Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) came from a family of lower nobility but was sympathetic to the ideals of the French Revolution.
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Napoleon’s Rise to Power
Napoleon Bonaparte ambitiously rose from army captain to ruler of France by taking advantage of the turmoil of the French
Revolution.
Opportunities for Glory
• Napoleon, brilliant military leader
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In charge of French interior at 26
Invaded Italy and Egypt
Defeat by Admiral Horatio Nelson kept from newspapers
Became national hero

Napoleon Seizes Power
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Directory weak and ineffective
Fear of royalists and of European opposition
November 1799 coup d’état •
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France to be led by Consulate
Napoleon voted first consul, in effect a dictator for life
Napoleon promised order and stability, pledging to uphold key reforms. The

Emperor Napoleon
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Napoleon crowns himself
◦ Submitted a plebiscite (VOTE) before voters
◦ Emperor Napoleon I
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Desire for empire
◦ Wanted to rule Europe
◦ Napoleon sold Louisiana Territory and turned his focus to Europe

Image is Everything

Napoleon’s Policies
Napoleon made some basic revolutionary ideas part of the French government.
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Napoleonic Code or Civil
Code developed
Preserved revolution ideas of equality for all but at the cost of freedom
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Economic Reforms
Established the
Bank of France to regulate economy
Positions in the government and military based on merit, not birth
• More efficient tax-collection system

Napoleon & the Church
First made Peace with Catholic Church
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Catholicism was made the religion of
France,
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In return, the Pope would not ask for a return of the property sized in the
Revolution
Everyone Wins

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Napoleonic Wars
Napoleon quickly defeated Russia,
Germany, Sweden, & Prussia
Controlled almost all of Europe and put Family members in positions of
Power
Great Britain had a dominant navy allowed it to be a thorn in Napoleon’s side

 Napoleon’s ambition united Europe against him.
 In 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia with an army of half a million men.
 The Russians burned their own crops and buildings as they retreated, depriving the invaders of food and shelter.
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By the time Napoleon reached Moscow, he found the city in ruins, set on fire by the Russians.
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In bitter winter weather, Napoleon’s army retreated. Less than one in ten men survived the homeward march.
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End of Napoleon
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Spread of Nationalism: idea of a central identity
Invasion of Russia a disaster and left France weak and venerable
Final defeat by Duke of
Wellington at Waterloo