Balloon of the Coronation of Napoleon, 1804

An unmanned balloon, ablaze with 3,000 lights forming an Imperial crown was launched from the front of Notre Dame cathedral as part of the coronation celebrations. André-Jaçques Garnerin was paid the sum of 23,500 francs for the construction and launching of the large balloon. The balloon came to earth in Lake Bracciano near Rome 46 hours later. Napoleon considered this another omen of his destiny. Napoleon Bonaparte (August 15, 1769 - May 5, 1821) was a French military and political leader. He was Emperor of the French from 1804-15. Due to his success during the Napoleonic Wars, often against larger forces, he is regarded as one of the greatest military commanders of all time. The Peninsular War and 1812 French invasion of Russia marked turning points in Napoleon's fortunes. In 1813 Napoleon was forced to abdicate and exiled to the island of Elba. He escaped and returned to power, but was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo,1815. He was confined by the British on the island of Saint Helena and died there in 1821. An autopsy concluded he died of stomach cancer, but some scholars have held that he was a victim of arsenic poisoning. His political and cultural legacy has ensured his status as one of the most celebrated and controversial leaders in human history.

1804 • AERONAUTICA • ARTE • AVIACION • BANDERA • CIENCIA • CORONA • CORONACION • CORONAMIENTO • CROMOLITOGRAFIA • DIBUJO • EMPERADOR • EUROPEA • EUROPEAS • EUROPEO • EUROPEOS • FAMOSA • FAMOSO • FIGURA • FRANCES • FRANCIA • GENERAL • GENTE • GLOBO AEROSTATICO • HISTORIA • HISTORICO • HOMBRE • HOMBRES • ILUSTRACION • IMPERIAL • IMPORTANTE • LIDER • LITOGRAFIA • MASCULINO • MILITAR • MONARCA • MONARQUIA • NAPOLEON BONAPARTE • NAPOLEON I • NAPOLÉON • OBRA DE ARTE • PERSONA • PERSONALIDAD • PERSONALIDADES • POLITICO • POSTAL • RETRATO DE HOMBRE • REVOLUCION FRANCESA • SIGLO XIX • SOLDADO • TARJETA POSTAL • TECNOLOGÍA • VOLADOR • VUELO