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01. Wartime propaganda needs simple insults
Shrinking Napoleon made him less frightening and more contemptible.
History Myths
Was Napoleon Actually Short?
One of history's most persistent insults - and one of its most thoroughly debunked. There is a Napoleon in your head: a small man in a large hat, hand inside his coat, scowling at a world that refuses to take him seriously. The problem is that Napoleon was not short. The small man in the big hat is one of the most successful propaganda operations in history. The myth involves a unit conversion error, British caricature, and a misunderstanding that shaped cultural psychology.
Quick answer
Napoleon was about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches in modern measurements, average or slightly above average for a French man of his era. His nickname le petit caporal meant the little corporal affectionately, not necessarily physically short.
The mystery
The myth involves a unit conversion error, British caricature, and a misunderstanding that shaped cultural psychology.
The short answer
Napoleon was about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches in modern measurements, average or slightly above average for a French man of his era.
The twist
His nickname le petit caporal meant the little corporal affectionately, not necessarily physically short.
Common mistake
Many people believe Napoleon must at least have been somewhat short.
History Myths
Related questions
Height varied widely; it has never reliably predicted political success.
The caricaturist who made history
James Gillray
A London printmaker whose Napoleon cartoons shaped the emperor's image for centuries.
Related questions
Where is Napoleon's height recorded?
His autopsy recorded it in French units, which were later misread in English.
Height myths in the modern world
Research on the Napoleon complex
Evidence that shorter men are more aggressive is much weaker than the stereotype suggests.
Height myths in the modern world
Wartime caricature
Physical ridicule remains a standard way to make enemies seem smaller.
There must be some truth to it, right?
The reliable measurements make him average or slightly above average for his time.
The reliable measurements make him average or slightly above average for his time.
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