The Napoleon of the People

In Short

Narrated in a barn by Goguelat, an injured veteran of the Infantry, this short story captures the mythic, folklore version of Napoleon Bonaparte held by the French peasantry. Goguelat recounts Bonaparte’s entire career, framing his rise as a divine pact with God and his battles as supernatural feats aided by a mysterious "Red Man." From the miracle of Italy to the fires of Moscow and the disaster at Waterloo, the narrative blends real historical campaigns with folk superstition, capturing how the French peasantry deified their fallen hero.

The Story

The tale begins in Corsica, where Napoleon’s mother dreams the world is on fire the day he is born. She dedicates him to God in exchange for his protection, establishing a divine pact that sets him apart from ordinary men. From his start at Toulon, he bypasses lower officer ranks and assumes direct command, leading a barefoot, starving French army into Italy. By promising them victory, clothes, and shoes, he breathes life into thirty thousand men, routing eighty thousand Germans and conquering Italy in two campaigns. His successes convince his men that he is the "father of the soldier," protected by a guiding star.

The French government sends him to Egypt to keep him quiet. There, the troops capture Malta, defeat the Mamelukes before the Pyramids, and face a bullet-proof demon named the Mahdi. When the Plague strikes, Napoleon drinks it down like water without taking harm. Hearing that France is mismanaged by Parisian chatterboxes, he leaves Egypt, slips past English warships in a small skiff, and overthrows the government in Paris to become Consul. He restores religion, calms the merchant class, stops the execution of nobles, and defeats the Austrians at Marengo.

Upon being crowned Emperor by the Pope, Napoleon establishes the Legion of Honor, elevates common soldiers to noble titles, and conquers kingdoms for his siblings. Guided by the mysterious "Red Man," a supernatural visitor who warns him of future events, Napoleon rules Europe and marries an Austrian princess to secure an heir. His son, the King of Rome, is born, prompting worldwide celebration.

However, conflict with Russia forces Napoleon to march on Moscow. Though his army survives the brutal bloody victory at Borodino, the Russians burn Moscow. Winter arrives early, devastating the retreating French army in the frozen snows at the Beresina River. Betrayed by allies and Parisian conspirators, Napoleon abdicates at Fontainebleau, failing to die by poison because he is immortal. After a brief exile, he returns to France with two hundred men, retaking the empire in twenty days without firing a shot. Following his final defeat at Waterloo, where he burns his undefeated Eagles, the English imprison him on an ocean rock. Goguelat rejects rumors of his death, insisting Napoleon is merely biding his time until the Red Man returns his power.

How It Unfolds

The pact is formed Napoleon is born in scorched Corsica after his mother dreams the world is on fire, dedicating him to God to secure divine protection for his future.

The Italian miracle Taking charge of a ragged, starving army, the young general promises his men clothes and shoes in Milan, driving them to swift victories over massive German armies.

The Egyptian campaign In Egypt, the soldiers fight through heat, Mamelukes, and magic, while Napoleon demonstrates his immunity to the Plague and escapes back to France on a tiny boat.

The rise of the Empire After ousting Paris politicians and restoring the Catholic Church, Napoleon is anointed Emperor by the Pope, creating pensions, bridges, and kingdoms for his loyal troops.

The turn of fortune in Moscow Warned by the Red Man that he is moving too fast, Napoleon enters Russia, wins a devastating victory at Borodino, and captures Moscow only to find it set ablaze.

The frozen retreat A harsh, early winter destroys the grand army during the retreat from Moscow, though heroic pontooners save the survivors at the icy Beresina River.

The exile and miracle return Defeated by widespread treachery, Napoleon survives a poison attempt, escapes his island exile, and reclaims France in three weeks simply by showing his hat.

The legend lives on Defeated finally at Waterloo, Napoleon burns his regiment's flags, leading his old soldiers to insist he is not dead, but merely waiting on his desert rock.

The People

• Goguelat: An ex-soldier of the infantry who serves as the story's narrator. He wants to keep the glory of the Empire alive for his rustic audience, driven by unyielding devotion to his former commander, whom he views as a divine, immortal father figure.
• Napoleon Bonaparte: The subject of Goguelat's tale, who seeks to conquer kingdoms for his family and glory for France. Protected by a divine compact, immune to poison and plague, he commands absolute loyalty from his troops, though his relentless ambition eventually leaves him exiled on an ocean rock.
• The Red Man: A supernatural entity that appears to Napoleon at pivotal moments, including on Mount Moses, before Marengo, and before Borodino. He serves as an omen and messenger between Napoleon and his star, ultimately abandoning him to join the Bourbons.
• Gondrin: A deaf, heroic pontooner who stands in the freezing river to build the bridges at the Beresina, surviving the retreat as an honored old soldier.

In Its Own Voice

"It is certain sure that only a man who had had imagination enough to make a mysterious compact would be capable of going further than anybody else..."

Goguelat explains to his peasant audience why their former general survived constant enemy fire while those around him perished.

"A little slip of a general-in-chief of the army of Italy, which had neither bread nor ammunition nor shoes nor clothes--a wretched army as naked as a worm."

The narrator describes the unpromising state of the French forces just before Napoleon took command and led them to victory.

"There was no getting warm except in the neighborhood of the Emperor; for whenever he was in danger we hurried up, all frozen as we were..."

The storyteller recalls the extreme devotion felt by the cold, starving soldiers during the disastrous winter retreat from Russia.

What It's Really About

The story explores the creation of folk mythology and the psychological need of common people to elevate a human leader into a divine savior. By filtering historical events through Goguelat's uneducated, highly superstitious perspective, the narrative illustrates how the trauma and triumph of the Napoleonic Wars transformed real political history into religious legend. It highlights the deep, emotional bond between the rank-and-file soldiers and their Emperor, showing how faith buffers them against the bitter reality of total defeat. Underneath the military narrative lies a study of French national pride, political cynicism regarding Parisian elites, and the enduring nature of peasant superstition.

Why Read It Today

This short piece offers a captivating look at how history transforms into folklore. Rather than presenting a dry, academic account of the Napoleonic Era, Balzac provides an intimate glimpse into the oral traditions and mindset of nineteenth-century French peasants. Readers will enjoy the vivid, authentic voice of Goguelat, whose colorful idioms and unshakeable reverence bring a unique warmth to the prose.

The primary difficulty for modern readers lies in the density of historical references; the narrative moves rapidly through real military campaigns—such as Toulon, Lodi, Marengo, and Borodino—without providing background context. Additionally, the text reflects period attitudes, including casual xenophobia toward non-European nations and anti-English sentiment. However, at under twenty pages, it reads quickly and provides an unforgettable demonstration of how narrative, faith, and memory shape historical legacy. Anyone interested in Napoleonic history, military lore, or the power of storytelling will find it a compelling read.