Napoleon’s Height Myth Explained

Napoleon wasn't actually short. He was five foot six, which was average

height for French men in the 1800s. The myth started because of British propaganda and confusion

between French and British measurement systems. His nickname, "le Petit Caporal,"

meant "the little corporal" as a term of endearment, not an insult about his height.

So all those short jokes? Completely based on a historical misunderstanding

that stuck around for over two centuries.