Q. Why is the pastry called a "napoleon" so named?
A. Now that's a sticky question. Even in attempting to define "napoleon" we run into difficulties. The classic "oblong pastry with a filling of cream, custard, or jelly," doesn't quite fill the bill these days, when chefs are known to serve up savory as well as sweet napoleons, with stuffings of seafood, veggies, cheese and even tofu. Sometimes the flaky puff pastry is dispensed with as well, and other alternatives are used for layering. We've even heard of "napoleons" made with tortillas or fried potatoes, for example, which would presumably surprise (or horrify) the French.
It's clear that the pastry gets its name from the French emperor Napoleon, but exactly how and why that happened isn't known. The most popular explanation is that Napoleon himself consumed an excessive quantity of cream-filled puff pastries on the day before the battle of Waterloo in 1815, and consequently had a bad case of indigestion on the battlefield. For a time thereafter, the story goes, the French felt disfavor toward the traitorous pastry, while the victorious English gratefully dubbed it "napoleon." But the fact is that, though the fateful result of the battle of Waterloo is well-documented history, "napoleons" are not found mentioned at all before the 1890s, so the story is pretty clearly a recent invention.
We present here three more theories purporting to explain how the napoleon got its name: 1) The traditional zig-zag pattern of white and chocolate icing created atop the pastry looks like a series of N's. 2) The pastry was invented by a Danish chef and was first served on the occasion of a state visit by the French emperor. 3) The pastry was first created by an Italian chef in Naples who named it "napoletano" after his city, and the name was later corrupted to "napoleon" in English.
As you might guess, there is no hard evidence in support of these theories. In the end, the only logical conclusion is this: No one really knows how napoleons got their name.
Q. Could you please explain the expression "Hobson's Choice"? From the contexts in which I've seen it used, I think it means a choice between two equally distasteful alternatives. Was there a famous person named Hobson once in such a situation?
A. "Hobson's Choice" is sometimes used in such a way that it means basically, as you suggest, a dilemma. Originally, however, the phrase meant not a difficult choice but no choice at all, and purists will argue (in vain) that any other use is incorrect.
The expression originates from the practice of Thomas (or Tobias) Hobson, a liveryman and licensed carrier of letters, parcels and passengers in late 16th and early 17th century Cambridge, England. Hobson kept a stable of about 40 horses for this purpose and rented them to the university students when he was not using them. Of course, the students wanted their favorite mounts each time, with the result that a few of Hobson's horses were overworked. To correct this situation, he began a strict rotation system for renting his horses so that all of them would see equal service. When a customer came for a horse, Hobson gave him the choice of taking the one that stood nearest the stable door or none at all. In this way, every customer and every horse was treated alike. This rule became well known and was referred to as "Hobson's Choice." Soon, people began using this term to mean "no choice at all" in all kinds of situations having nothing to do with horses. As the term spread, Hobson's name became fixed in the language.
Hobson's career as a carrier, however, came to an end in 1630 when, due to an outbreak of the plague in London, his journeys were suspended by the authorities. He died the following year. His friend John Milton wrote two poems about him, suggesting in "On the University Carrier" that Hobson might have lived had his career not been cut short.
FAQs
2) The pastry was invented by a Danish chef and was first served on the occasion of a state visit by the French emperor. 3) The pastry was first created by an Italian chef in Naples who named it "napoletano" after his city, and the name was later corrupted to "napoleon" in English.
Why is Napoleon always referred to by his first name? ›
We call Napoleon and Michelangelo by their first names to avoid the almost inevitable confusion between Bonaparte and Buonarroti. Before he became emperor, Napoleon was just Boney, part of his surname. As for Michelangelo, his surname was too much of a mouthful.
What does Napoleon mean in French? ›
In French Baby Names the meaning of the name Napoleon is: Man from Naples.
Is Napoleon a common name in France? ›
The graph below lists all newborn children who have been named Napoleon in the past 120 years. You will notice that exactly ten babies have been named that since 1980. The number of French citizens wearing that name is probably in the range of 50–60 individuals, less than 0.0002% of the male population.
How many Napoleons were there? ›
The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries by Jacques-Louis David, 1812. Source. Did you know there were actually three famous Napoleon Bonapartes in the 1800s, all emperors, two of whom dramatically altered the destiny of France? Join us as we explore the fascinating history of Napoleon and his clan.
What did Napoleon name himself first? ›
So it is BONAPARTE who was a young officer, then general, then politician. However, — and this is the key — when Bonaparte declared himself Emperor, he then took to using using first name, as in “Napoleon I” (Napoleon the First).
Why did Napoléon Bonaparte change his name? ›
Napoleon had a penchant for changing names. He was born Napoleone di Buonaparte in 1769, and by 1796 he had Gallicized his name to Napoléon Bonaparte, “emphasizing his French characteristics over his Italian and Corsican identities” (Roberts 73).
What is the special name of Napoleon? ›
Napoleon I, also called Napoléon Bonaparte, was a French military general and statesman. Napoleon played a key role in the French Revolution (1789–99), served as first consul of France (1799–1804), and was the first emperor of France (1804–14/15).
What is the origin of the last name Napoleon? ›
French (Napoléon) and Spanish (Napoleón): from a personal name of Italian origin (see Napoleone ). It was made famous by the French Emperor Napoleon (1769–1821; see Bonaparte ).
Why did Napoleon call himself Emperor of the French? ›
The title of "Emperor of the French" was supposed to demonstrate that Napoleon's coronation was not a restoration of the monarchy, but an introduction of a new political system: the French Empire.
Napoleon was often described as being short in stature. In actual fact, the height of five foot two recorded on his death was in French units, which were equivalent in today's measurement to five foot, six and a half inches or 169 centimetres – an average height.
What is Napoleon's nickname? ›
Napoleon was called Le Petit Caporal, but the nickname, translated as “The Little Corporal,” was not meant as a reflection of his stature. It was intended as a term of affection by his soldiers.
Why is Napoleon movie 18+? ›
Parents need to know that Napoleon is an epic biopic with extreme and bloody violence throughout. The film charts the life of Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix), the French military commander who went on to become emperor of France, and his tempestuous relationship with his wife, Josephine (Vanessa Kirby).
What did Napoleon think of the USA? ›
The allure of the Americas was strong for Napoleon and many of his supporters. Before selling off the Louisiana territory to the U.S. in 1803, Napoleon had once harbored dreams of building a grand continental empire, with New Orleans as its metropolitan center.
Did Josephine really love Napoleon? ›
While their letters are clear evidence that the couple truly loved each other, Josephine was struck with a case of "wandering eye", falling into the arms of other men who took their chance on Josephine while her husband was away fighting battles and conquering foreign lands.
Is the Bonaparte bloodline still alive? ›
Living members
There are no other legitimate descendants in the male line from Napoleon I or from his brothers. There are, however, numerous descendants of Napoleon's illegitimate, unacknowledged son, Count Alexandre Colonna-Walewski (1810–1868), born from Napoleon I's union with Marie, Countess Walewski.
What was Napoléon Bonaparte's first name? ›
Napoleon was baptized as a Catholic, under the name Napoleone di Buonaparte. In his youth, his name was also spelled as Nabulione, Nabulio, Napolionne, and Napulione. Napoleon was born one year after the Republic of Genoa ceded Corsica to France.
What is Napoleon now addressed as instead of just his name? ›
Napoleon was now never spoken of simply as "Napoleon." He was always referred to in formal style as "our Leader, Comrade Napoleon," and the pigs liked to invent for him such titles as Father of All Animals, Terror of Mankind, Protector of the Sheep-fold, Ducklings' Friend, and the like.
Who was Napoléon Bonaparte Why was he called? ›
Napoleon Bonaparte was a military dictator of France during revolutionary period. He was called a liberator by the citizens as he abolished the feudal laws and privileges and stopped the so called "By Birth" facilities. He introduced uniform system of unit and measurement and also the currency .
