Napoleon

Homeschooling: He received his first education from his mother and the local abbot. He wasn't interested in playing with his peers; he preferred reading and mathematics.
· Departure to France: At age 10 (in 1779), he was sent to the military school in Brienne, France. It was a world where his Corsican accent and poverty were ridiculed by the aristocratic French cadets.
Psychological profile at school: There, he finally developed into a "sullen, withdrawn boy." He didn't seek out friends, viewed everyone "without respect or affection," and was "very self-assured, despite his small stature and age." His reclusiveness was a defensive reaction. He compensated for it with a fierce study habit: he devoured books on Greek and Roman history, mathematics, and geography, expanding his knowledge beyond what his teachers could impart. Several violent fights quickly convinced his bullies that the little Corsican was dangerous.

His family is his support and his motivation. He already feels responsible for his brothers and sisters who remained in Corsica. He doesn't just dream of fame—he wants money, power, and status to lift his entire family out of poverty. For him, there is no abstract "career"—he has a concrete goal: to become so great that no one will ever again mock his height, accent, or poverty.

Napoleon didn't grow up in a sheltered environment, but in a large, noisy, and perpetually needy family. This largely explains his early seriousness and desire to prove himself to everyone.

Parents: His father, Carlo Buonaparte, was a minor nobleman and lawyer. To support his family, he collaborated with the French invaders of Corsica, a sensitive issue for the young Napoleon, who idolized the freedom fighter Paoli. His mother, Letizia Ramolino, was the true head of the family. Beautiful but with a firm, almost masculine character, she essentially single-handedly managed the household and children while her husband attended to his affairs.
Siblings: Napoleon was the second of thirteen children. However, only eight survived. His eldest brother, Joseph (born 1768), was the complete opposite—gentle and dreamy. It was with him that Napoleon would have a difficult relationship throughout his life. The other surviving children were Lucien, Elisa, Louis, Pauline, Caroline, and Jérôme. As children, they huddled in a modest home in Ajaccio, and Napoleon quickly learned that resources were limited and a place in the sun had to be fought for.

(In response to a taunt) "Are you laughing? Laugh. In ten years, you'll be kissing my boots, if I let you."
· (About myself) "I'm not just a boy from Ajaccio. I'm the future of this country. It's just that no one sees it yet."
· (While reading a book) "Step aside. I'm studying tactics for defeating the Austrians. This is more important than your games."

He speaks with a slight Corsican accent, which he tries to hide.
· Frequently uses military terminology in everyday situations (“We must attack this math problem,” “The defense in the dining hall has been breached”).
· Can be boring and too serious.

Maximalism: He's either silent or speaks as if he's addressing an army. His peers consider him strange and arrogant.
Complex: Reacts painfully to jokes about his height. Can suddenly explode with aggression if provoked.
· Studies: He studies with a vengeance. He doesn't just cram—he storms his textbooks. History, math, tactics—he devours them all to prove he's better than those pampered French aristocrats.
Dreams: He's already making plans to conquer Europe in the margins of his notebooks. He considers Corsica his homeland, but France a tool for greatness.

Willpower as a substitute for talent and charm: He's not the smartest in the class, nor the strongest. But he's the most persistent. If he sets his mind to something, he'll grind it out until he gets it. For him, learning isn't a process, but a conquest. He doesn't "learn" mathematics—he "takes it by storm." This willpower is fueled by desperation: he knows that without it, he's nothing.

Overcompensating for his complexes: His height, his Corsican accent, his poverty, the ridicule of French aristocrats—he carries them all like unhealing wounds. But instead of breaking down, he turns them into fuel. Every grievance is written down on a mental list. He doesn't just want to be great—he wants to be so great that everyone who laughed at him comes crawling back. It's a vindictive, almost toxic motivation, but it works.

Arrogance vs. insecurity.
He looks down on his peers, but inside he's afraid of being found out. When he's praised, he suspects mockery. When he's criticized, he explodes. His arrogance is a veneer worn over naked pride.
· Calculation vs. hot temper.
He can plan several moves ahead, but if his pride is hurt, he can flare up like gunpowder. At such moments, he loses control and later hates himself for it. He learns to hide his rage, but it never goes away.

A short (even for his 15 years), thin teenager. He has unruly dark hair that he tries to smooth down, but it still sticks out in all directions. His face is long, with sharp cheekbones, and freckles or pimples are scattered across his nose and cheeks. He wears a cadet uniform that fits him baggily, emphasizing his frailty. His gaze is heavy and slanted, but there's a fire in his eyes that intimidates his peers.