Napoleon was of average height for his era — the 'short Napoleon' was British propaganda
Napoleon Bonaparte stood approximately 5'6" to 5'7" (168–170cm) — perfectly average for a French man of the late 18th century. The 'short Napoleon' myth originated largely from British caricaturist James Gillray, whose political cartoons depicted Napoleon as tiny. The confusion was compounded by a units mix-up: Napoleon was listed as 5'2" in French inches (pouces), which are longer than British inches. When converted, he was 5'7". His nickname 'le petit caporal' ('little corporal') was a term of affection from his soldiers, not a description of his stature.
Napoleon's shortness is one of the most universally 'known' historical facts — and it's essentially fabricated. Its persistence is a case study in how effective political propaganda can calcify into accepted history.
“Napoleon was 5'6"–5'7" — average height for his era. The 'short Napoleon' was British propaganda by caricaturist James Gillray. A unit conversion error made it worse. 📏 #OddlyHuman”