Arenenberg (Comte d’). So he called himself after his escape from the fortress of Ham.
Badinguet, the name of the man he shot in his Boulogne escapade.
Boustrapa, a compound of Bou[logne], Stra[sbourg] and Pa[ris], the places of his noted escapades.
Grosbec. So called from the rather unusual size of his nose.
Man of December. So called because December was his month of glory. Thus, he was elected president December 11, 1848; made his coup d’état December 2, 1851; and was created emperor December 2, 1852.
Man of Sedan. So called because at Sedan he surrendered his sword to the king of Prussia (September, 1870).
Ratipole, same as the west of England Rantipole, a harum-scarum, half idiot, half madcap.
The Little. Victor Hugo gave him this title; but the hatred of Hugo to Napoleon was monomania.
Verhuel, the name of his supposed father.