In his eyes this meant the need fora
~i
SEAR(:H
his eyes this meant the need for a strong executive.
From 1799 until his death on the
island of St. Helena, Napoleon spoke of himself as the man who had
Revolution(BY
this he meant that the basic goals of the Revolution
,
enumerated
above had been obtained and that now it was time to consolidate and
L", ,_,'..,_'.'_., ,'.....
" , . ,j G-, , ..~completed
h
Atlantic
the
proper foundationthose
upon
whichFrance,
to institution~the
institutionalize
gains.
after ten years ofrevolutionary
revolution,
Napoleon provided it with his adminisftEltfve
framework.
'''Bonaparte
wrote,
came, as he said, 'to close the Romance
"to heal the wounds,
to correct
of the Revolution',"
the extravagances,
FAQs: Napoleon and the French Revolution
plain glass, and that he came to substitute
create
By Tom Holmberg
a methodical
interests
Originally
in 1998 on the Napoleon
published
Bonaparte
Internet
Guide
web site.
based upon popular
faction
believes
opinion,
the government
i'
i'
I'!.
It was'
that he saw facts throu'gh
consent,
and conceived
but of France as a whole."
that I have the civilian
(
qualities
not as a general
necessary
a methodical
the romance
of the Revolution,
we must now begin its
history, only seeking for what is real and practicable in the application
principles, and not what is speculative and hypothetical."
Napoleon
of its
is generally
the exception
reputation
not of any particular
(9-10 Nov. 1799) -the
After Brumalre
,becoming
the supreme
executive
is made fast on the principles
famous
utterance
saying something
coup d'etat
on which it began;
those which had preceded
Napoleon
power,
it. Like the man himself,
and ambiguous.
was both a break from the immediate
one Revolution,
this quote
what
and social system.
or Lafayette,
or Brissot,
that the new regime
or Danton,
with having
the Civil
consolidated
Code,
Napoleon
of the Revolution
than
gloried
in any other
In this sense he can be credited
it. Had the Bourbons
the gains of the Revolution
perhaps
come back to power
one title,"
with having
Robert B.
("With
of Napoleon,
Holtman
with that past. What
There was not
as the French struggled
to
since 1789." The Code Napoleon,
groping
embodied
or Hebert,
or Tallien,
one of the Emperor's
many of the principles
To Prince Eugene, his viceroy
in Italy,
social revolution.'\F.eaudalism
was suppressed,andcareers,were
ability
regardless
of birth ("Wherever
Napoleon
wrote,
I found talent
became the personification
"I am seeking
I rewarded
and stability
wrote that the Emperor
eudalism, civil inequality,
'econciliation
of -authority
lustrious
representative.
-as observed
was" ... a pupil ofthe
philosophes,
that Napoleon
considered
the Jacobin
-Revolution.
government
U
'., but'also
of Robespierre
, - Robert
and the
la/ogue published
- ~deralistGjrondins.
Jvernment,
in 1793, l.e Souper
What Napoleon
their commitment
~public,
and their attempt
) enemies.
De Beau'cair~,
admired
were the Jacobins'
to deal decisively
to forge a strong
championed
the Jacobins
stable
~e
Napoleon,
of the Concordat
of keeping
areas abroad."
that "Napoleon
!"6"Pe
,nsolidate
felt, like the Jacobins,
the advances
ing about the stability
achieved
that an energetic
by the Revolution
centralized
state was essential
and, at the same time,
many French longed for after the upheavals
to
he wished to
of the past decade.
If I did not have this
the gains of the Revolution
perhaps
gloried
"turning
more in his
than in any other one title,"
with having
Robert
'saved'
6.V
the Revolution
of Napoleon,
back the clock" to the ancient
("With
by
they would
regime than they had
embodied
man)( of the principles
rnonarchy toward which it had been
Emperor's rnost enduring
of the Revolution
and made them
He attempted.
of the state,
to unite
clergy and 'others who
from the Church,
To Prince Eugene, his viceroy
social revolution."
Feaudalism
ability
regardless
~This task of consolidation
'made Napoleon'a
the gains of the Revolution;
but a revolutiona~
of Napoleon's
begun under the Revolution
of the Revolution
... was a conscious
a crowned
were continuations
alliance
of birth ("Wherever
between
France,
promoter
The principles
which Napoleon
to the countries
and courage
of the revolutionary
I rewarded
/
it." Napoleon,
alms of the bourgeoisie:
to France and forged
a sense of unity.
He attempted.
to unite
to, them both."
nobles who had emiqrated
Napoleon,
or been declared
mediator
1816).
between
the old and the new
The sales of the lands taken from the
enemies
of the state,
from the Church,
or
from the Crown (the "biens nationaux")
-an important
benefit for the middle classes and
the peasants.of the Revolutionwere recognized not oniy in Napoleon's coronation oath,
or
, but also In the signing of the Concordat
reforms
conservative
in '
with the Pope.
~ble to mobilize
regime),
inherited
from the Revolution
If Napoleon's
It is important
Europe a crowned
him in the end
and consolidated
begun
of the Revolution
under the Revolution
made Napoleon
(just
were continuations
ot'those
to keep in mind .tbat Napoleon
.!liiJ.ieve that this was the reason'for
a conservative
in
as it has been said that many
begun
during the ancien
also b~,dughtthes~
in
his demise.
reforms
He was, to the legitimate
Jac;obin ... [These powers}
were able to mobilize
the' very· people who stood to gain the'most
from the governments
installed."
which Napoleon
which fell under the French imperium.
"This task of consolidation
to the
'cQuntries with the Empire, where, they were truly revolutionary.
Owen'Connelly
has said
that·"NaPDleon .._was.a,conscious
promoter DfRevolution
all over Europe. In fact, I-firmly'
powers of
against
of reforms
of the reforms
all over Europe. In fact, I firmly
He was, to the legitimate
were
observed,
,~eidesirous,
of keeping the gains of.the Revolutio_n_,_b_u_t_a_re_v_o_J_u_ti_o_n_a_ry_tn
__a_c_ie_n
regime areas abroad." It has been said that many of Napoleon's reforms were just
continuations
were just
(just as it has been said that many
of Revolution
Jasobin ... [These powers}
he exported
I found talent
ersonification
the old and the new, the natural
orders ... I belonged
of those begun during the ancien
the very people who stood to gain the most from the governments
installed."
in Italy, Napoleon wrote, '''1 am seeking nothing less than a
was suppressed and careers were open to all those"with
with the:Pope.
believe that this was the reason for his demise.
Jpoleon clearly
-nobles,
: regime); It is important
to keep in mind that Napoleon also b~oughtthe~
reforms to 'the
countries with the 'Empire, where they were truly revolutionary.
Owen Connelly has said
the war against
to govern.
himself
but because the
under his wing both the revolutionaries
and the emigres -nobles,
clergy and others who
~hoseor were forced to iive In exile under the Revolutloll
("I became the arch of the
1816). The sales of the lands taken from the
enemies
It has been said that many
of reforms
of the reforms
facing the fledgling
France while winning
a sense of unity.
and the emigres
or been declared
B. HtJitman' observed;
continuations
over the
strong centralized
with the problems
in the signing
France, desirous
ommittee of Public Safety the only serious government
of the Revolutionary
period.
uring the "Reign of Terror" Napoleon was strongly identified with the Jacobins. His
g~neral
come back to power in 1799 instead
it. Had the Bourbons
Robert B. Holtman
R. R.Palmer
of the Revolution
longed for order and stability
from the Crown (the ~biens nationaux")
-an important
benefit for the middle classes and
the peasants of the Revolutionwere recognized not only in Napoleon's coronation oath,
he detested
an'cLr,eliglouS intolerance.
Seeing in enlightened despotism a
with political and sOdalreform,
hebecame
its last and most
In this sense he was the manofthe
to France and forged
to. them both."
nobles who had emigrated
Lefebvre
in th~
As Napoleon
He reformed and modernized French institutions
(historian Jacues Godechot has said t at
with Napoleon the medieval era ended and modern history began). He brought much
aims of the bourgeoisie.
orders ... I belonged
,;eorges
consolidated
Napoleon
In this sense he can be credited
1816) Napoleon became the
it." Napoleon,
He reformed and modernized French institutions
(historian Jacues Godechot has said that
with Napoleon the medieval era ended and modern history began). He brought much
under his wing both the revolutionaries
open to
/
less than a
open to all those with
and courage
of the revolutionary
nothing
)f
the government,
:alent
not birth.
and careers
and conceived
permanent.
~hose or were forced to iJve in exile under the RevolutiOll, ("I became the arch of the
alliance between the old and the new, the natural mediator between the old and the new
tolerance
with having
the Civil Code,
as consolidator
observed).
achievements,
and made them
'undamental prin.ciples Yihich guided most of these revolutionaries.
In general, these
Jrlnclples ji:1cIUd~"'equaf'lreatmerii:underthe,iaw,
one degree or another,of centralizadon
religious
necessary
restoration ... France had finally found the republican
groping since 1789." The Code Napoleon, one ofthe
longed for order
of J<:udal rights,
consent,
France was indeed under the spell of
in 1814. As Fran~ois Furethas put it, "Revolutionary
the new sovereign, who was its son and had saved it from the danger of a
most enduring
of the Revolution
credited
of fathering
at that time had less trouble
they would
Df Babeuf, or Barras? All of these were men of the Revolution,
yet they all held differing
:onceptions of what that "Revolution"
was. I will be considering
many of those
elimination
It was
he saw facts through
permanent.
1816) Napoleon
do we mean that of Barnave,
or RObespierre,
ending
by
at that time had less trouble "turning back the clock" to the ancient regime than they had
in 1814. As Fran~ois Furet has put it, "Revolutionary
France was indeed under the spell of
achievements,
is generally
reputation
V
'saved' the Revolution
1799 instead
in
more in his
was he its heir or its
one means by "the Revolution".
By the "Revoiution"
ending
that
bLit of France as a whole."
,to the Council of State in 1802: "I governJ;1ot,A§a
the exception
the new sovereign, who was its son and ha'd saved it from the danger of a
"restoration
... France had finally found the republican monarchy toward, which it had been
and the one at the head of
He is declaring
which occurred
was
regime would be to
past and part of a continuity
but really a series of them
create a new political
Dr of Mirabeau,
to determine
Since this
It is clear that Napoleon
was Napoleon's relationship
to the Revolution? To what extent
betrayer? Did he save the Revolution or liquidate it?
To±Jegln it is'necessary
"The Revolution
is finished."
about what the role of his new-born
this page are both highly complex
on the path to
declared,
the Revolution
came so soon after he gained
significant
which first set Napoleon
of a French empire-
credited
of fathering
observed).
faction
H.A.L. Fisher
the conquests.
an age of work for an age of talk ... he 'would
based upon popular
nation believes that I have the civilian qualities
opinion, the government
could not stand."
If I did not have this
to secure
could not stand."
as consolidator
Holtman
government
I
achievements
had
still lacked until
the
of the Revorution',"
the extravagances,
plain glass, and that he came to substitute
Napoleon
"We have finished
to correct
his boast that he did not belong to the race of the 'ideologues',
explained
himself
but because the
to govern.
came, as he said, 'to close the Romance
"to heal the wounds,
interests
In the
As Napoleon
"Bonaparte
wrote,
create
an age of work for an age of taik ... he would
to the Council of State in 1802: "I govern
explained
nation
government
not of any particular
:. I . institutionalize
proper foundationthose
upon whichFrance,
to institutionalize
the ofrevolutionary
after ten framework.
years
revolution,
Napoleon provided it ga'ins.
with his administrative
H.A.L.,Fisher
to secure the conquests.
his boast that he did not belong to the race of the 'ideologues',
From 1799 until his death on the
executive.
i,
I
achievements
had
still lacked until
the
strong
.
South Atlantic island of St. He!ena",,~po!~spoke
of himself as the man ",!ho had
~ompleted
the Revolution(BY
this he meant that the. basic goals of the Revolution
enumerated
above had been obtained and that now it was time to consolidate and
The principles
France" he exported
which
Napoleon
to the countries
inherited
from
which fell under
of
him in the end
which Napoleon
the Revolution
the french
powers
against
and consolidated
imperium.
If Napoleon's
in
reforms in France were n~ longer r:J,volutionary, outside of France these saine reformS
Vi!!re profoundly revolutionary
(Goethe described Napoleon as "the Revolution crowned.")
It had been the goal of many of the Revolution's
Europe.
Napoleon
The principle
accomplished
of equality
was recognized
the Napoleon!'c
as well as reward
reward
the artist,
, estates,
the prelate,
supreme
executive,
Committee
(1e Memorial
was deemed
like Napoleon,
"It was Napoleon's
observed.
function
Napoleon
didn't
the representative
in history
exported
the scholar"
of the reunion
"to cement
religious, strife ("All titles were forgotten;
families.[Like
Napoleon
King could not -reconcile
the elements
of the monarchy
with
t~e same time,
Signing the Concordat
differences
the Concordat
insured
religion
of the majority
Church
of England
was in Britain.
religion
and retain
their civic rights.)
1802)
allowed
(15 July 1801) allowed
which had torn France apart
religious
freedom.
Protestants
and Jews were allowed
A general
all but about one thousand
amnesty
society on, the fundamental
emigres
these emigres
tranquility
Catholicism
Albert Sobould
by Napoleon
aristocrats
or Jacoblns, .. "
the gains of the Revolution.
"fell, but what was really
his government
died, but his administration
Conde summed
aristocrat. •.
up Napoleon
as "One-third
he promoted
continued
philosophe,
substantial
AlexiS de
in his work lasted;
to live ...•• The Bourbon
one-third
equali'ty and
Jacobin,
i
I.'
I'J
.I.~t.!
Prince de
and one-third
(At
Suggested
Readings:
NapOleon: WitS He The Heir Of The Revolutio.!J1 David Lloyd Dowd. (Hinsdale,
their
IL: Dryden
Pr,. 1957)
(26 April
to return to
has writte'n
[Napoleon]
and, while reinforcing
wrote that Napoleon
and preserved
languished,
as the
religion as the
to practice
emigres
He ~onsolidated
While liberty
Napoleon to
to those areas of France
base of the Revolution,
into a new social hierarchy;
authority,
he merged
against them."
signed
of the most notorious
which had long been at war with the Revolution.
returned
It recognized
1821).
was
the Revolution.
of the French, but did not make it an "established"
France. These two actions helped to bring relative
"stabilizing
during
De Sainte-Helene,
tolerance.
Tocqueville
that
elements of the Revolutionwhich was the failed goal of Mlrabeau in 179~Napoleon
largely successful in attracting men from all parties -from
ex- Jacobins to cj-devant
the religious
religious
Mlnibeau,
and monarchy.
to his government.
were no longer
opened all careers to those with talent. "Risen to the throne," Chateaubriand
wrote, "he
seated the people there beside him. A proletarian
king, he humiliated
kings and nobles in
his antech'amber. He leveled ranks not by lowering but by raising them." He Insured
the Revolution
reconcile
there
The Revolution,
peace at home by anything
within
of the
the
J,.eMemorial
and the Directory.
tranquility
many of the achievements
in the Code Napoleon:-Without
and the'
streak.
and provide
under French hegefllony
He embodied. these achievements
Revolution Napoleon, despite his talents, would have been no more than an obscure,
provincial lJ'Iilitary officer. He unified a country torn apart by ten years of political and
as the
will. This powerfui
the Convention
to those countries
, Revolution.
of,all the,
between
nobles-
had undo~t
a revolution had 'been necessary. When it had achieved its purpose
he felt that it was necessary to end the Revolution af1d begin the work of governing. He
to fuse the old France with the new," H,A.L. Fisher
see an incompatibility
did what the Bourbon
scheme of
to foster equality,
1821) The Emperor,
~f the general
between
that he wanted
could bring the French together
Napoleon
it was the symbol
De Sainte-HEmme,
authoritarian
declared
.I'~
4~
rights and privileges
side tJy side the soldier,
as well as the Legislature
bore a strong
of feudal
was also intended
united
also of the relationship
of Public Safety,
v
of the Legion of Honor, which was the
service,
and the magistrate;
was a feature
.
the rest of
of society to a common
of Honor
" ... The establishment
civil, and judicial
of all the parties."
executive
in the destruction
of all members
Code. The L~gion
talent.
for military,
to "revolutionize"
this.'
in the Empire and in the submission
justice,
leaders
NaDQ]eon: For An~.
Pieter Geyl. (New Haven,
The NaD_oleonic RevolutiQIl.
Robert B. Hoitman.
CT: Yale University,
1963)
that
integrated
the
(Baton
Rouge:
Louisla'na State Utilv.,
the principle' of
into a new order which at first had been constructed
I
1981)
.fi9.Roleon Bonaparte
'
,
And The LeQac'L.9f The ,French Revolutio.n.
'
Martyn
Lyons (N.Y.: St.
Martin's,11994)
/¥-'
What of liberty? Of the three key principles of the Revolution -liberty,
equality, and
rraternityit was liberty which suffered most under Napoleon. Historian Albert Vandal-has
i
observed that "Bonaparte can be reproached for not having established liberty; he cannot
be accused of having destroyed it, for the excellent reason that on his return from Egypt
he did not Find it a~ywhere
In France:
The French 'desiring
acquired during the Revolution, be It rights or property,
felt that guarantee could come only with the restoration
were willing
-political
,-, -"'Code;
their liberties
institutions
were restored
restoration
Napoleon
borrowed
equality;
ofthe
for that order.
of their individual
their'dearest.possession.,
while at times amalgamating
but'adapted.
Placed or NapoleonSeries.org
what they had
February
2002.
rights_-In
He-would
"In the absence of
F.AQsIndex'
I
the Napoleonic
keep most of the
them with those of the Old Regime,
His work would prove so solid that it made any total
past impossible,"
wrote Albert
Mathiez.
was most of all a pragmatist,
willing to adapt "what worked"" whether it was
from the RevQlution or from the ancien regime; He dealt with the problems
facing France in practical
would be to philosophize,
terms,
not in the abstract
not to govern."
("To pursue
Napo,ieon,
a different
1800) The solutions
course today
Napoleon ,came
up with leave iittle doubt that he, was the heir and preserver of the Revolution. Fran~ois
Furet has written that " ... he was chosed by the Revolution, from which he received his
~
r"--~
'strange
power not only to embody
__._'-1.. ",._'-~~"
~n'"
"nha~ni"m'.
the new nation
h~rl nn~''''sed)
(a power that others before him, r:;ost
but also to fulfill its destiny." Napoleon
I'
j
wanted these guaranteed. Many
and preservation
of order. They
for that guarantee,
he would assure Frenchmen
he would sanctify
revolutionary
'which
to sacrifice
liberty,
to safeguard
\
.,
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