'' by
Thomas Lawrence, 1819 From the spring of 1814 onwards, the young Napoleon lived in
Austria and was known as "Franz", a German language
cognate of his second given name, François. In 1818, he was awarded the title of
Duke of Reichstadt by his maternal grandfather, Emperor Francis. By 1820, Napoleon had completed his elementary studies and begun his military training, learning
German,
Italian and
mathematics as well as receiving advanced physical training. His official army career began at age 12, in 1823, when he was made a cadet in the
Austrian Army. Accounts from his tutors describe Napoleon as intelligent, serious, and focused. Additionally, he was very tall, having grown to nearly 1.8 m (6 ft) by the time he was 17. His budding military career raised concerns and sparked fascination among European monarchies and French leaders about his possible return to France. However, he was allowed to play no political role and instead was used by Austrian
Chancellor Klemens von Metternich in bargaining with France to gain advantage for Austria. Fearful of anyone in the
Bonaparte family regaining political power, Metternich even rejected a request for Franz to move to a warmer climate in Italy. He received another rejection when his grandfather refused to allow him to join the army traveling to Italy to put down a rebellion. Upon the death of his stepfather,
Adam Albert von Neipperg, and the revelation that his mother had borne two illegitimate children to Neipperg prior to their marriage, Franz grew distant from his mother and felt that his Austrian family were holding him back to avoid political controversy. He said to his friend,
Anton von Prokesch-Osten, "If
Joséphine had been my mother, my father would not have been buried at
Saint Helena, and I should not be at Vienna. My mother is kind but weak; she was not the wife my father deserved". ==Death==