Is Napoleon Bonaparte technically Italian

Answer 1

How technical can you be ? There was no concept of nationality in those days - people served a King or Cause. That Napoleon saw himself as French is simply how things turned out.

His family was from Genoa. Genoa owned Corsica until 1768 when they leased it to France. He was born Napoleone Buonaparte in August 15, 1769 in Ajaccio, Corsica.. The family were Italians living in what was still considered part of Italy - a little bit like Hong Kong except the British gave it back after the lease was up unlike France - as Napoleon decided..

Napoleone's father was a lawyer - Carlo Napoleone. His mother was Maria Letizia Ramolin.His father, Carlo, was an attorney and Corsica's representative to the court of Louis XVI of France. As a child, Napoleon Bonaparte was most influenced by his mother, Maria Letizia Ramolin.

So - his Nationality?:

Technically:

His parents were Italian - if a German Shepherd is born in France does it become a French Shepherd?

Corsica was only leased to France not owned by France.

He was born in August - thus conceived in 1768 when Corsica was without any legal doubt still Italian.

Napoleon was a bit of an opportunist and a mercenary who came good and rose through the ranks as France became bankrupt and all that was rotten in French society was dispensed with. He happened to join the army at the right time and despite times when it was rumoured he had actually sought to join the British and Turkish armies beforehand - he is known as the father of France and a whole bunch of useful stuff.

He is a French as Jean Alessi, Carla Brunii are French. As welsh as Joe Calzaghe, as Scottish as Dario Franchitti.......

Had Napoleone been seen as a ruthless dictator who caused a Holocaust then watch how quickly he would have become 'Italian not French'...

That Napoleone Buonaparte is considered French is a convenient truth and one that has continued since then - just look at the French Soccer team and how many are actually ethnically french or indeed have dual nationality.

Answer 2

Not Exactly. Historically, the island of Corsica, which has now been part of France for over two centuries, used to be part of the Republic of Genoa, which is one of the city-states that would eventually form part of Italy. Napoleon's father was a proud Genoese Noble whose family was originally come to Corsica from Genoa in the 16th century.

It would be more appropriate to say that Napoleon was a Corsican of Genoese descent than to call him "Italian". His cultural similarities with other Italians would have been minimal and the concept of a "united Italy" is anachronistic.

Answer 3

Napoleon was born of Italian heritage on the French Island of Corswica.

Answer 4

He was French of Italian heritage.