Who was the more successful? Who was the more capable? Who accumulated the most victories? Who has the greatest legacy? Who is better loved by modern historians? Let us step back into 19th-century Europe and attempt to discover, out of the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte, who was the better man?
Wellington and Napoleon: What Did They Think of Each Other?
The first thing to know about the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte is that, although they shared an ongoing and relentless rivalry throughout their lives, they did not actually know each other personally.
Never once did the enemies meet, never once did they correspond in any way, and never once did they share any contact of any kind. Nonetheless, to this day, the encounter of their opposing armies at the Battle of Waterloo remains one of the most famous in European history.
Everyone knows that Wellington and Napoleon hated each other. This fact could not be more obvious. Interestingly, however, Wellington had more respect for Napoleon than Napoleon did for Wellington. Historian Andrew Roberts stated that “it has long been assumed by historians that, in the words of one: Napoleon consistently misunderstood and underestimated Wellington, Wellington was never in doubt about the genius of Napoleon.”
Despite the fact that Wellington was an exceptionally experienced leader—he was present at more than 60 battles—Napoleon still gave scathing reports of him. On the morning of June 18, 1815, just before the Battle of Waterloo began, Napoleon was said to have informed his army that Wellington was such a poor general that they had nothing to fear.
Wellington, in contrast, was realistic about Napoleon’s ability. He famously said that Napoleon’s presence on the battlefield was “worth forty thousand men.” Publicly he praised, but privately he criticized. To his friends, Wellington said of Napoleon “his whole life, civil, political and military is a fraud.”
In this article, we will weigh Wellington and Napoleon against each other, taking into consideration each aspect of their lives, both public and private. Who was the better educated? Who was the better Christian? Who was the better leader? On a slightly more frivolous note: who was the better-looking? Who was the better husband? Dare we venture into this territory, who was the better lover?
Before we attempt to work out who was the superior of these two historic figures, it is important to rediscover their individual lives and achievements. Wellington and Napoleon; who exactly were they?
What Do We Need to Know About the Duke of Wellington?
The first thing to know about Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, is that he was one of the leading figures in Britain during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Arthur Wellesley was born on May 1st, 1769. His parents were Garret Wellesley, first Earl of Mornington (1735-1781), and his wife, Anne Hill-Trevor (1742-1831). Arthur’s life spanned the reign of four British Monarchs: King George III, King George IV, King William IV, and Queen Victoria.
Wellington also had a wife—Kitty Pakenham (1773-1831)—whom he married in 1806. The couple had two children: Arthur Wellesley, second Duke of Wellington (1807-1884), and Lord Charles Wellesley (1808-1858).
Wellington is now famous for two reasons. Firstly, he is famous for his crucial role in the Napoleonic Wars, for his ongoing rivalry with Napoleon Bonaparte, and for his unmatched ability to lead the English army to victory at the Battle of Waterloo. This victory was the one that set him up for life; when he returned to Britain he was hailed as a champion, was formally honored, and presented with an estate in Hampshire and a vast fortune of £400,000.
Secondly, he is famous for becoming Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on two separate occasions. His first leadership occurred between 1828 and 1830 when he served under both King George IV and King William IV. His second was somewhat shorter; he was Prime Minister once again between November and December of 1834.
At varying points in his life, he also held the titles of chief secretary for Ireland, commander-in-chief of the British Army, leader of the House of Lords, home secretary, foreign secretary, and British ambassador to France.
Although he enjoyed a successful political career, it was his capability on the battlefield that ensured Wellington would go down in history as a national hero. He is still well remembered for his adaptive defensive style of warfare and is still considered—alongside his enemy Napoleon—as one of the greatest commanders of the modern era.
So highly esteemed is the Duke of Wellington as a strategist and military mastermind that the Encyclopaedia Britannica describes him as “the conqueror of the world’s conqueror,” and claims that there is still “widespread appreciation of his military genius and of his character as an honest and selfless politician, uncorrupted by vast prestige.”
What Do We Need to Know About Napoleon Bonaparte?
Napoleon Bonaparte—originally named Napoleone di Buonaparte—was born on August 15, 1769. His parents were Carlo Maria Buonaparte (1746-1785), and his wife, Maria-Letizia Ramolino (1750-1836). It should be noted that his family was not French but Italian and that his first home was the Maison Bonaparte in Ajaccio, on the island of Corsica.
Napoleon is remembered for being a French military officer and statesman who originally rose to prominence during the French Revolution. He was leader of the French Republic from 1799 to 1804, and then of the French Empire—as Emperor of the French—for a decade from 1804 until 1814.
Napoleon also possessed a wealth of other titles at varying points during his life: President of the Italian Republic, King of Italy, Prince of Elba, and Mediator of the Swiss Confederation — to name but a few.
His romance with Josephine de Beauharnais (the quote “not tonight, Josephine,” immediately springs to mind) is also renowned. The couple were married in 1796, and their largely unhappy union ended with divorce in 1810. Although Josephine had two children from her previous marriage to Alexandre de Beauharnais, she and Napoleon shared no further issue.
Alongside the Duke of Wellington, Napoleon is still admired as one of the greatest commanders in world history. His tactics, just like Wellington’s, are still studied in military schools, even in the 21st century.
Wellington vs. Napoleon: Who Was Better Educated?
Both the young Arthur Wellesley and the young Napoleon Bonaparte received excellent educations.
It was in January of 1779, at the age of just nine, that Napoleon moved to the French mainland and enrolled at a school in Autun. The main intention of this enrollment was for him to improve his French, as his mother tongue was the Corsican dialect of Italian. Although he soon became fluent in the desired language, he wrote and spelled very poorly, and was made fun of into young adulthood for his strong Corsican accent.
It was in May of that same year that the most difficult period of his education began. He was transferred to the military academy of Brienne-le-Chateau, where he was constantly bullied by his classmates for his birthplace, his short stature, his unusual mannerisms, and his poor manner of speaking.
One of Napoleon’s teachers noted that he was “distinguished for his application in mathematics, fairly well acquainted with history and geography.” He also suggested that the boy “would make an excellent sailor.”
Another anecdote regarding Napoleon’s time at the academy—recording a possible turning point in his popularity—was that he led his team to victory in a snowball fight against a senior group of students. Some historians claim that, although childish, this was his first major victory and a sign of what was to come in the way of his skills in leadership.
In September of 1784, Napoleon began his further education at the Ecole Militaire in Paris. It was here that he trained to become an artillery officer. Due to the death of his father in May of the following year, he chose to complete the two-year course in one year, before returning to help his family at home. This he did with surprising success, and he notably became the first Corsican to graduate from the establishment.
The only drawback was that he was by no means the top of his class; he ranked only 42nd in a class of 58 students.
The young Arthur Wellesley, on the other hand, enjoyed an education befitting the young son of a wealthy and aristocratic family. He attended a boys’ boarding school from an early age. He was lonely and withdrawn both at school and at home. By the time he was ready to begin a formal education, his father was already dead, and his mother’s disinterest in her children had rendered him and his siblings practically parentless.
Nonetheless, Arthur Wellesley first went to the diocesan school in Trim, then to Mr Whyte’s Academy in Dublin, and then to Brown’s school in Chelsea, London.
To complete his education, he attended Eton College; one of the most expensive and prestigious establishments in Britain. However, despite being provided with the highest possible quality of education, he failed to excel in any subject, probably due to lack of interest rather than lack of ability.
Arthur Wellesley’s mother was said to have grown concerned over his apparent lack of distinction and lack of inspiration and stated that she “didn’t know what to do” with her “awkward son Arthur.”
In 1786, Arthur Wellesley enrolled in the French Academy of Equitation in Angers. It was here that he was turned into an excellent horseman and even became fluent in French, which obviously proved very useful in later life. Upon returning to England, he shocked his mother with the man he had suddenly become.
Conclusion: Wellington and Napoleon received equally beneficial and prestigious educations, and their educations prepared them in equal measures for the careers that lay ahead of them.
Who Was the Better Leader?
When it comes to their skills and tactics in leadership, Wellington and Napoleon were total opposites.
Wellington mimicked and developed a highly successful strategy that had been used by many renowned generals of the past. He took a long-term view of conflict as a whole and never lost sight of his final goal; he conserved his troops by refusing to waste time on high-risk battles; he avoided any encounter unless he was certain of victory; in the bigger picture, he was totally relentless, and knew better than anyone how to wear an enemy down. Napoleon, on the other hand, was generally a little less sane, a little less thoughtful, and his actions were ten times as urgent. His strategy could be described as high-risk, at best.
Wellington was cool and decisive. Napoleon was hot-tempered and haphazard.
Wellington admitted his mistakes, learned from them, and readjusted in time for the next battle. Napoleon found it difficult to accept his mistakes and forgot his failures quickly.
Like all great leaders, Wellington accepted his defeats and took the blame upon himself. Napoleon usually put the blame on someone else — anyone else.
Wellington was more considerate of his men, and on many occasions declined the chance of victory if he knew it would result in a high rate of casualty. Napoleon seemed unable to feel remorse for the millions killed by his whims in war.
Wellington was sensible regarding the medical services that would be required after each battle. In this respect, Napoleon neglected his army completely and even failed to arrange medical supplies for any major battles.
Throughout his military career, in the way of strategy, Wellington made no notable blunders. He said of his troops, “They never let me down.” Napoleon, on the other hand, made some of the worst mistakes imaginable: his invasion of Egypt, his invasion of Spain and Portugal, and the invasion of Russia while hundreds of thousands of troops were tied down in Spain by the Duke of Wellington, were just a few of his biggest disasters.
Conclusion: Wellington was the better military leader. Although their strategies could not have been more different, they are remembered equally for their unprecedented talents and successes. Even without the comparisons listed above, it cannot be argued that Wellington was not the more competent of the two. After all, it was Wellington who ultimately defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
After the Battle of Waterloo, upon hearing of the 50,000 dead, Wellington wept and said “I hope to God I have fought my last battle.” And he had.
Who Was Better Looking?
Both Wellington and Napoleon possessed an exceptional talent for attracting female attention. They were both equally sought after by women; whether for their physical appearance, their wealth and power, or their intellect and charm, is left for us to decide.
The Duke was not only typically good looking but also knew how to endear himself to the ladies. Of Wellington’s attractive personality and appearance, Countess Granville said, “The fact is that I really believe that the Duke finds so few women that do not kneel to him, that he must feel a sort of respect for any who do not make up to him.” The Encyclopaedia Britannica tells us that Wellington “was slim, five feet nine inches, often wore the perfectly cut civilian clothes he preferred, had wavy brown hair and brilliant blue eyes.”
A young, unidentified woman who made Napoleon’s acquaintance in the year 1795 reported that “had he not been so thin as to have a sickly air which was quite pitiful to see, one would have realised that he had unusually delicate features; the lines of his mouth in particular were full of charm.” Apparently, Napoleon possessed a nose that was slightly curved and an unhealthy complexion, but also fashionable blue, deep-set eyes.
Conclusion: Both were good-looking—depending on who you were talking to, of course—but Wellington was significantly more so. However, due to the nature of their positions, both were extremely attractive to women.
Who Was the Better Husband?
Contrary to popular belief, neither Wellington nor Napoleon were particularly happy in their marriages.
Napoleon was married twice: firstly to Josephine de Beauharnais from 1796 until 1810, and secondly to Marie Louise of Austria from 1810 until his death in 1821. Strangely, Napoleon is probably best remembered for his romance with Josephine — even more so than for his military career. Despite their initial obsession with each other, both partners were serially unfaithful. They lived separately much of the time and shared no children.
Wellington, on the other hand, was married only once. His wife was Catherine (or Kitty) Pakenham, whom he married in 1806 and stayed with until her death in 1831. Although she remained devoted, he enjoyed a string of romantic, extramarital liaisons.
However, one strong mark of Wellington’s chivalrous and dedicated character can be found at the very beginning of his story with Kitty Pakenham. In their youth, the couple had been very much in love; he had asked her to marry him twice but had twice been denied by her family. The pair were separated when Wellesley and his regiment were sent to India, and they did not lay eyes on each other for eleven years.
At the time of his return home, Kitty still adored Wellesley and had even rejected other suitors for love of him. Feeling bound by his initial promises, and having elevated his own position and wealth significantly, he proposed once again by way of a letter.
Kitty was thrilled but did not accept the offer immediately. She wrote back to confess that she had changed since they had last seen each other. She warned him that “in so many years I may be much more changed than I myself am conscious of. If when you have met me you can tell me that you do not repent having written your letter I am answering now, I shall be most happy.”
When Wellington arrived home in 1806, he saw that she was right. He was disappointed with her looks; with disapproval, he confessed to his brother that “she has grown ugly, by Jove.”
But Wellington was a man of his word. He had proposed to her, and therefore he would marry her. He kept his thoughts to himself and went through with the wedding on April 10, that same year.
Although the marriage produced two children, it produced very little in the way of happiness.
Catherine Pakenham died on the 24th of April, 1831. During her final moments, Wellington sat at her side. His own records tell us that, before taking her last breath, Kitty had run her fingers up Wellington’s sleeve, wondering if he was still wearing an armlet she had given to him many years earlier when they were in love. “She found it,” Wellington said, “just as she would have found it any time these twenty years, had she cared to look for it.”
Conclusion: neither Napoleon nor Wellington were good husbands to their wives, but they both had good and bad points in marriage. Wellington was the man who remained true to both his initial engagement and his marriage vows. Napoleon was genuinely in love with Josephine, and it is possible that he may have been a better husband, had she been a better wife.
Who Was the Better Lover?
One might ask, “How could we possibly compare the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte as lovers?” Furthermore, “How could we think to determine which of these figures gave a better performance in the bedroom?”
Of course, both figures have been dead for around two centuries; so have the various wives and mistresses they cared to spend a night with. Even if they were still with us today, surely most women of the era would be too shy and modest to reveal any detail regarding such intimate matters.
Fortunately, there is one existing anecdote that reveals a little glimpse into the boudoirs of Wellington and Napoleon. Somewhat shockingly, there are two women who were known to have slept with them both. These two lucky ladies were Giuseppina Grassini (an Italian opera singer), and Marguerite Georges (a French actress).
Giuseppina was discreet regarding both of her affairs. However, Marguerite was a little less so. She freely shared her experiences with all and sundry and even went as far as to comment on and compare the performances of her lovers. When asked directly about which of the men was more capable of pleasing her, and which was more skilled in his way with women, she answered with the words, “Monsieur le Duc etait de beaucoup le plus fort.”
This translates from French to English as “the Duke was by far the stronger.”
Of course, this can hardly be taken as solid proof; Marguerite is only one woman, and these things are subjective. However, other than the number of mistresses these men attracted, Marguerite’s answer is the only piece of evidence we have.
Conclusion: Wellington was the better lover.
Who Was the Better Christian?
When it comes to the question of who was the better Christian, we must first address the religious denominations to which Wellington and Napoleon belonged. Napoleon was a Cradle Catholic—born and baptized into the Church—and Wellington was a faithful and committed Protestant.
In the way of his religious life, to say that Napoleon made some blunders would be an enormous understatement. Not only did he divorce his wife (an act disallowed by the Catholic Church in general), but he also managed to get himself excommunicated by Pope Pius VII, have the Pope kidnapped as revenge, and, as a final flourish, keep him imprisoned for six years.
Generally speaking, it is acknowledged by historians that Napoleon’s relationship with the Church was much less about his own personal fulfillment and dedication, and was much more about his ambition. His interactions with the Church were, more often than not, extremely politically motivated.
One of Napoleon’s most significant decisions involving the Catholic Church can be found in the Concordant of 1801. This was an agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII to re-establish Catholicism in France after the French Revolution. However, with this treaty, Napoleon took clever and careful measures to ensure that the Church remained under the control of the state. One might easily mistake the reasons for his actions. It is probable that he did not particularly care if France was a Catholic country. Instead, he desired to use a powerful force such as the Catholic Church to stabilize and legitimize his own rule.
Napoleon was not stupid. He understood the importance of religion in 19th-century society. He knew that religion, particularly his own religion, played a significant role in maintaining order.
Nonetheless, the agreement reaffirmed the Catholic Church as the majority Church of France and also restored its civil status. However, despite this agreement, Pope Pius VII and Napoleon continued their conflict.
Eventually, Pius VII took the dramatic decision to excommunicate Napoleon. In response to this, one of Napoleon’s most ambitious officers—a man named Lieutenant Radet—saw an opportunity to win favor. He kidnapped the Pope, and although Napoleon claimed that he did not approve of such radical actions, decided to keep Pius imprisoned in what turned out to be a six-year-long confinement. Pius did not return to his seat in Rome until May 1814.
The Duke of Wellington, on the other hand, was by all accounts the perfect example of an English Protestant. Realistically, it simply cannot be argued that Napoleon was a better-behaved Christian than Wellington. Wellington was known to attend Church weekly and spend much time on Godly pursuits. Certainly, he never so much as raised his voice to any authoritative figure in the Church of England—let alone kidnap one—and only ever showed the utmost respect to both Queen Victoria and the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
Wellington’s religious observance was far more than just a matter of duty. He held a true faith close to his heart, throughout good times and bad, and held firm in the strong belief that he was under the protection of God.
One piece of evidence to support this idea can be found in a letter of 1813. Wellington wrote to his brother, William Wellesley, that he had escaped a battle unhurt, and that he believed “the finger of God” had been upon him.
Wellington also studied Protestantism in depth. One of his favorite books was reported to have been Alexander Keith’s Demonstration of the Truth of Christianity. He called this “the most interesting work upon any subject,” that he had ever pursued and even claimed that he sat up, “half the night reading it.”
Wellington is also noted for his tolerance of other religions, which was somewhat unusual for a politician of his era. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Wellington was sympathetic toward the Catholic population in Britain and Ireland. During his time as Prime Minister, he worked unceasingly to ensure the passage of the Roman Catholic Relief Act (also known as the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829) and even threatened to resign if King George IV did not provide royal assent. The passing of this act granted full civil rights to Catholics in the United Kingdom and even allowed Catholics to sit in Parliament.
Although so far, it may seem as if Wellington was the more pious of the two enemies, it cannot be denied that Napoleon experienced a change of heart and a change of behavior in later life. When things began to fall apart, like many sinners before him, Napoleon became penitent and decided he had better reconcile himself with God.
While in exile on St Helena, Napoleon requested a Chaplain and explained that it would rest his soul to hear Mass. Kindly—as they were under no obligation to grant any request of Napoleon’s—the British sent Abbot Ange Vignali to Saint Helena.
On April 20, 1821, with just a few weeks of life remaining, Napoleon stated: “I was born in the Catholic religion. I wish to fulfill the duties it imposes and receive the succour it administers.”
He died on May 5, after receiving the sacraments of Confession, Extreme Unction, and the Eucharist.
Conclusion: taking into account his unwavering and lifelong commitment to his faith, Wellington was undoubtedly the better Christian.
The Deaths of the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte died on May 5, 1821, at the age of just 51. His last words were reported to have been, “France, l’armee, tete d’armee, Josephine.” This translates from French to English as “France, the army, head of the army, Josephine.”
His remains now lie in the Cathedral Saint-Louis-des-Invalides.
The Duke of Wellington outlived Napoleon by 31 years. He died on September 14, 1852. At the time of his death, he was residing at his favorite house, Walmer Castle in Kent. He had reached the great age of 83.
Like many great figures of his era, Wellington was buried in St Paul’s Cathedral.
Queen Victoria wrote that Wellington was “the pride and bon genie, as it were, of this country; he was the greatest man this country ever produced, and the most devoted and loyal subject, and the staunchest supporter the Crown ever had.”
