Napoleonic Trivia #70 (1 Viewer)

[Grognard]

The common knowledge is that Napoléon was not a tall man. But what was his actual size and how did he compare to the average size of men of his time?

 

[Napoleon1er]

The common knowledge is that Napoléon was not a tall man. But what was his actual size and how did he compare to the average size of men of his time?

5ft. 7in. or 1.7 m.. This was about average for the time.
-Sandor

 

[Grognard]

5ft. 7in. or 1.7 m.. This was about average for the time.
-Sandor

Close enough Sandor, well done!

In fact Napoléon was slightly taller than the average height (~1.65m) of men of his time. According to records from his close entourage (Marchand, Gourgaud, etc.) he was between 5ft 2in and 5ft 2.5in which is between 1.686m and 1.692m, now to be clear these were French foot units which are different from the English ones. This is in part responsible for the confusion (entertained by the British) around Napoléon's height. The French foot was slightly worth more than the English one. Indeed an Englishman in Longwood recorded Napoléon's height as being 5ft 7in (English foot) which is 1.7m.
Besides the unit confusion leveraged by the English in their propaganda against the Emperor, Napoleon's was often seen or pictured surrounded by individuals from his Imperial Guard who had to be at a minimum 1.83m, therefore ~20 cm taller than the average man of the XIX° century to start with, and in addition they were wearing a 30 cm bearskin headdress. Also his staff was wearing highly decorated hats with feathers or plumes which often gave them a taller look thanNapoléon wearing his usual small hat.

 

[MikeNick]

I teach European history so your analysis will be shared with my students.
Thanks,
MikeNick

 

[Grognard]

I teach European history so your analysis will be shared with my students.
Thanks,
MikeNick

You are welcome Mike!

 

[johnnybach]

Okay - So it's "Shorty Bonaparte" then?

 

[OzDigger]

Okay - So it's "Shorty Bonaparte" then?

Hey no fair, 5' 7" (1.7m) is still considered to be medium height - and I should know :wink2:

 

[Grognard]

Okay - So it's "Shorty Bonaparte" then?

No, it's "above average Boney"!

 

[Dragoon]

I find it amazing and somewhat baffling that this myth of Napoleon's rather short height still exists. Napoleon's true height is not a little known fact - yet the myth of his short stature continues to be repeated, at least in the english speaking world, thru ''history'' books regurgating the same old stuff to badly produced shows for the History Channel. The propaganda of early 19th century Britain in an attempt to diminish the legacy of the greatest man of that age still seems to resound as popular fact to this day.

 

[Sans Culotte]

I find it amazing and somewhat baffling that this myth of Napoleon's rather short height still exists. Napoleon's true height is not a little known fact - yet the myth of his short stature continues to be repeated, at least in the english speaking world, thru ''history'' books regurgating the same old stuff to badly produced shows for the History Channel. The propaganda of early 19th century Britain in an attempt to diminish the legacy of the greatest man of that age still seems to resound as popular fact to this day.

When I taught college history, it never failed to amaze me how persistent such myths/distortions remained among many of my students. Even if the students didn't actually believe the stories, so many of them knew them. Asked if they knew the true stories, however, they were often at a loss to recount them. Amazing.^&confuse

 

[johnnybach]

Hey no fair, 5' 7" (1.7m) is still considered to be medium height - and I should know :wink2:

Me too - I'm same as you - and when the Sergeant Major shouted "Tallest on the left, shortest on the right" - guess which end I aimed for!jb

Perhaps it's because he was often surrounded by all of those Imperial Guard geezers in their tall hats!

http://youtu.be/1NvgLkuEtkA

Enjoy. jb

 

[OzDigger]

Me too - I'm same as you - and when the Sergeant Major shouted "Tallest on the left, shortest on the right" - guess which end I aimed for!jb

Perhaps it's because he was often surrounded by all of those Imperial Guard geezers in their tall hats!

No doubt Nappy knew how to handle any Imperial Guards that gave him the 'High Hat', something like this maybe :wink2:

 

[johnnybach]

Sorry Oz - looks like FOX doesn't have the same sense of humour as Randy Newman. jb

 

[johnnybach]

Sorry Oz - looks like FOX doesn't have the same sense of humour as Randy Newman. jb

 

[Fort-Stamford]

The common knowledge is that Napoléon was not a tall man. But what was his actual size and how did he compare to the average size of men of his time?

Napoleon was 5' 6" and I believe was average in height in his day.

 

[Grognard]

Napoleon was 5' 6" and I believe was average in height in his day.

Thanks but I already gave the complete answer in this thread since Sandor got close enough :wink2:, please see below:

5ft. 7in. or 1.7 m.. This was about average for the time.
-Sandor

Close enough Sandor, well done!

In fact Napoléon was slightly taller than the average height (~1.65m) of men of his time. According to records from his close entourage (Marchand, Gourgaud, etc.) he was between 5ft 2in and 5ft 2.5in which is between 1.686m and 1.692m, now to be clear these were French foot units which are different from the English ones. This is in part responsible for the confusion (entertained by the British) around Napoléon's height. The French foot was slightly worth more than the English one. Indeed an Englishman in Longwood recorded Napoléon's height as being 5ft 7in (English foot) which is 1.7m.
Besides the unit confusion leveraged by the English in their propaganda against the Emperor, Napoleon's was often seen or pictured surrounded by individuals from his Imperial Guard who had to be at a minimum 1.83m, therefore ~20 cm taller than the average man of the XIX° century to start with, and in addition they were wearing a 30 cm bearskin headdress. Also his staff was wearing highly decorated hats with feathers or plumes which often gave them a taller look thanNapoléon wearing his usual small hat.