Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the key figures in the history of Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. When he was very young, he succeeded in conquering the throne of France and half of Europe. All his victories were the result of his firm and determined character. Napoleon is described as an extremely cruel man; he loved power. But one cannot deny his cold-blooded premeditation and skills of a wise strategist, which brought about his many victories. Bonaparte was distinguished by his iron will and military talent. He is revered in France not only as a general, but also as a reformer and legislator.

It is interesting to look at Napoleon through the eyes of his contemporaries. For example, the Russian poet, memoirist, Lieutenant-General Denis Davydov, in his essay “Tilsit in 1807”, describes the meeting between Alexander and Napoleon as a meeting of the Russian Tsar “with the greatest commander, politician, legislator and administrator, who conquered all Europe within two years only, defeated our army twice and stood on the Russian border. It was about a meeting with a man who had the most fascinating talent of enticing people and at the same time gifted with extraordinary insight into the depths of the characters, feelings and thoughts of his adversaries …”

And here is how Denis Davydov describes Napoleon’s appearance: