Hitler, Napoleon and Alexander the Great- what do they all share?
Like many roots of historical concepts, this story starts with the Ancient Roman and Greek nations. The intellectual footprint of these two empires have left their mark throughout history in fields such as Mathematics, Architecture, Philosophy and many others. Their achievements have been been highly valued and appreciated for good reason.
Artistically, the entire Renaissance movement was a rebirth of the Ancient Greek and Roman traditions. Even Shakespeare can thank the Ancient Greeks for their prestigious playwrights that provided central themes to many of his plays.
While these influences are quite well known, these ancient nations inspired not so noble figures...
Hitler Inspired by Rome
As many know, Hitler was an insatiable conqueror whose ambition was only limited by the expanse of the earth. Interestingly, Hitler found this same desire reflected in the Roman Empire in how they successfully conquered and colonized the entire Mediterranean from Spain to the Middle East, and the symbol that encapsulated this dominance of the Roman Empire was the Imperial Eagle or 'Aquila'
Upon defeat, vanquished nations would see this symbol supplanted atop every Roman military banner thus advertising the power, strength and prowess of the new Roman rulers.
Hitler branded the Eagle for his own regime labeling it the "Reichsadler". This icon of the Nazi regime communicates the same message of intimidation, power and prestige. Under Hitler, this symbol grew ubiquitous appearing on uniforms, hats and weapons. The symbol effectively encapsulated the sinister and (previously) indestructible prowess of the regime.
While Hitler took full advantage of the Roman Eagle, he was not the first...
Napoleon Bonaparte's Usage of the Imperial Eagle
Hitler's imperial predecessor, Napoleon Bonaparte, was an ancient Greek and Roman fanatic who exalted the Ancient Empires as much, if not more than Hitler.
Napoleon envisioned himself as the literal Julius Caesar and his nation's capital, Paris, as the new Rome. Like Hitler, a crucial element to this exaltation of Rome was the iconography of the Imperial Eagle. Napoleon's use of the symbol fulfills many of the same tenets as the Nazi regime in communicating prestige and most notably an intimidating army.
A painting by Jacques Louis David from 1804 displays the significance the Imperial Eagle held in Napoleon's military.
A cluster of the Imperial Eagles appear on the right half of the painting where they cap the many military standards. They also appear atop the drapery in the top half of the painting. This ubiquity of the Eagle shows how Napoleon paralleled his empire with the former prestige of the Romans.
On the right hand side, it is difficult to discern any of the individual soldiers as they all blend together in a mish- mash of body parts. What shapes this incoherent blob of soldiers are the clearly displayed Eagles atop the standards, reflecting how it is the Eagle that solidifies a unity among the military.
Napoleon seems to have a transcendent connection with the Eagles as they bend toward his dramatic gesture, almost as if he is using the force to draw a supernatural bond. This idea encapsulates not only Napoleon's desire, but Hitlers as well in the dream to rebuild the world's greatest Empire in the vision of Rome.
Empire dreaming drove two of histories greatest conquerors who both held a determination to control all of Western Europe and beyond. This desire includes the enslavement, murder and systematic extermination of millions of people. However, the dark realities to this Empire building was blinded by the exaltation of an Ancient Empire that was seen as the pinnacle of human existence.
Other iterations of the Imperial Eagle
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