Commemorations on bicentenary of Napoleon's death

People gathered outside Longwood House in St Helena on Wednesday to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the death of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

A moment of silence was held and the French flag was lowered to half-mast in remembrance of the former leader who was exiled to the remote volcanic island where he died on May 5, 1821.

A letter by the General Charles Tristan de Montholon, who was exiled with the Emperor, announcing Napoleon's death was also read out at the service.

The St Helena Napoleonic Heritage group, which is dedicated to preserving Napoleon's memory on the island, is set to host various events over the next few days to commemorate his death, including a Catholic Mass which will be held in the dining room at Longwood on May 6.

They are also due to hold a tomb side ceremony on May 9 to mark the bicentenary of his burial.

Napoleon, known as a military genius, became an integral part of France's legacy.

But in today's era, his image is tarnished by a decision to reestablish slavery in French colonies in 1802, after it was abolished in 1784.

Ruler from 1799, he became emperor in 1804 for a decade, then again for three months in 1815.

He was exiled to the Mediterranean island of Elba, escaped, then met defeat at the battle of Waterloo.

He was sent in 1815 to the British outpost of St Helena, where he died after falling ill.

Napoleon's body was later exhumed and entombed at Les Invalides, a military hospital in French capital that is now also a monument to him.