Napoleon Bonaparte
Emperor of France
1769 - 1821
Learning Objectives for
the Unit
- Describe Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power
- Identify the characteristics of Napoleon
- Recognize the military tactics that Napoleon used to conqueror and
annex land
- Analyze the painting by Jacque Louis David, “Napoleon in his Study”
- List the political reforms that Napoleon established in French Society
- Describe the rise and fall of Napoleon – causes for the downfall and defeat at Waterloo
Napoleon’s Rise to Power
- Military Training – 9 yrs
- Lieutenant – 20 yrs. Old
- Brigadier General – 24 yrs. Old
- Capture of Toulon
- Military Success
- 1795 – Saves the Directory – nicknamed the “Savior of France”
Napoleon Gains
Political Control
- 1798 – Egyptian Campaign is a failure
- Arrives in France to find out he is still a hero of France
- 1799 – Plans to overthrow Directory and later
names himself “first consul”
“Napoleon in his Study”
by Jacque Louis David
- Characteristics of Napoleon Bonaparte
- Determined
- Power Hungry
- “Military Genius”
- Dedicated to his Work
- Meticulous
- Self- Sufficient
- Demanding
- Highly Respected by his Soldiers
Josephine & Napoleon
- Napoleon “truly” loved Josephine
- While Napoleon was on his Military Campaigns she was unfaithful to
him
- However, he did take her back for a period of time.
Military Strategies
- Napoleon Bonaparte
- Adapted to battle field
- Use tactics that would work best
- Make offensive moves
- Keep the army well-supplied and encourage them that they will win
the fight!
Napoleon’s Tactics
“Military Genius”
- Divide and Conquer – Split the enemy in two and flank them from
one side.
- The enemy will be literally half the size after the one side is annihilated
- Reconnaissance – Search for gaps
- Concentrate artillery fire on these gaps
- Napoleon increased the use of artillery
Napoleon – Building an
Empire
- Annexed Land – added areas to France
- Netherlands, Belgium, parts of Italy, and Germany
- Napoleon conquered most of Europe
- Was this enough for Napoleon?
Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte
- Napoleon’s actions during the Coronation were very
symbolic
- He took the crown off of the Pope and placed it on himself
- Symbolized that he does not owe his success to anyone
Napoleon’s Problems with
Great Britain
- Battle of Trafalgar – Goal – End trade between England and Europe
- Heratio Nelson – British admiral of Navy
- Great Britain’s Navy was too strong
The Napoleonic Code
Political Reforms in France
- Equality of all in the eyes of the law
- No recognition of birthright (nobility)
- Freedom of Religion
- Freedom to find an occupation of choice
- Strengthened the role of the family
- Emphasis on the husband/father as the head of the family
Napoleonic Code
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths
- Guaranteed civil liberties
- Continued the social aims towards the French Revolution
- Protected the interest of the middle class
- Weaknesses
- Women could not vote
- Wife owed obedience to her husband
- Minors had few rights
- Males were given more freedoms than Women in French Society
Napoleon in Power
“Order, Security, and Efficiency”
- Concordat of 1801 – Peace with the Church
- Recognizes Catholic Church and religious toleration
- Napoleonic Code – Reflects Enlightenment ideas
- All MEN are Equal
- The state is more important than one man
- Order and Authority over individual rights.
- Economic Reforms in France -
- Controlled prices – Improved Transportation
- Public Schools – Abolished Serfdom
Napoleon’s Empire 1812
Napoleon’s Downfall
- Russian Campaign –
- Failure (500,000 lives)
- Lacked Supplies
- Harsh Russian Winter
- Napoleon Exiled to island of Elba
- Forced to abdicate the throne to King Louis XVIII
Napoleon Invades Russia
Napoleon Escapes from Elba
“Last 100 Days”
- Napoleon escapes from Elba and returns to France
- Rebuilds Military
- Soldiers are Loyal to Napoleon not the King
- King Louis XVIII flees and Napoleon regains power
Battle of Waterloo - 1815
- Town in Belgium named Waterloo
- Napoleon’s army – short lived triumph
- British and Prussian forces crushes France
- Napoleon forced to exile in St. Helena
Success or Failure?
Hero or Villain?
- Won many victories at the tactical and strategic level
- Strategic Greed may have caused his downfall
- Rise of Nationalism in French Society
Napoleon the “True Leader”
- Morale – Napoleon knew his soldiers on a first name
basis – He gained their respect by fighting!
- “All men who value life more than the glory of the nation and the esteem
of their comrades should not be members of the French army.”
- “If you should see for the moment uncertain of victory, your emperor
will be on the front line.”
“Control man’s imagination & you
control their heart and soul..”
Napoleon Bonaparte
Legacy of the Revolution
- Influenced other countries to demand:
- Constitution
- Individual Rights
- Liberty and Equality
- Strong beliefs in Nationalism
- Desire to break away from foreign rule
Other Influences of the
Napoleonic Era and French Rev
- Serfdom and Feudalism abolished everywhere (ex. Russia)
- Religious Toleration ^
- Modern Warfare “nations at arms”
- Louisiana Purchase
- LA fights for indepen.
- In France-
- Public Schools
- Merit
- Law codes (civil rights
- National bank
- Public Works
- Draft for national army