Napoleon Bonaparte’s last words were reportedly "France, the Army, Joséphine" as he lay on his deathbed on May 5, 1821, on the island of Longwood, where he was exiled.
These words reflect his enduring attachment to his homeland, his military life, and his first wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais, whom he had divorced in 1810. His mention of these three significant aspects of his life underscores the deep emotional connections he maintained even in his final moments. Napoleon’s legacy as a military genius and a complicated historical figure is mirrored in these last sentiments.