Jun 6, 2019

Napoleon Meets The Duke at Waterloo

For years I've shied away from writing about the natal horoscope of Napoleon I, outstanding though it is, because I'd read that he lied about his age to get into the army and thus his birth data was conflicting or unverified (RR:C) and could be 'off' by one year. Yet most folks seem to have settled on his natal data so here are his birth details in case you don't have them: (nee) Napoleon Bonaparte August 15, 1769 11:30 am LMT Ajaccio, France. View his natal chart here.

Napoleon's Sun @22Leo45 (the 'worst foot forward'/'own worst enemy' degree) and Moon @28Cap40 (conjunct US natal Pluto 27:32, planet of power, death, and manipulation); Leo-Capricorn identifies his personality as Fire-Earth, a volcanic combination of energies, in a word, a bulldozer full of an enormous amount of self-belief and certainty, a good manager and politician. Apparently, intense Scorpio (life is a battle!) dawned upon the horizon (ASC 00Sco31) as baby Napoleon entered the earthly flux along with exploring, expansive Jupiter @15Sco01 in 1st house of Self, on one level a description of his discoveries (Jupiter) in Egypt (Scorpio.) He thought, planned, and communicated as a dramatic Leo with Mercury @6Leo09 conjunct MC (The Goal Point); warrior Mars conjoined Neptune in Virgo showing an intuitive strategist who was unwilling to accept responsibility for the results of his actions inspired though they may have been. Plus, Mars-Neptune contacts may also suggest misguided or misdirected actions and/or 'the fog of war'.

Now as you know, Pluto in Capricorn represents on one level the dictator, and long gone and thus unaware of it, Napoleon I has had a Pluto Return (4x in 2014/15) with natal Pluto Rx @13Cap34 widely opposing his Saturn (destructive to the established order--A. Oken). Yet we find him born with an enlightened Uranus-Neptune-Mars-Pluto Grand Trine in practical Earth signs, and a high-flying Kite pattern suggesting success (rebellious Uranus in stubborn Taurus acts as the tail). These closed circuits of planetary energies supported his grand visions of global conquest and expansion of territory and power. And since Pluto is also a planet associated with publishing, Andrew Roberts' definitive biography of Napoleon: A Life (2014) has enjoyed quite a bit of publicity and brisk sales before the corpulent chanteuse sang, for as you know, a person's natal planets continue to be triggered or activated in perpetuity. Perhaps Napoleon's Capricorn Pluto, also the planet of transformation and activated in our time by its return to natal degree, has made possible an 'upgrade' to Napoleon's reputation or at least has provided a deeper knowledge of his life and motivations.

And on a personal level, Astrology can help with that.

A temperamental, authoritative Sun Leo-Moon Capricorn personality blend provided Napoleon I with great vitality and a sense of adventure, perfect attributes for an aspiring world conqueror and self-crowned emperor. His somber, ambitious Capricorn Moon supplied the stability and perseverance needed to stick to his Leonine plans for shining on the world stage, taking charge, and directing all focus upon his ultimate goals. There was practical intellect combined with vanity, conceit, and arrogance which added to his downfall in spite of great courage and determination. Although defeated on June 18, 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo (chart shown--RR: B; Sun Gemini-Moon Scorpio; a forceful Mars-Pluto conjunction in Pisces, a military sign, widely opposes Jupiter the General @00Lib55, a Cardinal World Point of Manifestation--with rising Jupiter conjunct asteroid Nemesis, the unbeatable foe), Napoleon had managed to take over most of continental Europe yet eventually died in exile of stomach cancer (partially described by natal Saturn in Cancer opposing natal Moon in Capricorn) on the isle of St. Helena on May 5, 1821. Note that if you, dear reader, have the same Moon-Saturn opposition across the Cancer-Capricorn axis, don't expect a similar medical outcome!

Now if you wish more Sun-Moon info, see Sun Sign-Moon Sign by Charles & Suzi Harvey where you'll also find two famous quotes attributed to Napoleon himself:

"We must laugh at man to avoid crying for him." And, "Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet." With his monarchic frame of mind and a tendency to speak and act out on the world stage, he obviously did not consider himself common...or, one supposes, religious.

Video: The Battle of Waterloo in Two Minutes. Two minutes?!! Non!

Solar Eclipses of Napoleon, Wellington, and The Battle of Waterloo

Unfortunately, the Prenatal Solar Eclipse Saros Series of Napoleon I petered out at some point so I can share no theme for it (5 South). What I can tell you (as politicians like to say these days!) is that for the Emperor of the French, his PE manifested on June 4, 1769 @13Gem51 conjunct Venus Rx @13Gem11. Eclipses in Mercury-ruled Gemini obviously have to do with various issues of communication and possible karma associated with one or more (of his several) siblings (Pauline was his favorite sister: Venus Rx in Gemini?). Naturally taciturn, a person born under and influenced by a Prenatal Eclipse in Gemini (sign of The Dark and Light Twins) will often communicate with fewer words than a more talkative person and the primary focus will be on his capacity to think through a situation logically and express his thoughts coherently. Negatively, Gemini expression tends to produce loquacity, superficiality, and caprice, plus, the native may enter upon a 'talkathon' without first giving the situation the forethought necessary to come to a logical solution. This may cause a splintering of the thought processes which hinders karmic progress for the natural Gemini reasoning ability should be an asset applied to karmic problems yet this may or may not be the case (Lineman). (Note that the PE of Donald Trump is also in Gemini--conjunct US natal Uranus (8Gem55), planet of chaos, disruption, separation, and rebellion.)

Of course, Napoleon's opponent at Waterloo was the Duke of Wellington (nee Arthur Wellesley May 1, 1769 11:58 pm LMT Dublin, Ireland RR: DD; Sun @11Taurus Moon @16Pisces ASC: 3Cap47; Pluto Rx @15Cap41 opposes his Mars-Saturn conjunction = destructive energy, brutality, cruelty, ruthlessness, death of many people (a cosmic echo of Trump's natal Mars-Saturn = Pluto) and the Duke's PE @18Cap13 perfected on January 8, 1769 (partial) in the 5 North Saros Series with themes of: 'sudden hunches, prophetic dreams, visions', and 'new inspirations'. (A 5N eclipse last manifested in 2003; next in 2021.)

Sympatico with Wellington's PE by degree, the PE of the Battle of Waterloo @19Cap32, an annular eclipse in the 15 South Saros Series, seems descriptive of such an important battle--of any battle actually: 'release of tension, a lingering situation suddenly clears but with a sense of collective grief or loss' (Themes: Brady's Predictive Astrology).

And what I can tell you about Prenatal Solar Eclipses in Saturn-ruled Capricorn is that they emphasize serious, conservative, and conscientious approaches to problems and require the development of self-discipline which can overcomes self-indulgence in order to make karmic progress. Yet the selfish, avaricious qualities associated with Capricorn tend to make leading a spiritual life difficult and off-putting rather than inspiring to others; dedication and hard work at the expense of personal pleasure and worldly status are demanded by stringent eclipse-ruler Saturn, and relationships to or with authority figures (earthly fathers and/or others) are prominent as is government service of some kind (Lineman).

Well, that's all I care to type for now concerning Napoleon I, the Duke of Wellington, and the historic Battle of Waterloo. Review and compare their three charts as you wish for there is definitely more cosmic information to be revealed for those curious enough to sleuth into Historical Horoscopes!

Above image: Mars from Hubble


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