Napoleon I wanted to honor the Grand Armee in France by erecting a large triumphal arch, the Arc de Triomphe. Construction on the Arc was started in August 1806 and was completed in 1836. Unfortunately, Napoleon was never able to witness the spectacular arch he commissioned to be built because he died before it was completed. The names of "558 French generals" who fought in the Napoleonic wars are listed inside the walls of the monument, and the generals who died in battle have their names underlined. Under the Arc, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I resides. The Unknown Soldier was initially going to be buried in the Pantheon, but "a public letter-writing campaign led to the decision to bury him beneath the Arc instead."
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