We all heard about the Napoleon complex that supposedly drives short and small people to become extra pushy, aggressive, not to mention obnoxious, in a bid to compensate for what they lack in size. Just how short was Napoleon, though?

The Start of the Short Napoleon Trope

Aside from the fact that he was French, for many people a key fact they associate with Napoleon Bonaparte is that he was short. At the start of his rise, Napoleon’s own men referred to him as Le Petit Caporal – the Little Corporal. In its original French context, it did not mean what the literal English translation indicates. Nonetheless, Napoleon was relentlessly ridiculed in his lifetime and ever since for being a runt. For generations, “Napoleon complex” has referred to short people who overcompensate for their lack of stature by becoming overly aggressive.

However, the man after whom the Napoleon complex is named possessed average height, or was even a bit taller than average. The idea that Napoleon was short is a myth – propaganda disseminated by his enemies. The trope about Napoleon’s diminutive size did not start until well into his career. In 1803, British caricaturist James Gillray drew a cartoon, Maniac ravings or little Boney in a strong fit, that depicted Napoleon as a small man having a temper tantrum, while flipping over furniture.

Napoleon’s Real Height

Gillray’s 1803 cartoon kicked off a meme about a small Napoleon that delighted the British public, and spread around the world, helped in no small part by misunderstood measurements. French sources state that Napoleon stood at about 5 feet 2 inches. However, that was measured in French feet. French measurements were not the same as the imperial units used in Britain and the United States. A British or American inch equals 2.54 centimeters, but a French inch is 2.71 centimeters.

In imperial units, Napoleon was 5’6’’ or 5’7’’ – in the ballpark of 168 or 170 centimeters. By twenty first century standards, that might not be much. However, in Napoleon’s days, the average height of French men was from 158 to 168 centimeters. By the standards of his era, Napoleon was actually average or even a bit taller than average. As to his nickname, the Little Corporal, it was not a reference to his size. It was a term of endearment and affection bestowed upon him by his admiring soldiers.

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Some Sources & Further Reading

Encyclopedia Britannica – Was Napoleon Short?

History Halls – Myths and Realities: Did Betsy Ross Make the First American Flag?

National Post – Why People Think Napoleon Was Really Short (Even Though He Wasn’t)