Dr. Jakub Basista
Modern European State Formation
Meeting 11: The first bureaucrat of modern Europe. Napoleon and his input into
modern state formation.
Reading: Briggs A., Clavin P., Chapter I; Davies Norman, Europe, Oxford 1989, Chapter IX.
Synopsis
Napoleon Buonaparte (1769-1821) was definitely one of those figures in history,
which had great impact on his age and managed to – single-handed – change the
history of his country, the continent and the world.
From our point of view Napoleon is important for what he did to the state structures,
the legislative and judicial order. His military campaigns changed the contemporary
political map of Europe, but they also changed peoples’ situation and – in effect –
their mentality. It was Napoleon, who exported the achievements of revolutionary
France throughout Europe. It was Napoleon, who introduced elements of modern state
and state administration, which were later accepted in many parts of the world. It was
napoleon, who codified certain laws and his codes were in force in all conquered
countries. In effect many today’s European codes and largely based on Napoleonic
ones.
France’s and Napoleon’s state creations
The Batavian Republic (1795-1806) – the Kingdom of Holland (1804-1810)
The Cisalpine Republic (Lombardy) (1797-1802)
The Italian Republic (1802-1805) grows out of Cisalpine R. and develops into Italian
Kingdom
The Ligurian Republic (Genoa) (1797-9)
The Parthenopaean Republic (Naples) (1799)
The Republic of Rome (1797-9)
The Republic of Lucca (1797-9)
The Kingdom of Etruria (1801-1805)
The Kingdom of Northern Italy (1805-1814)
The Confederation of the Rhine (1806-1813)
The Grand Duchy of Berg (1806-1813)
The Grand Duchy of Warsaw (1806-1813)
The kingdom of Westphalia (1807-1813)
The Illyrian Provinces (1809-1813)
1799, 18 Brumaire Napoleon’s coup d’etat (dissolving of Directory; Council of Elders
and Council of 500)
Dec. 1799 – Constitution of the Consulate (Year VIII).
3 consuls and the Council of State
Only 1st consul has the legislative initiative: appoints all army officers; gvt officials,
judges etc.; 80 members of Senate
Tribunate; Corps Legislatif
Napoleon chosen to be 1st consul
1802 – consul for life
1804 – Emperor
Concordat with the Vatican 1801
Bank of France 1800
Strong, professional administration
Codification of Law
Code Civil (Code Napoleon) 1804, 21 March – personal liberty; equal rights, private
property, civil marriage, right to divorce
Code of civil procedures – 1806
Commercial Code – 1807, goes into effect on 1 Jan. 1808 standardizing commercial
practices throughout France
Criminal Code, Code of criminal procedure – 1808
Penal Code – 1810, broader base was given for death penalty, life sentences were
retained
Rural Code prepared, but never promulgated
Thus the Napoleonic Code consisted of seven codes, with Civil Code being the first
and the most important. Civil code was organized into preliminary part followed by
three books divided into titles and chapters containing specific articles. It was a mix
of liberal and conservative thought.







equality before the law and in taxation
freedom from arbitrary arrest without a process
freedom of religion
freedom of choice of work
prohibition of ex post facto laws
property, family and inheritance laws achieved by the Revolution
strong father’s authority and rights in the family
1811 Napoleon establishes the Ministry of Manufacturers and Commerce, France's
first economic ministry. Production of sugar from sugar beets begins, as a substitute
for cane sugar no longer available due to the British boycott and Napoleon's
Continental System