Five years of military college at Brienne forged a solitary, mathematical, Corsican child. Thirty years later he fought a battle in front of his old school, against Blücher.

Historical context

He arrived in May 1779, aged nine, a king's scholar in one of the twelve military schools entrusted to religious orders — here the Minims. The rule was monastic: rising at six, one cell per pupil, no holidays, five years without seeing his family. He was the poorest of the noble boys and the only Corsican; his schoolfellows reminded him of it.

He took refuge in mathematics, geography and ancient history, and proved mediocre at Latin, German and dancing. He was allotted a square of garden which he fenced off and where he shut himself away to read. In the winter of 1783 he organised a snowball battle in the yard, with redoubts and trenches — an episode legend has greatly magnified but several classmates genuinely attested.

In September 1784 the inspector of military schools, the chevalier de Kéralio, designated him for the École Militaire in Paris. His assessment noted a robust constitution, steady conduct, very marked aptitude for mathematics and a haughty character. He left in October. He had not seen his mother for five years, and would not return to Corsica until 1786.

On 29 January 1814 the campaign of France brought him back. He attacked Blücher at Brienne, retook the château, slept in the town and was nearly captured by Cossacks. The place of his childhood had become a battlefield of his fall. In his will he left 1.2 million francs to the commune; the former school now houses a Napoleon museum.