Born in 1769 to a family of minor nobility on the island of Corsica, Napoleone di Buonaparte came from a large family, that was not rich, but possessed enough affluence to have the children sent to school in Spain. For many of the petty nobility sending younger sons to service in the military and navy, or to a religious order was the only way in which they could acquire wealth and prestige. Napoleone's parents, felt there was little future for their sons on Corsica and by sending them to be educated in Spain they would have a greater opportunities. Napoleone's father, Carlo Buonaparte, served as Attorney General of the Kingdom of Corsica in 1776, and was later posted as a representative of Corsica to the Emperor in Lisbon. Awed by the grandeur of the city, it would be during this time that Carlo sought to have his sons educated in Spain, rather than Italy. The ongoing wars of pacification in North Africa were particularly beneficial int he promotion of men through feats of military valour. With much of army of Egypt originating from the Spanish holdings in Italy, the war had become a means to acquire wealth and title for mercenaries. In Lisbon, Carlo obtained a scholarship for his sons to study in Spain's military academies. At the age of 10, Napoleone was sent to the Aula Militar d'Elvas, a military academy for young boys where he did well in his studies. At the age of 15 he was promoted to the premiere military academy, the Academia Militar da Corte in Lisbon. He spoke with an Italian accent, and was considered a loner as he was not as wealthy as his classmates, many of whom were sons of some of the most prestigious families in Spain.
In 1786, Buonaparte was commissioned as second-lieutenant in the 1st Artillery Regiment. Ambitious and intelligent, he was able to achieve the rank of Captain by 1788. With the ongoing wars in Egypt, Buonaparte was sent to inspect the coastal fortification in North Africa in 1792, and would see his first combat action in Egypt two years later, achieving the rank of Colonel by 1796. Despite these successes however, there often was a limit to promotions as the top ranks were reserved for the upper nobility. This led Napoleone to resent the social system, particularly the corruption and nepotism which he saw in Corsica. He saw the aristocratic leadership of Spain as causing the ongoing decay of the Spanish Empire. This contrasted with his studies of the glories of the Roman Empire, and particularly the central role in which it placed Italy. Idealistic and ambitious, he dreamt of separating Italy from the Spanish Crown. He was not alone as many began seeing the Spanish Crown as milking Italy's wealth and offering little in return. His publications on the history of Italy made him well known in the social circles of intellectuals, and he was welcomed into the salotti of Florence, where well known hostesses entertained writers and artists. Among the most prominent was Princess Paola. Eschewed from formal society, she surrounded herself with artists and people whom she considered interesting, rather than other aristocrats. On a leave of absence to Florence in 1797, the gauche young Colonel's personality led him to become acquainted with Princess Paola at one of her infamous soirees in Florence. There he became intoxicated and in his memoirs wrote that from that moment on, he was love with the princess. She thought of as a short and odd looking man, but she found him amusing. With the ongoing disturbances in North Africa, he departed for Egypt a few days later and sent her letters from his military campaigns.
With the worsening military situation in Southern Egypt, Napoleone was among the army of various regiments sent to fight in Nubia. However, by the time the troops reached Cairo, the Wahhabi Army had made spectacular advances and were close to Cairo. The young Colonel was given the task was to shore up the fortifications around the city as the Wahhabi laid siege to Cairo, during the spring of 1797. During the battles in the outskirts much of the Spanish Army had been captured or killed, including its commander, the Marquez of Bonanza whom was mortally wounded at the Battle of the Pyramids in May 1797. As a result, morale sank and the Spanish forces were in disarray, retreating towards the sea. The city of Cairo was in a state of panic, with the disease and famine killing many within the city walls. Colonel Buonaparte was surrounded by incompetent officers and sought permission from the leading General, the Count of Barantes, to organise the defences. He imposed strict discipline on the city's populace and through his skill as a skilled orator was able to raise morale of the Spanish forces. Meanwhile, he planned an attack on the Wahhabi that would route them from the city. To prepare for his offensive, he had the city walls reinforced and mustered as much artillery fire as he could to attack the Wahhabi forces. On 7 May 1797, the Wahhabi breached the city walls and were not only repulsed, but faced an onslaught of artillery, piercing their army in two. Buonaparte had armed many of the city's civilians, and drilling them constantly to make them a formidable fighting force. Combined with the conventional army, he used artillery and the remaining cavalry to swiftly attack the Wahhabi forces. Once the battle had been won, he organised an force to chase the Wahhabi, inflicting a severe defeat on 14 May 1797 near the old Babylon Fortress. For his heroism, Napoleone would be awarded the Order of the Tower and the Sword, along with the Order of Saint James, and would be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. Throughout 1797 and 1798, Napoleone would gain prestige as a tactical genius, using his knowledge of artillery to pursue the Wahhabi Forces out of Egypt and Nubia, though the remnants of this menace would not be defeated in Africa until 1803, when they were defeated in Arabia.
In 1786, Buonaparte was commissioned as second-lieutenant in the 1st Artillery Regiment. Ambitious and intelligent, he was able to achieve the rank of Captain by 1788. With the ongoing wars in Egypt, Buonaparte was sent to inspect the coastal fortification in North Africa in 1792, and would see his first combat action in Egypt two years later, achieving the rank of Colonel by 1796. Despite these successes however, there often was a limit to promotions as the top ranks were reserved for the upper nobility. This led Napoleone to resent the social system, particularly the corruption and nepotism which he saw in Corsica. He saw the aristocratic leadership of Spain as causing the ongoing decay of the Spanish Empire. This contrasted with his studies of the glories of the Roman Empire, and particularly the central role in which it placed Italy. Idealistic and ambitious, he dreamt of separating Italy from the Spanish Crown. He was not alone as many began seeing the Spanish Crown as milking Italy's wealth and offering little in return. His publications on the history of Italy made him well known in the social circles of intellectuals, and he was welcomed into the salotti of Florence, where well known hostesses entertained writers and artists. Among the most prominent was Princess Paola. Eschewed from formal society, she surrounded herself with artists and people whom she considered interesting, rather than other aristocrats. On a leave of absence to Florence in 1797, the gauche young Colonel's personality led him to become acquainted with Princess Paola at one of her infamous soirees in Florence. There he became intoxicated and in his memoirs wrote that from that moment on, he was love with the princess. She thought of as a short and odd looking man, but she found him amusing. With the ongoing disturbances in North Africa, he departed for Egypt a few days later and sent her letters from his military campaigns.
With the worsening military situation in Southern Egypt, Napoleone was among the army of various regiments sent to fight in Nubia. However, by the time the troops reached Cairo, the Wahhabi Army had made spectacular advances and were close to Cairo. The young Colonel was given the task was to shore up the fortifications around the city as the Wahhabi laid siege to Cairo, during the spring of 1797. During the battles in the outskirts much of the Spanish Army had been captured or killed, including its commander, the Marquez of Bonanza whom was mortally wounded at the Battle of the Pyramids in May 1797. As a result, morale sank and the Spanish forces were in disarray, retreating towards the sea. The city of Cairo was in a state of panic, with the disease and famine killing many within the city walls. Colonel Buonaparte was surrounded by incompetent officers and sought permission from the leading General, the Count of Barantes, to organise the defences. He imposed strict discipline on the city's populace and through his skill as a skilled orator was able to raise morale of the Spanish forces. Meanwhile, he planned an attack on the Wahhabi that would route them from the city. To prepare for his offensive, he had the city walls reinforced and mustered as much artillery fire as he could to attack the Wahhabi forces. On 7 May 1797, the Wahhabi breached the city walls and were not only repulsed, but faced an onslaught of artillery, piercing their army in two. Buonaparte had armed many of the city's civilians, and drilling them constantly to make them a formidable fighting force. Combined with the conventional army, he used artillery and the remaining cavalry to swiftly attack the Wahhabi forces. Once the battle had been won, he organised an force to chase the Wahhabi, inflicting a severe defeat on 14 May 1797 near the old Babylon Fortress. For his heroism, Napoleone would be awarded the Order of the Tower and the Sword, along with the Order of Saint James, and would be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. Throughout 1797 and 1798, Napoleone would gain prestige as a tactical genius, using his knowledge of artillery to pursue the Wahhabi Forces out of Egypt and Nubia, though the remnants of this menace would not be defeated in Africa until 1803, when they were defeated in Arabia.