Napoleon Bonaparte signature

French general, First Consul and Emperor of the French (1769–1821)

Inspired by Napoleon Bonaparte’s signature

A rendering in a modern handwriting font, made for this page. It is not the real signature; see where to view the original below. Where to see the original ↓Style: Mr Dafoe, slant 18°

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Mr Dafoe · 18°

Who Napoleon Bonaparte was

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) was born in Corsica, a year after the island passed from Genoa to France. He rose through the army during the French Revolution, seized power in 1799, crowned himself Emperor of the French in 1804 and dominated Europe until his defeat in 1814 and, after his return, at Waterloo in 1815. He died in exile on Saint Helena.

The story of the signature

Few signatures changed as much as Napoleon’s. As a young officer he signed with the Italian form of his family name, “Buonaparte”. In 1796, the year he married Joséphine and took command of the Army of Italy, he began using the French form, “Bonaparte”.

Once he became emperor he signed with his first name, as monarchs did: “Napoleon”, often shortened to “Napol” or “Nap”. In the later years of his reign the signature was frequently reduced to a fast scrawl, sometimes little more than “Np” and a stroke.

He dictated much of his enormous correspondence to secretaries and signed at speed. Wikimedia Commons has a series of his autographs arranged by year, from 1792 to Saint Helena, which shows the change clearly.

What makes it distinctive

A name that changed

Buonaparte, Bonaparte, Napoleon: the signature follows his rise from Corsican officer to French emperor.

Abbreviation

As emperor he cut his name down to “Napol”, “Nap” and finally “Np”.

Speed over form

Late signatures are written with a fast, heavy hand, more mark than word.

How to give your signature a similar feel

Napoleon’s signature shows how a name can shrink with use. Try an abbreviated version of your own, such as a first syllable or your initials, in the signature generator and see whether it still identifies you.
Mr Dafoe on the Type tab gives a thick, marker-like stroke; with Slant around 18° it suggests haste.
On the Draw tab, sign quickly in one movement. Speed is the point of this style.
Keep a readable full signature as well. A two-letter scrawl may do for a note, but banks and contracts expect a signature that is consistent and identifiable.

Where to see the original

These links lead to archives, libraries, museums and Wikimedia Commons.

Questions about Napoleon Bonaparte’s signature

Why did Napoleon change his name from Buonaparte to Bonaparte?

Buonaparte was the Italian form of his Corsican family name. He adopted the French spelling in 1796, as his career in the French army took off.

Why is Napoleon’s later signature so messy?

He signed huge numbers of documents in haste, and later signatures are often cut to “Nap” or “Np”. Theories linking particular scrawls to his moods or battles are speculation.

Is the signature on this page Napoleon’s?

No. It is a font rendering inspired by his imperial signature. The Wikimedia Commons links above show genuine examples by year.