Napoleon Bonaparte Emperor of France from May 18

Napoleon Bonaparte Emperor of France from May 18, 1804 – April 11, 1814 Mrs. Quimby Quincy High School Sophomores

Earlier Life -> Napoleon was born on Corsica - a Frenchcontrolled island between France and Italy. He was born Napoleone di Buonaparte, but when he joined the French army, he changed his name to sound more French. “Buonaparte” sounds more Italian, and with French Nationalism on the rise, Napoleon wanted to appear French. Napoleon’s family was minor nobility - this meant Napoleon was part of the Second Estate. ->However, Napoleon presented himself as a “Son of the Revolution”.

Military Career Though Napoleon’s family was old nobility, they had little power. Napoleon pursued a military career - attending three different academies. He became an artillery officer. ->Napoleon rose quickly through the ranks in the military, and became very popular. -> Early military achievements included fighting in the Corsican branch of the French Revolution, and he later managed to push British troops away from French shores.

The Terror During The Terror, Napoleon was friends with Augustus Robespierre (Maximilian’s little brother). -> Napoleon supported the Jacobins, and the Revolution in general. After the fall of the Convention, Napoleon was popular with the Directiory as well. -> At one point during the Terror, Napoleon led a defense of the Tuileries Palace. Royalists (trying to re-instate Louis XVI) were trying to take the palace. Prior to this point, the Tuileries Palace had been very difficult to defend. Napoleon used cannons to clear the Royalist troops. -> The Directory gave him control of the Army of Italy (a branch of the French Army).

Italian Campaign While in command of the Army of Italy, Napoleon took control of the southern half of Italy, the city of Venice, forced Austria to surrender, and wanted to move to attack England (which had joined the war). -> However, England had a powerful navy, so instead, Napoleon traveled to Egypt. ->Napoleon thought that, if he couldn’t fight England directly, he could cut them off from trade with their colonies in the Middle East and India.

Napoleon’s Popularity -> Napoleon established a meritocracy in his army. This meant that, regardless of rank or nobility, soldiers were promoted and rewarded for doing well. This meant that everyone supported Napoleon because they all had a chance to move upward. -> Napoleon also lived like a solider, his tent was the same size as everyone else’s, he moved among the troops and talked to them, and he ate what they ate. Why would this make Napoleon so popular?

Napoleon the Intellectual -> Napoleon was also a political writer. His writing was popular when he was friends with the Robespierre family. He wrote a romantic novel while on campaign, which became popular. -> While in the Italian Campaign, Napoleon also published two newspapers, to ensure that France was informed as to what was happening on the war front. Napoleon was also highly intelligent, especially when it came to military tactics. “I have fought sixty battles and I have learned nothing which I did not know at the beginning. Look at Caesar; he fought the first like the last. ” What does this quote say about Napoleon’s military strategy? What does it say about his confidence in himself?

Coup d’Etat Napoleon returned to France to find that the Directory was unpopular and failing. He was approached by Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès, aka Abbé Sieyès, who had been a member of the Directory. -> Sieyès was planning a Coup d’Etat, and wanted Napoleon’s support. -> Sieyès did not intend to share his power - he only wanted Napoleon’s popularity to help him get support.

Control of France Sieyès thought he could be in control, however, Napoleon was too smart. -> Napoleon gained support for himself, and secured his election as First Consul. -> This is called the 18 Brumaire coup d’etat. The French Republican calendar was still in use. The date on a normal calendar was the 9 th of November. Napoleon had huge support. He was popular with the people of France - he was a conquering hero. He was young, handsome, smart, and charismatic. -> With this Coup d’etat, Napoleon became sole ruler of France, and soon after, Emperor.

18 Brumaire, 1799 What does this image say about Napoleon? How is he different from those around him?

Napoleonic Changes -> Napoleon began to re-write the laws of France. -> He wanted to create a law code that was equal for all French people. Before this point, under the Monarchy, members of the different estates could be tried differently. Under the Convention (during the Terror), there was ultimately no law code. -> Napoleon wanted to eliminate this uncertainty, and establish a permanent code.

Napoleonic Code -> Before Napoleon, there was no concrete set of laws for France. -> Laws were locally based - what was legal somewhere might be illegal in a different town. -> The code said… -> Laws could only be applied if they had been published officially -> People could not be punished according to laws that did not exist before the crime was committed. (no ex post facto laws) -> The husband is superior to the wife and children in the family. - This eliminated much of the women’s rights established during the Revolution. Napoleon’s Code (with changes) was so successful that it was implemented in many other European countries. The Code (with amendments) is still in use in modern France.

Other Napoleonic Changes -> Less Women’s Rights -> Divorce became harder to obtain for women. Napoleon’s code returned things to the way they were before the Directory. -> Tax Equality -> Under the new code, everyone paid taxes equally. There were no estates. Everyone was equal under the law. -> Establishment of Lycees -> Napoleon created several high schools throughout France, He made education throughout the high school level mandatory and free - something that the Jacobins had tried to do, but had not been very successful.

Concordant with the Pope -> Napoleon needed support in his new role as dictator of France. He wrote a letter to the Pope -> This says that Napoleon would make Catholicism the official religion of France -> In return, the Pope would recognize him as Emperor. The Pope liked this idea, and agreed. The Pope travelled to France to crown Napoleon Emperor.

Concordant with the Pope -> After the Concordant, Napoleon was given the title Emperor of France. -> But, Napoleon had tricked the Pope. Napoleon had said that he would make France’s official religion Catholic. -> Officially France was now Catholic, but Napoleon didn’t enforce it. He actually allowed religious tolerance. -> He allowed people in his empire to practice any religion they liked – including Judaism. His religious tolerance prompted some other rulers to call him the Anti-Christ. Napoleon on Jews in France: “I will never accept any proposals that will obligate the Jewish people to leave France, because to me the Jews are the same as any other citizen in our country. ”

-> Before the Pope could crown Napoleon, napoleon took the crown from the Pope, and crowned himself. Do Now: What does this action say about Napoleon? Emperor Napoleon

Emperor Napoleon at his coronation Age 35 (1804) General Napoleon at the Battle of Arcole, Italy. Age 28

Napoleonic Wars Begin At age 35, Napoleon is now Emperor of France. -> Britain has seen how Napoleon has gained power. Britain allies with Prussia and Austria to try to stop Napoleon. Why would Britain see Napoleon as a threat? -> These three countries form the Coalition Powers. Napoleon sees this, and decides that the best defense is a good offense. What do you think he did at this point?

Napoleonic Wars Continue -> Napoleon attacks Britain via sea. -> This is called the Battle of Trafalgar - 1805 Napoleon thought that, if he defeated Britain, the rest of Europe wouldn’t stand a chance. However…Britain had the best navy in the world. Napoleon lost this battle, but it did not stop him. -> The British Navy was led by Admiral Nelson, who died during the battle. Admiral Nelson led the British Navy to victory, but was shot. As he lay dying, his first mate, Hardy, cradled his head in his arm. Nelson’s last words were, “Kiss me, Hardy”, so Hardy did.

Control of Europe -> Napoleon decided to conquer the rest of Europe. From 1805 -1810, Napoleon’s army was unstoppable. France had already defeated Austria and Prussia, and despite resistance, Napoleon forced Austria and Prussia to become his allies. Napoleon and his army also gained control of Italy, and independent Italian city-states. -> Napoleon gained land in the Rhineland (what is now parts of Germany), and added Holland (the Netherlands), and Spain to his empire. -> He forced Norway and Denmark to become allies with France.

Europe by 1812

Control of Europe Napoleon had control of most of Europe. Everywhere he went, he spread the seeds of the French Revolution. -> All monarchs were deposed. Put in their place were members of Napoleon’s family. -> The Napoleonic Code (Law Code) was spread throughout Europe. It is still the basis of many law codes today. However, Napoleon also spread NATIONALISM. It’s not Nationalism towards France, though. France is seen as an “occupying power”. Suddenly, people are seeing themselves as Poles, Spaniards, Germans, Czechoslovakians… and they don’t like the idea that France is occupying them.

Napoleonic Wars Cont. -> Meanwhile, Britain convinces Prussia, Austria, and new ally, Russia, to rise up against Napoleon. -> These are the new Coalition Powers. -> In response to Russia’s joining with Britain, Napoleon decides to invade Russia. Do you think this was successful?

Napoleon in Russia Napoleon’s invasion of Russia was successful at first. -> At the Battle of Borodino, Napoleon managed to conquer Moscow, however, he still lost a lot of his army. However…throughout European history, Russia has implemented a Scorched Earth Policy to thwart invaders. -> Scorched Earth Policy This is when the Russian army retreats, but on its way, burns everything in its path. Why would this be a problem for invading armies?

Scorched Earth -> Russia’s scorched earth policy meant that Napoleon and his army could move through Russia easily at first. However, eventually, they ran out of food. There were no fields to raid or towns to ransack. -> Additionally, while Napoleon was busy in Russia, many people in Europe were rising up and revolting against his siblings. He needed to retreat, and return to France to preserve his Empire. Russia would use the same scorched earth policy to defeat Hitler and the Nazis during WWII.

Napoleon Defeated -> By the time Napoleon got back to France, it was too late. -> Britain (and allies Austria and Prussia) had deposed all of Napoleons relatives, and re-instated the old rulers. These countries were again monarchies ruled by families. Britain put Louis XVIII on the throne of France (the brother of Louis XVI). -> Napoleon was forced to surrender, and exiled to the island of Elba. Why would he be exiled and not killed?

Return of Napoleon -> After some time, Napoleon became bored of exile, and decided to return to France. -> He escaped Elba and landed on French shores. The French King immediately sent the army to arrest him. -> Napoleon greeted the army: “Here I am. Kill your Emperor, if you wish. ” -> They switched over to his side. Napoleon, now with an army, marched on Paris and conquered it. Napoleon’s aide (in exile with him) advised Napoleon not to return to France, saying that the King would send the army against him. Napoleon responded by saying, “Who in my army would shoot me. ”

Return of Napoleon

100 Days -> Napoleon ruled France again for 100 days, however, Britain was not okay with this. -> The Coalition Powers - British, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, reunited to push Napoleon out of France. At the same time, other countries in Europe were in disarray. No one was sure who was in charge. Napoleon wanted to take advantage of this and re-take his empire.

Battle of Waterloo -> Ultimately, it came down to one battle - at Waterloo, a field in what is now Belgium. The British forces were led by the Duke of Wellington. His army was a mix of Prussian, Austrian, and British troops. The battle was very evenly matched, however, eventually Wellington got the advantage and outmaneuvered Napoleon. -> Napoleon was captured. Why did Napoleon Lose? Theories vary. One theory is that Napoleon could not properly sit on his horse that day, and thus could not properly lead his troops. Why? A bad case of hemorrhoids.

Defeat and Exile (again) -> Napoleon surrendered at Waterloo. Initially, he asked to be exiled to the United States. However, he was denied. -> Instead, he was exiled to St. Helena - an island 3000 miles away from Europe, in the middle of the Atlantic.

Death -> Napoleon died on St. Helena, at age 52. His official autopsy stated that he died of stomach cancer - he had stomach pains throughout his later life. However, there are theories that his death was caused by his British captors. One major theory is that Napoleon was poisoned, by arsenic in his wallpaper. This theory points to the ulcer in Napoleon’s stomach as being caused by arsenic inhalation. Additionally, the wallpaper was tested - and very high levels of arsenic were found.