Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica, an island off the coast of Italy. Only three months before he was born the island became french possession. It is interesting to imagine how things might have been different for Napoleon, France, and Europe if Cosica had not been french territory. Napoleon, who rose from humble origins to become Emporor of France, was sent as a child of five to a school for girls. His mother hoped that Napoleon would become less stubborn and easier to handle. This, however, was not to be the case. Napoleon, who was the second of the eight Bonaparte children, was strong-willed , obsinate, and often disagreeable. Napoleon's parent then sent him to