Biography Napoleon was born into the gentry and educated at military school. He joined the army where he was rapidly promoted. In 1796 (aged 27) he was made commander of the French army in Italy where he forced Austria and its allies to make peace. He was impatient and took many risks but had a huge personality which helped him to dominate and lead others. In 1798 Napoleon conquered Egypt which was so he could strike at British trade routes with India but he was stranded when his fleet was destroyed by the British at the Battle of the Nile. Austria and Russia then allied with Britain and Napoleon returned to Paris where the government was in crisis. In a coup d'etat in November 1799, and due to his great political skill, he was made first consul. He was made consul for life in 1802 and two years later (aged 35) he became emperor (and essentially a dictator). He oversaw the centralisation of government, the creation of the Bank of France, the reinstatement of Roman Catholicism as the state religion and law reform with his Napoleonic Code. After defeating the Austrians at Marengo he negotiated a general European peace which established French power on the continent. In 1803 Britain resumed war with France and famously inflicted a naval defeat on the French at Trafalgar in 1805. Napoleon then abandoned plans to invade England and turned on the Austro-Russian forces, defeating them at Austerlitz later the same year. He gained much new territory which gave him control of Europe. Over the next 5 years Napoleon installed his relatives and loyalists as leaders in Holland, Westphalia, Italy, Naples, Spain and Sweden. In 1810 he had his childless marriage to Josephine de Beauharnais annulled and married the daughter of the Austrian emperor in the hope of having an heir. His son, Napoleon, was born a year later. The Peninsular War began in 1808 which drained French military resources. Consequently, Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812 resulted in a disastrous retreat and in March 1814, Paris fell. Napoleon went into exile on the Mediterranean island of Elba. In March 1815 he escaped and marched on the French capital. The Battle of Waterloo on 18th June 1815 ended his brief reign. The British imprisoned him on the remote Atlantic island of St. Helena where he died on 5th May 1821 aged 51. The cause of his death was possibly stomach cancer, although many think he was poisoned.
Astrology - Napoleon was a brilliant military strategist, leader and statesman so I would expect to see a prominent Mars and noticeable Leo in his chart. Because of his law reforms he should have a strong Saturn, but he was also a dictator so Pluto may also be prominent. The Ascendant or rising sign (your appearance, how you are seen) is in Scorpio and provided Napoleon with his outward manner which commanded respect. Scorpio is a very powerful sign and Napoleon used this power and determination to his advantage. The Sun (your personality, how you experience life, your essential energy) is in Leo in the 10th house (on the Midheaven) giving Napoleon powerful leadership abilities and a need to strive for success in his career. He was a flamboyant orator and definitely gained (and maintained) a reputation throughout the world. This position of the Sun indicates that he would undoubtedly be noticed and achieve fame. The Moon (your instinctive natural reaction, moods, habits and your mother) is in Capricorn in the 3rd house showing his Mother’s influence on him in his early years providing an understanding of duty before pleasure. Mercury (your mind, intellect, communication, learning, mischief and criminal activities) is in Leo in the 9th house showing that he saw the vast possibilities in foreign lands through his leadership. This position also provided the ability to express his beliefs and opinions with authority. Venus (your relationships, love, affection, harmony and sociability) is in Cancer in the eighth house and indicates that Napoleon was very sensitive and easily hurt when in a relationship. Venus in the 8th house also shows financial gain through marriage, although for Napoleon it was to produce an heir (more important to him than money). Mars (your physical energy, initiative, action and how you get what you want) is in Virgo in the 10th house. Napoleon was seen to be brave and daring with a strong need for status through politics, the military or positions of power generally. Jupiter (your belief system, expansion and also representing the world of publishing) is in Scorpio and on the Ascendant in the 1st house. Napoleon was a big personality and believed in himself. This positioning shows he had abundant power, self-confidence, leadership abilities, and a weight problem later in life. Saturn (your limitations, lessons to be learned, the key to your career, professional performance and your father) is in Cancer in the 9th house showing that he had ambitions in foreign places and established himself through his own efforts. He was exacting and focussed but probably had to overcome early emotional instability to become so. Uranus (your power to invent the new, desire for change, originality and unpredictable behaviour) is in Taurus in the 7th house which is an indication of unconventional relationships/marriage and a strong physical urge. Neptune (the collapse of your boundaries, mysterious behaviour, elusiveness and dreams) is in Virgo in the 10th house. Neptune representing drugs/poison and Virgo ruling the stomach looks like his death was poison, but may not have been administered in a murderous way. Pluto (your hidden issues, compulsion and dark side) is in Capricorn in the 3rd house and could indicate compulsive or obsessive thinking, and he has been labelled a megalomaniac.
Midheaven (your career, aspirations, public face and what you become) is in Leo giving Napoleon ambition and his leaning towards public performance and politics. |
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