Napoleon Bonaparte had a huge impact on history, from creating a new form of French government to inspiring revolutionists around the world. Given his influence, it’s hardly surprising that he has been included in so many books, movies, TV shows, and video games throughout the centuries. Sometimes he’s a main character, sometimes a side character, and other times, he’s only mentioned or referenced.
Books
Animal Farm by George Orwell
In this novel, the anthropomorphic pig who takes control of the farm and turns it into a dictatorship is named Napoleon. He ousts Snowball before he can be fairly elected, slanders and harms anyone who stands against him, and becomes just as cruel as the human owner he and the others overthrew.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Tolstoy strongly disliked Napoleon — likely because of his invasion of Russia during the Napoleonic War — and it shows. The real Napoleon was considered a genius military, but in War and Peace, he’s an incompetent fool who gets his role by happenstance. It isn’t exactly historically accurate, as Tolstoy allowed his biases to get in the way, but it is amusing to see this portrayal aside from the ones that are more accurate.
Wellington and Napoleon Quartet Series by Simon Scarrow
This series follows rivals Napoleon and Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, from their births to the start of their clash at Waterloo. Napoleon is portrayed according to history: a revolutionist at heart, brave, a tactical genius, and brilliant leader. That’s certainly not to say that he has no flaws or didn’t do terrible things, but this is more like how historians described Napoleon.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Napoleon doesn’t make an actual appearance in this novel, but his influence is strongly felt. At the beginning, while he’s exiled at the island of Elba, protagonist Edmond Dantes is tasked with bringing a letter from Napoleon to a Bonapartist, unbeknownst to Edmond. This is used against him by rivals, which then leads to his arrest and the rest of the plot. He may not have been an actual character, but his influence is key to the entire story.
TV Shows
Napoléon Miniseries
This miniseries starts with Napoleon imprisoned at St. Helena in 1818, and most of the rest of the story takes place in a flashback. The flashbacks go all the way back to 1795, when Napoleon met his future wife, Josephine de Beauharnais, and when his career started taking off. It covers his wins, losses, personal and professional troubles, wars, and more. It paints him in a more realistic light rather than just highlighting his achievements.
Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story
This series is more focused on the relationship between Napoleon and Josephine rather than Napoleon’s exploits. He loved her dearly, but Josephine didn’t quite feel the same, at least not until after he won over her children from her previous marriage. It’s not quite historically accurate, and it seems like a soap opera at times, but it’s interesting seeing a lovesick side of Napoleon.
Movies
Waterloo
This movie is about Napoleon’s last battle that led to his ultimate defeat and imprisonment. It was a huge battle, and as such, there are thousands of extras used in the movie, alongside many prominent characters like Arthur Wellesley. But this means we only get a superficial understanding of their personalities, and Napoleon is no exception. He appears as a weary, run-down, desperate man but that’s about all there is to him.
Napoleon
This movie, beginning in 1793, shows both Napoleon’s military career and his love life, predominantly with Josephine. It covers his exploits, audaciously crowning himself emperor of France, divorcing Joesphine, his decline in power, exile, and eventual death in 1821. He’s ruthless, ambitious, and selfish.
Video Games
Ikemen Vampire Otome Game
Shockingly, Napoleon is also a dateable candidate in an otome video game. He’s a vampire, among other major historical figures also turned vampire, living in 19th century Paris. The player, you, came here through a time-traveling door, and Napoleon promises to protect you until you can return home. Claiming he wants nothing to do with his past life, he’s pretty much an ordinary guy.
Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure
Napoleon appears as a protagonist in this game. He was resurrected and set about to destroy the city of Paris using the Hanging Gardens of Babylon as a weapon. After destroying it, the plan was to rebuild it in his image. However, at the end, he reveals that he isn’t Napoleon, but merely someone standing in his place until the real Napoleon is restored. The real Napoleon is only shown for a brief moment at the very end.
It’s hardly surprising that such an influential figure reappears so often, and in many forms as well. Which one surprised you the most?
Click here for an article on Napoleon as a literary figure.
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