Today marks the bicentennial of the Emperor's passing. Those of us who cannot travel to France, pass under the Arc de Triomphe and visit Les Invalides, we pay our respects thus, with the thoughts in our minds and our acts in the day. We honor him, and all the other heroes of Man, whose examples fuel the fires in our own hearts. He may have lost the war in the field of battle against overwhelming odds, but he has prevailed in a far greater war: that in the field of memory. Even in defeat, his spirit was unbroken, and his name remains unconquered, despite the remarkable efforts of those who seek to sully it. From nothing, he obtained everything. He engraved his name into the annals of history with little more than his own mind and two hands. Above all, he has touched with his deeds the souls of men who live two centuries after his death. That legacy, in the end, is his finest achievement, his eternal triumph.

We cannot conquer other men and their nations, as he did, and nor should we wish to, for this earth is large enough for all. Yet there are things still to be mastered and conquered here: Nature; our own irrational feelings and harmful instincts; life itself; and perhaps even death, through the things we create, the connections we forge, and the children we raise. In fighting these battles, Napoleon’s indomitable will and endless energy are an inspiration to us all. Let us make the most of it. With that, enjoy this short celebration of the great man.

The intro piece is "Corsica, Humble Beginnings", an OST from the game "Total War: Napoleon". The main song is "Star of Delusive Hopes", by Desert, to whom I send my warmest thanks for creating one of the best pieces of music out there about the Emperor. I have uploaded the lyrics as English subtitles.

All paintings, drawings, and music used in this video either belong to their respective owners or are in the public domain. This video is noncommercial and I do not make money from it.

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