E-Answer.Net

The cause of Napoleon's death is controversial. Some say he died of arsenic poisoning while others claim it was stomach cancer and both make a good case so take your pick. It still isn't a clear-cut case how Napoleon died and new theories surface every day, either based on the 2 most commonly believed reasons or entirely new ones.



Historians have long believed that French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte died of cancer while in exile. Autopsy records described a tumour in his stomach that was more than 10 centimetres long, with hardened lymph nodes around the lesion that suggested stomach cancer. The original autopsy descriptions indicated that Bonaparte’s stomach had two ulcerated lesions: a large one on the stomach and a smaller one that had pierced through the stomach wall and reached the liver. Gastrointestinal bleeding is also believed to be the immediate cause of death.



The thinking that Napoleon was poisoned with arsenic gained popularity after tests in 1961 suggested his hair showed high levels of the element. The expected villain in this scenario is Comte de Montholon, a French general who was deported with the Emperor and was wine steward on St. Helena.



It is a fact that doctors, during Napoleon's days, as doctors today, could be confused about Napoleon's death if only 2 or 3 symptoms are taken separately. It could give them the impression that Napoleon was suffering from scurvy, hepatitis, etc.



However, once all of the symptoms are gathered together, they are identical to a list of symptoms that can be found in any modern book on toxicology, where arsenic intoxication is described.



Doctors today, without having all of the facts, are reacting in the same manner as the doctors did during the autopsy of Napoleon. The Marquis de Montchenu, who was representing France while he was on St. Helena, read all of the medical reports and he came to the following conclusion, and I quote: "Of the 5 doctors present, not one knew the real cause of Napoleon's death."



The poison theory was initially rejected out of hand and ridiculed by historians, but today poisoning is accepted by all French historians

as the cause of Napoleon’s death, despite the reluctance and stubborn pride of others.



He died at age 52 on May 5, 1821 on the island of St. Helena, where he had been banished by the British after his defeat at Waterloo. With him, I personally think, died a great statesman who did a lot more than just trying to conquer the world. Napoleon Bonaparte instituted several lasting reforms such as a tax system, a central bank, law codes, and road- and sewer systems. His set of civil laws, the Napoleonic Code or Civil Code, has importance to this day in modern continental Europe, Latin America and the US.



Here's more info on the poisoning theory

http://www.lestudio1.com/Blogues4.html

I would say that the real cause of his death was because he quit breathing.

But a doctor would probably tell you now that he died of stomach cancer. (brought on by a high salt and low fruit/vegetable diet)