Napoleon Bonaparte

10 September 2004 (Lecture #07)

 

·    Born to a poor but well-known family in Corsica

·    Graduated from a French military academy at 16 to become a 2nd LT (started at age 9)

·    Liked enlightenment ideas

·    Helped suppress a crowd for which he gained recognition (without aristocrats, talent leads to success)

·    Married a well-connected widowed politician

·    Napoleon uses his prominence to gain control of a French army in northern Italy

o        Paints his force as a liberating force – inspires moral, cooperation

o        Loses in Egypt, but smoothes over reports, painting it as an expedition, experiment, etc.

·         Coup d’etat – The Directors of France overthrown by internal forces

o        Conspirators put him as the figurehead; believe he is young, popular, and controllable (on the last point, they’re wrong)

o        NApolean used the Army to get rid of all who disagreed – remainder voted in favor of his consolate

 

·         Draws up a short, obscure new constitution which is overwhelmingly approved

·         Makes himself the first consul (other two will have limited power)

·         Secret police created to put down political opposition

·         Press censored

·         Approves transfers of property and removal of feudal privileges (gains favor with the peasants)

·         Approves formal equality and property rights (gains favor with the middle class)

·         Invites most exiled nobles back and endorses science (gains favor with the upper class)

·         Creates the Legion of Honor for particularly loyal and those who do great things

·         Makes peace with the pope to bring back religion (“excellent stuff for keeping the common people quiet”)

o        Oath still required, pay still from the gov, and land not returned, however

 

Reforming France

·         Civil Code of 1804 – Napoleonic Code

·         Legal reforms (equality); forbid strikes; limited divorces

·         Est. Bank of France to handle money printing and spending

·         Est. U of France and rewarded professionals (chemists, surgeons, mathematicians, etc.)

 

Creating the Empire

·         Napoleon goes across the Alps and crushes Austria out of the coalition against France

·         Declares France an empire and crowns himself emperor (with support of the Senate and people and reluctant approval from the pope)

o        Made his family members princes, gave titles to successfully (wealthy too) officers

·         Napoleon’s weaknesses were his thirst for recognition and hunger for conquest

·         Divorces Josephine (cannot produce a male child) for Princess of Austria (making his blood legitimately royal)

 

War and Conquest

·         Napoleon defeats Austria, Prussia, Russia on the mainland – he destroys all who oppose him

·         French empire grows quite a bit, and many nations weakened greatly by resisting him

·         Napoleon prohibits UK goods in Europe in an attempt to hurt the Brits (Brits respond by blockading France)

 

Decline and Fall

·         Loses grip overseas due to Brit naval power and thinly stretched military

·         Napoleon defeats part of Russian army but chases them across Russia, losing most of his army (only 100k of 600k remain)

·         Brits fund rebellions as he retreats back to France

·         Napoleon exiled after defeat by Brits, Prussians

 

Conclusions

·         Became powerful by offering effective leadership

·         Failed because he resorts to garrisoning troops in Spain and succumbs to his ego in Russia

·         Napoleanic Era was more costly than any other (more deaths in Russia alone than US in WWII)