The Man of Destiny · Character

Napoleon Bonaparte

A twenty-six-year-old artilleryman who has just discovered that cannonballs kill people, and intends to make Europe agree.

major

Also known as Napoleon, Bonaparte, General Bonaparte, General, the young general, the General

First appearance: The Man of Destiny

As a major figure in The Man of Destiny, Napoleon Bonaparte is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The young general, confident and manipulative, engages in a psychological duel with the mysterious lady.

In the storyThe Man of DestinyOpen this moment free

Fresh from seizing the bridge at Lodi, the young General Bonaparte commands the French army in Italy with a specialty in cannonading and an unsentimental read of human nature. Poverty and repeated failure have taught him that the world gives nothing he cannot take by force, yet he still plays brilliantly on the ideals he no longer believes. His restless, calculating energy drives the play's central contest of wits.

See Napoleon Bonaparte in The Man of Destiny Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Character Web

9 connections

A slice of how Napoleon Bonaparte sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Psychological
Rivalry
Professional
Other

Character groups

Protagonist
Napoleon's Inner Circle

+4 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Relationships

The Lady
psychological · ambivalent
A tense, manipulative game of wits and seduction where each tries to outmaneuver the… How this plays out →
Giuseppe Grandi
rivalry · negative
Excellency
rivalry · negative
The French
professional · positive
Barras
rivalry · negative
The Austrians
rivalry · negative
Caesar
psychological · positive

The Lady
A tense, manipulative game of wits and seduction where each tries to outmaneuver the other for control of a secret letter.
Giuseppe Grandi
Grandi is a cunning spy working against Napoleon, attempting to steal a compromising letter to undermine his command.
Excellency
Excellency is a political enemy of Napoleon, orchestrating plots to discredit and undermine him.
The French
Napoleon commands the French army, viewing them as instruments of his ambition and glory.
Barras
Barras is a political rival of Napoleon, part of the Directory that seeks to control or eliminate him.
The Austrians
Napoleon is at war with the Austrians, viewing them as the primary enemy on the Italian battlefield.
Caesar
Napoleon compares himself to Caesar, using the historical figure as a mirror for his own ambition and destiny.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Napoleon Bonaparte in The Man of Destiny

In the story

Napoleon Bonaparte appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Man of Destiny

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Napoleon Bonaparte unlock in the free preview.

See Napoleon Bonaparte in The Man of Destiny