Napoleon Bonaparte was just under 5 feet 6 inches tall, a height that was actually taller than the average Frenchman of his era.
Dispelling the "Short" Myth
The widely held belief that Napoleon was unusually short is a persistent historical misconception. Despite being nicknamed the "little corporal," a term often misconstrued as a literal description of his stature, his actual height was quite typical, if not slightly above average, for a man living in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Napoleon was born in 1769.
Napoleon's Height in Historical Context
To accurately gauge Napoleon's height, it's crucial to compare it with the average male height of his time. Research, including a working paper published in 2005 by researchers John Komlos and Francesco Cinnirella, indicates that the average height for a Frenchman in the early 18th century was slightly over 5 feet 5 inches. This means Napoleon's height of just under 5 feet 6 inches placed him slightly above the contemporary average.
Here's a comparative overview:
| Individual / Group | Height (Approximate) |
|---|---|
| Napoleon Bonaparte | Just under 5 feet 6 inches |
| Average Frenchman (early 18th century) | Slightly over 5 feet 5 inches |
Origins of the "Short" Myth
The enduring myth of Napoleon's diminutive stature can be attributed to several factors:
- British Propaganda: During the Napoleonic Wars, British caricaturists and propagandists often depicted Napoleon as exceptionally small to undermine his image and authority.
- Measurement Differences: There was a difference between the French pre-metric
pouce(inch) and the British inch. When his height was recorded as 5 feet 2 inches in French measure after his death, it was often mistakenly translated directly into English feet and inches, leading to an incorrect perception of him being much shorter than he actually was. In reality, 5 French feet and 2 French inches converted to English measure is closer to 5 feet 6 inches. - Nickname Misinterpretation: His affectionate nickname, "le petit caporal" (the little corporal), referred more to his camaraderie with his soldiers and his relatively junior rank early in his career, rather than his physical height.
For a deeper dive into the historical evidence surrounding Napoleon's true height and the origins of this widespread myth, you can find more information from reputable sources.
