Napoleon
WARNING : spoiler before for Napoleon .
Summary
Ridley Scott ’s new epic biopicNapoleonfeatures several change and historical inaccuracies from the real - life legacy of the famous French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte . While none of the diachronic inaccuracies or originative changes really alter the overall portrayal of Napoleon ’s impact on the modern world , some are substantial enough to bring up for Napoleonic scholars and history buffs alike . Scott ’s cinema about one of the most large military leaders who ever lived marks his first reunification with actor Joaquin Phoenix since 2000’sGladiatorand will be his terminal release before 2024’sGladiator 2 .
12Napoleon Did Not Charge Into Any Battle With His Calvary
Ridley Scott’s Film Depicts Several Instances Of The Emperor In Direct Combat
Napoleon Bonaparte is depicted ride along with his cavalry during several battle , admit the famed Battle of Waterloo . Most historians repugn this portraying of the French Emperor as a heroic and battle - quick General who fought alongside his infantrymen in the depth of outrageous combat . He was typically send behind the existent conflict in rescript to oversee themand was rarely ever in physical danger . Napoleon was , however , unbelievably skilled at inspiring his soldiers and prepare them to load into engagement , which he does on several social occasion in Scott ’s motion picture .
11Napoleon Was Wounded By British Bayonet During Siege Of Toulon
Historians Also Believe His Horse Survived The Battle
One of the few instances when Napoleon was in trauma ’s way was before he was promoted after the Siege of Toulon . Phoenix ’s Napoleon says in the film that he head the rush against the British at Toulon but that was not entirely truthful . Napoleon did fare up with the strategy , as limn in Scott ’s film , and was directly necessitate in combat with British soldiers . Interestingly , Scott ’s flick left out the part in which Napoleon was stabbed by a British bayonet while on hogback , a wound that could very well have killed him(via Time Out ) . Some historians also contest that his horse was shoot out from under him with a cannonball .
10There Was No Giant Frozen Lake At The Battle Of Austerlitz
There Were Several Small Ponds & Few Drownings
The Battle of Austerlitz is credited as one of Napoleon ’s finest military accomplishment . However , it did n’t go on precisely as it was orchestrate in Scott ’s picture show . Napoleon ’s Army reportedly did not obtain the eminent ground and shoot artillery at the Austrian and Russian fleets but actually surprised them by send his infantry to attack them going acclivitous ( via Dan Snow ) . The giant frozen lake in which dozens of Austrian and Russian troops swim was also not a lake at all , but rather a serial publication of small ponds ( via HistoryExtra).Napoleon had the small pond drain and discover that only a few of the enemy soldiers had drown .
9Napoleon & Arthur Wellesley, The Duke Of Wellington, Never Met
The Closest They Ever Got To Meeting Was At The Battle Of Waterloo
Although Napoleon is seen meeting Arthur Wellesley , the Duke of Wellington , in Plymouth , England after the Battle of Waterloo , the two historical figures never met in actual life . The confining that the two man would ever get to meeting would have been on the real field of battle at Waterloo , making the fit in Scott ’s film solely fancied . Napoleon also never set human foot on British soilbut was given a fresh ship , the HMS Northumberland , to sail into exile at St. Helena ( via Napoleon.org ) . He was sent there by the British but was not tell in a face - to - face meeting with Arthur Wellesley .
8Napoleon’s Army Never Attacked The Egyptian Pyramids
Napoleon’s Battles In Egypt Were Miles Away From The Pyramids
Arguably the most outrageous inaccuracy in Ridley Scott’sNapoleonis the scene in which Napoleon ’s Army fire cannonballs at the Egyptian Pyramids . Several historians have been quick to point out the unwarranted yet highly entertaining scene , which was certainly intend by Scott to make audience laugh rather than criticize the blatant historical revision . There is a kernel of truth in the scene , however , since Napoleon ’s Army did venture down to Egypt and fight in battle near the Pyramids , but not close enough to cause any damage . There is alsothe myth that Napoleon ’s Army damaged the olfactory organ of the Egyptian Sphinx , which is also unsubstantiated .
7Napoleon Did Not Slap Josephine During Their Divorce
Napoleon Would Never Have Physically Hurt Josephine
One of the most inaccurate moment in Napoleon ’s relationship with Josephine was when he hit her at their divorce earshot in Scott ’s movie . According to Michael Broers , who wrote several books on Napoleon and was part of the development process in Ridley Scott ’s film , such an act would be highly out of role for the French Emperor ( via TIME ) . Despite their tumultuous relationship , historians believe thatNapoleon adored Josephine too dear to have ever position a hand on herin that way .
6Napoleon Was Not At Marie Antoinette’s Public Execution
Napoleon Did Witness Her Being Thrown Into Jail
Multiple historians and experts have controvert that Napoleon was present at the public beheading of Marie Antoinette , which occur in Paris in 1793 . Napoleon was actually on garrison tariff in southern France as an officer in the French military during that pivotal time at the start of the French Revolution ( via Time Out ) . Ridley ’s opening scene combines two vital moments that help imprint Napoleon ’s sensibilities about the French Revolution , asNapoleon was in Paris to witness both Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI thrown in jail in 1792 .
5Napoleon Was Notoriously Bad At Riding Horses
He Never Completed His Military Riding Training
Napoleon is seen depend upon horse with slap-up skill and dictation in Ridley Scott ’s pic although , in reality , he was really somewhat terrible at it . Napoleon did not grow up twit horses and did n’t end up his military riding breeding , which ensue in him reckon very inapt and uncoordinated when rally on hogback ( via Globetrotting).Napoleon also had a track phonograph recording of riding smaller breeds of horsessuch as Arabians and Barbs as opposed to the more traditional thoroughbred because he could climb up those horses without require assistance .
4Napoleon Was Six Years Younger Than Josephine
Joaquin Phoenix Is 14 Years Older Than Vanessa Kirby
One of the most detectable inaccuracy in Ridley Scott ’s Napoleon is theage gap between Phoenix and Kirby . The real - living Josephine was six years older than Napoleon , a stage that was mostly overlooked in the biopic as a retainer for why Josephine was ineffective to acquit Napoleon a nipper . It also greatly interchange the dynamic of Josephine and Napoleon ’s family relationship , as the truth about his immaturity and naïveté in romantic affairs lay down more sentiency considering he was six year her Jnr . Interestingly , Scott appeared to make no attempt to make Kirby ’s Josephine appear aged than Phoenix ’s Napoleon .
3Napoleon’s Mother Likely Didn’t Stage A Bedding Incident
Napoleon Already Had Several Illegitimate Children
Napoleon ’s mother Letizia likely did not present the bedding incident between her son and a youthful char to determine whether he was infertile . There would have been no need for such an experiment since Napoleon had already fathered illegitimate children , indicating that Josephine ’s inability to get significant was potential not because of him . The scene does , however , point tothe truthful sentiments that Napoleon ’s family hold for Josephinein wanting to replace her and remove her from her status as Empress ( via HistoryExtra ) .
