FACT CHECK #75HDRY3A

WHAT WE FOUND

Historical evidence and modern estimates indicate that Napoleon Bonaparte was not short but rather of average or slightly above-average height for a Frenchman of his time 8911. While frequently cited as being 5 feet 2 inches tall, this measurement was recorded in French units (pouces), which were longer than British inches 56. When converted to modern imperial units, Napoleon stood between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 7 inches (approximately 1.68 to 1.70 meters) 21011. The persistent myth of his short stature originated largely from British propaganda intended to mock him and the fact that he was often surrounded by the elite Imperial Guard, who were required to be exceptionally tall 3411. Despite the debunking of his physical shortness, the term Napoleon complex remains a subject of study in evolutionary psychology regarding the behavior of shorter males 1.

SOURCES

1. 1 · pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govACADEMIC
   The Napoleon Complex: When Shorter Men Take More - PMC

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2. 2 · britannica.comWEB
   Was Napoleon Short? | Britannica

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3. 3 · history.comWEB
   Was Napoleon Short? Origins of the 'Napoleon Complex' - History.com

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4. 4 · nationalgeographic.comWEB
   Was Napoleon even short? Inside the history of discrimination ...

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5. 5 · todayifoundout.comWEB
   Napoleon Bonaparte Having Been Short is a Myth

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6. 6 · nationalpost.comWEB
   Why people think Napoleon was really short (even though he wasn't)

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7. 7 · thoughtco.comWEB
   Was Napoleon Bonaparte Really Short? - ThoughtCo

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8. 8 · washingtonpost.comWEB
   How short was Napoleon Bonaparte? Actually, taller than average.

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9. 9 · chucktowntours.comWEB
   The true history of Napoleon's height - Chucktown Tours

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10. 10 · mrodenberg.comWEB
    How tall (short) was Napoleon Bonaparte? - Margaret Rodenberg

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11. 11 · history.howstuffworks.comWEB
    How Tall Was Napoleon Bonaparte? Actually Pretty Average - History

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