fact, help to prove the fact that he was likely
suffering from severe depression. First of all, the grieving process takes a severe and unique
tool on the person who is suffering from it. Psychologisttoday.com claims that the phrase
the grieving process cannot be used in a universal manner because it is so different for
everybody who is affected. What one may be experiencing might be the complete opposite

for somebody else; it depends solely on the one who is suffering. Thus, Napoleon could have
been facing the divorce of his first wife, abandonment of his second wife and child, and the
betrayal of France as his psychological motive for depression. Along with these loses,
Napoleon Bonaparte was in an incredibly stressful situation for most of his life. He was
shipped off to a military school as a child, were he was constantly tormented for his heritage.
Following school, he immediately entered into the armed forces and shot up the ranks during
his first year or so. From then on, he was a leader of men, responsible for their lives and
safety, defeating the enemy, ruling France, finding a wife for which he could have a son, and
so much more. This stress never entirely let up ever again. For this reason, the depression
could have heightened even further than it had previously been. Lastly, war has been proven
to take a mental tool on those who participate in it; it shows the veteran a whole new side of
worldly evil, subjecting them to much more than the average mind can withstand. Napoleon,
on top of all of the other possible causes, most likely faced the worst form of cerebral
torment from his time in the war.
There is a decent amount of evidence that assists in proving Napoleon Bonaparte
suffered with a surplus of problems involving his mental state, mainly coming from books,
documentaries, and web articles that talk about the man. He suffered throughout much of his
life, with many people leaving him and/ or using him after they got exactly what they needed
from him. He was forced into a multitude of situations that take an extreme mental tool on
any person, again causing him more anguish. For these reason, it is plausible that the postrevolutionary French leader suffered from a slew of mental illnesses throughout is life,
especially following his first run as leader of France.

Works Cited
How Can You Know If You're Depressed?" Psychology Today. HealthProfs.com, 9 Dec. 2016.
Web. 11 Dec. 2016.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ending-addiction-good/201612/how-can-youknow-if-you-re-depressed

History.com Staff. "Napoleon Bonaparte." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web.
11 Dec. 2016.
http://www.history.com/topics/napoleon

"The Grieving Process-Is There Any Such Thing?" Psychology Today. HealthProfs.com, 27
June 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/broken-hearts/201306/the-grieving-process-isthere-any-such-thing-0