Napoleon’s Rise to
Power
Ch. 4 (p. 94-99)
Background
 Napoleon
Bonaparte
– Born on island of
Corsica in 1769
• France had
bought Corsica
from Italy in 1768
– Parents Italian and
minor nobles
– Napoleon French
Early Military Career
 Sent to military school in France
– Lonely and poor, but bond with family remained strong
 Became Lieutenant in the French army at 16
– Father died at same time, Napoleon made head of
family
 Fought in the Revolutionary War against Austria
 Became a General in the Revolutionary Army by
Age 24
– Follower of Rousseau, supported the French Revolution
– Methods sometimes brutal, but effective
Young Napoleon
Napoleon’s Italian Campaign
 Made commander of French Army in Italy
 Northern Italy ruled by Austria
– French Revolution trying to spread there though
– Italians don’t want to be ruled by Austrians or French
 Napoleon promises to free Italians
– Gains Italian support
– Beats Austrian Army
 Got rich by stealing Italian wealth, sending it
back to France
– Paintings, statues, jewellery, etc.
Napoleon’s Egyptian Campaign
 Wanted to cut British off from trade with India
by invading Egypt
– France and Britain rivals
 Great Beginning
– French defeated Egyptians & Syrians
 Horrible Finish
– British Navy annihilates French Navy
• British led by Admiral Horatio Nelson
– Plague ravages troops
 News of military and gov’t doing poorly at home
– Abandons army in Egypt and heads for France in 1799
Egyptian Campaign
Legend of the Sphinx’s Nose
Back Home in France
 The Directory in control (1795-1799)
– Napoleon felt it was inefficient and corrupt
 Napoleon joins plot to seize power from the
Directory
– Provides military muscle
– Napoleon takes control, overthrows The
Directory (unofficial end to French Revolution)
– Sets up new government led by three “Consuls”
– Napoleon names himself “First Consul”
Napoleon in Charge
Napoleon’s Reforms
 Napoleonic Code
– aka “Civil Code”
– Set of laws that simplified and unified
France’s previous system of law
– Covered individual rights and freedoms, equal
treatment under the law
• However, women lose rights
– Napoleonic Code was used as a model by
many European countries, still used in Quebec
and Louisiana civil law
Napoleon’s Reforms
 Other Reforms
– Reopened churches
– Went back to 7 day week (Sundays off)
– Voted “Consul-for Life”
– Created new type of secondary school - Lycee
– Rebuilt and improved roads
• Army can move quickly
• Good for the economy (trade)
– Tried to improve economy (mixed results)