NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
the last enlightened despot?
QUICK INTRO
Lived from 1769-1821, ruled from 1799-1815
Born in Corsica to an Italian lawyer--Italian nobility
Military genius--particularly artillery, also confident
and thoroughly inspired by enlightenment
Enrolled by 9 in military school
at 15 ecole militaire--in France est. under Louis XV
Career began in earnest at age 16
EARLY NAPOLEON
Napoleon declares himself ‘First Consul’ in Dec. 1799
His new leadership also brings a new constitution
The title of Consul hearkens back to Roman rule
Abbe Sieyes echoes the rest of France in 1789, when
he said that the country needed “confidence from
below, authority from above”
ACHIEVEMENTS
Concordat of 1801 & 1802, brokered an agreement
with the Catholic Church
The concordat expelled all clergy who were part of
the revolution, and gave all power to Napoleon (the
state) including salary, hiring, and access/power over
all church property
Basically the concordat addresses the primacy of the
Catholic religion in France, but consolidates power in
Napoleon over religion
FURTHER
ACHIEVEMENTS
Napoleonic Code--issued in 1804, also known as the
Civil Code
Standardized laws across France
Continues some aspects of the revolution including
limits on labor (organizations) and women’s rights
(property, inheritance, but not divorce, etc.)
Declares himself Emperor in 1804
EMPEROR
EMPIRE UNDER
NAPOLEON
Skilled, but also steers a loyal French army of almost
one million
His achievements not only unify France, but also
change the face of Europe
His leadership marks the end of the old regime and also
encourages/forces other nations to modernize or join
"Since one must choose sides, one might as well choose the side that is
victorious, the side which devastates, loots, and burns. Considering the
alternative, it is better to eat than be eaten."
NAPOLEONIC REVISIONS
1--Napoleonic Codes--legal/social reform
2--Meritocracy--no longer solely based on class or
estate or feudalism titles
3--Religious reform--1801 Concordat
4--Financial--Bank of France
5--Education--public education under state control
NAPOLEONIC BATTLES
Began with a series of victories including a decisive
scuffle with royalist nobles in 1795 and in Italy in
1796/7
Failed in Egypt in the Nile 1798 against Lord Nelson
Later failure at Trafalgar against British under Lord
Nelson again
BATTLE OF THE NILE
British ships take
advantage of wind,
speed and some
surprise to
decimate the
French fleet in
Egypt, 1798
TRAFALGAR
Again, Lord Nelson
used wind to his
advantage and
conquered the
French fleet, securing
Britain from a French
invasion--1805
MORE TRAFALGAR
NAPOLEONIC VICTORIES
1805 defeats Russia and Austria, winning control of Italy north
of Rome--declared King of Italy
Controls Germanic princes and forces the dissolution of the last
remnants of the old Holy Roman Empire--now reduced to just
Austria
Defeats Prussia in 1806 and issues the Berlin Decrees --banning
all importation of British Goods--now conquered all of Germany
Fights Russia in 1807 resulting in the Treaty of Tilsit, granting
Prussia to Napoleon, and acknowledging a truce with Russia-conducted on a raft in the Nemen river with Alexander I
ARC DE TRIOMPHE
NAPOLEON FAMILY RULE
RUSSIA 1812
Refusing to continue the blockade of Britain, Russia resists Napoleon
Resistance was presaged by the revolt in Spain
Napoleon marches in winter to Russia, en route to Moscow, which is
evacuated after the Battle of Borodino in 1812
Napoleon takes Moscow, but it is an empty gesture
In retreat, Napoleon refuses to concede what has become a Pyrrhic Victory-Napoleon has invaded with a force of almost 700,000 and leaves with an
estimated 125,000
This will lead ultimately to the final Alliance against Napoleon, the Fourth
Coalition of Austria, Prussia, Russia and Britain
Napoleon will leave the throne, and abdicate to Elba in 1814
IT’S ALL OVER FOR
NAPOLEON
Louis XVIII is reinstated to the throne in a close reenactment of the constitutional monarchy of the early
revolution under the treaty of Paris in 1814
The Congress of Vienna carves up France to return it
to its prior size
Louis XVIII is a weak ruler so just when you thought
it was over....
NAPOLEON’S BACK
Napoleon escapes Elba, finds loyal soldiers,
overthrows Louis XVIII in Paris, wins back some
support of the country and immediately goes to war.
Napoleon’s ‘new’ army takes on Prussia and the
allies during a period of time called ‘the hundred
days’ but he loses to Field Marshal von Blucher at
Waterloo in Belgium on June 18th, 1815 and the
Quadruple Alliance exile him to Saint Helena and
there he dies in 1821. The End.