We never think of chocolate and famous military figures at the same time. We tend to think of chocolate as an indulgence, something to be savored as a reward for doing something spectacular or something we eat when we are stressed and need a quick pick me up. Apparently, Napoleon shared our addiction. According to legend, he always made sure that he had a piece of chocolate tucked into his pocket. Whenever he needed a quick pick me up, he ate it. Perhaps that is why so many chocolate deserts have the word Napoleon worked into their names.
Fashion Advice
Stuffing bits of chocolate into his pockets wasn’t the only thing that the leader of the French Revolution did that was a little bit different. You know the buttons that are on the end of the sleeves on sports coats, the ones near the cuff that don’t seem to have any purpose. You can thank Napoleon for those as well. He didn’t put the buttons on the jacket sleeves for decoration. He had them sewn onto the sleeves of his officer’s coats because he was repulsed by the men using their sleeves as handkerchiefs to wipe their noses, mouths, and brows. The buttons effectively stopped this behavior.
Josephine
Most people don’t realize that Napoleon married twice, both times to the same women. The first time he married his young bride, Josephine, was in 1796. Before this marriage Josephine was imprisoned and very nearly beheaded. Before their marriage Josephine went by her first name, Marie, but after the ceremony Napoleon started calling her by her second name, Josephine. The second time Napoleon married Josephine was just before he become the Emperor of France. The pair’s marriage was annulled when it became apparent that Josephine couldn’t have children. Josephine niece eventually became the Queen of Holland.
