“The history book on the shelf always repeats itself,” says the popular song “Waterloo,” made famous by the 1970s musical group ABBA. The song takes its name from Napoleon Bonaparte's last battle, a total failure in which he faced the Duke of Wellington and his army near the town of Waterloo. Indeed, Napoleon was trying to repeat his past glory in this battle. Born into a poor family in Corsica, Napoleon rose above his humble past and embarked on perhaps the most legendary military career in history. However, "absolute power corrupts absolutely", is something Napoleon would soon learn as he fell from power and glory, finally dying after many years of isolation in 1813. History could not repeat itself for Napoleon , but there is no doubt that his actions determined the basis of a new future throughout Europe and in France, he will remain a hero forever. Everyone loves an underdog story, and the story of Napoleon epitomizes that genre. Born in Corsica, it seemed Napoleon was destined to forever be a second-class French citizen. He was born into a relatively poor family, but he was determined to rise above his circumstances. He was highly motivated and won a prestigious scholarship to attend a military school in France when he was just nine years old. Because he was Corsican, he was looked down upon by his classmates, so to prove his worth, he was determined to win absolutely at everything. He was more than intelligent; he was a genius who excelled in almost every field, and everyone who met him was impressed by his passion to succeed. Napoleon became an expert in artillery and completed his training in half the time. By the age of 16, he was a fully ranked officer and found glory in battle...... middle of paper...... which led him to become the Emperor of one of the strongest nations on the planet, but this power could not last. A legend in life, Napoleon outgrew himself, which would lead to his downfall, but he left a legacy that is not easily forgotten. His greatest political achievement, the Napoleonic Code, set a standard that is still respected throughout Europe today. Napoleon Bonaparte, the greatest soldier of all, was a hero in life and in death. Works Cited Parker, Philip. History of the world. New York: DK Publishing, 2010. Napoleon Bonaparte: The Glory of France. Distributed by the Biographie channel. 1993. A&Télévision, 1997. DVD.Broussard, Nicolas. Napoleon: Hegelian hero. Translated by Judith Rosenzweig. Revue du Souvenir Napoléonien 400 (1995). Accessed April 23, 2014. http://www.napoleon.org/en/reading_room/articles/files/napoleon_hegelian_hero.asp#information