10 Popular History Myths (You Probably Believe)
9. Napoleon Was Short
The most famous wee lad in history, Napoleon Bonaparte was the bite-sized military leader who ascended to the French throne, launched the Napoleonic Wars, expanded the French Empire, implemented the Napoleonic Code, brought liberal policies and reforms to many of his conquered territories, and earned himself a place in the pantheon of the most revered military minds in human history.
He did all of this, in spite of the fact that he was a tiny little baby-man.
Except that he wasn't.
This is a pretty common one. After all, the man has an entire complex named after him, and its central premise is tied to the historically inaccurate notion that he was - like Lord Farquaad - in short supply. In reality, Napoleon was about 5'6" or 5'7", which was actually a hair taller than his contemporary Frenchmen.
This myth was circulated in part to undermine Napoleon's legacy and grandeur. There was also likely some confusion over French measurements. He was listed as 5'2", but French inches were larger than British inches. Larger inches means they use fewer of them to measure height, so on paper, it seems like he'd be shorter, but alas, he was not.
Put this one to rest - ideally, in a normal-sized bed.