Parentage

Napoleon's father, Carlo Buonaparte,. 1746–85, a petty Corsican nobleman, was a lawyer in Ajaccio. He supported (1768–69) Pasquale Paoli, then changed sides and became one of the staunchest leaders of the pro-French party in Corsica. He sent his sons to be educated in France. Napoleon's mother, Letizia, or Laetitia, Ramolino Bonaparte,. c.1750–1836, was given the title Madame Mère at Napoleon's court. After the final downfall of Napoleon she found refuge in Rome.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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