Napoléon Bonaparte
by
Patrick M. Hanson (Pierre)
France Before Napoleon
• The French Revolutionary Period
– In 1789 France still controlled by Monarchy
• France was not a poor country but numerous
wars had put the government in debt.
• All the taxes were on the working poor
–The bourgeoisie and the san culottes
• Glass Ceiling
Estates General
• Because of their discontent the bourgeoisie
and san culottes begin to revolt.
• King Louis calls the Estates General (Les EtatsGeneraux de 1789)
• The Estates General consisted of three parties
– 1st estate- Nobles
– 2nd Estate- Clergy
– 3rd Estate- Bourgeoisie
• The three estates took the Tennis Court Oath
Flight of the King
• As a result, In 1791 a new constitution is put
into effect.
– This ends absolutism in France, but was not end of
monarchy.
– However, San culottes still unhappy
• The flight of the king, in June 1791 the royal
family fled Paris in disguise. This ends the
monarchy in France.
– This ends the reign of the Bourbons in France.
Another Constitution
• France declares war on Austria, Prussia soon
after becomes involved as well.
• France soon after declares itself a democratic
republic. King and Marie Antoinette are tried
and executed.
• While still in war with Prussia and Austria the
French revolution rises again.
• New constitution of 1793 is created.
Reign of Terror
• France turns to Maximillion Robespierre
– The Reign of Terror in France. Started with the Executions of
King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
– Ended in the Thermidorian Reaction, where several leaders
including Robespierre were executed.
• France immediately goes back to the Constitution of 1791,
but called it the Constitution of 1795. this meant that the
san culottes were once again unhappy.
• With France in Turmoil, England takes the offensive and
begins to invade France.
• This was ended with the Treaty of Amiens.
Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte
• His first real military opportunity came when he
was just 24, as a captain of artillery at the siege of
Toulon.
– Was able to seize forts, and eventually was able to
force British naval forces to retreat.
• Was arrested and jailed for a short time because
he was the friend of the brother of Robespierre.
• He put down a mob in 1795 with the famous
quote “whiff of grapeshot” after being ordered to
by a member of the Directory, Paul Barras.
About Napoleon
• Was born in Ajaccio on Corsica, August
15,1769
• Entered military school (École Militaire) in
1784 at the age of 14.
• When he was an adult he stood at 5’ 6”.
• Also known as The Little Corporal (Le Petit
Caporal) or The Corsican.
• Despised the disorder of the French
Revolution.
The Art of War
• Napoleon created his own Art of War.
– Never had a set battle plan.
– Never used the same tactic twice.
– Rapid and audacious attacks.
– Surprise and Speed.
• Napoleon wanted to confuse his enemies and
make them feel unprepared.
– Wanted his enemies demoralized but not killed.
The Rise
• As a reward for his protection of the
Convention, the directory rewarded him with
command of the army of Italy.
• His victories induced the Austrians to
conclude the Peace of Campoformio.
• With the Austria war over France turned to
England and Napoleon was at the head of this.
Egypt
• France knew that England's channel defense was
unbeatable. So instead Napoleon suggested going
through Britain's colonies by attacking Egypt.
• This was successful until, after seizing Cairo.
Napoleon was stopped because Frances fleet was
beaten by Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson.
• This defeat left Napoleon stranded in Egypt.
• Napoleon however continued to tell France that
everything was going well.
Move to the Government
• After 19 months in Egypt Napoleon left his army
and snuck back to Paris.
• The reason for this was because the Directory
was weakening and Napoleon wanted to be there
when France had no leader.
• He participated in the over through of the
Directory (Coup d'etat).
• He was soon after named the 1st Council of 3
councils. However he basically dominated the
government and in 1799 had himself elected 1st
council for life.
As 1st Council
• Napoleon first made a compromise with the
Pope. However he did not give back the
churches land because this land now belonged
to the bourgeoisie. This gained their trust.
• Made it so that the clergy in France had to be
elected by the French people.
• In 1804 the Code Napoleon became Frances
first uniform code of law and most of those
laws still exist today.
Continued
• Napoleon wanted Frances economy strong to
increase popularity and also to make France
stronger.
• Put high tax on foreign goods so that Frances
could compete.
• To prevent inflation he created the Bank of
France.
• Made jobs available to talent and no money.
Military
• Realizing that if he were to strengthen his own
position and rest his war weary country he
realized he would have to make a safe period
of peace for France.
• France embarked on a second Italian
campaign against Austria.
• Defeated Austria and Prussia and made them
allies.
Emperor
• By 1810 Napoleon controlled almost every nation
in Europe. Napoleon called this the Great Empire.
– He named himself king in Italy
• However, Frances Greatest foe, England, refused
to even make peace with France.
• In 1805 Napoleon put together a navy consisting
of a French and Spanish fleet.
– In the battle of Trafalgar the British crushed the
French- Spanish fleet.
Continental System
• Napoleon created the Continental system.
– Forbid all nations under his control from doing
business with England.
– This only hurt the British slightly because of their
colonies all over the world.
– This was, however, like a punishment to the already
conquered countries who needed England to help
their Economies. This created massive unemployment,
even in France, and some of the countries went into a
depression.
– The bourgeoisie begin to turn on Napoleon.
The Spanish Ulcer
• Napoleon gave Spain the duty of keeping
Portugal from trading with England. Spain did
not put a big effort forward to keep this from
happening.
• Napoleon decided to invade ally Spain and
then put his brother Joseph on the throne of
Spain.
• In 1807 the War of the Knife breaks out.
Napoleon called this war the Spanish Ulcer.
The Spanish Ulcer
• With the Spanish in a war with France England
grasps the opportunity to get into Europe and
begin to fight with the Spanish.
• Because of Spain's slight success other
countries become inspired and form a
resistance against France.
• In 1812 Russia then begins to trade with
England and Napoleon, while still fighting
Spain travel east to fight Russia.
Le Grande Armee de la Russe
• Napoleon took 614,000 men and 200,000 animals to
Russia.
• Napoleon marches his army to Moscow after little
resistance. The highlight being the Battle of Borodino.
• He finds Moscow empty. The army arrive on
September 7 and did not leave until October 19.
However, the army is slow and on the return to France
the Russian winter sets in and much of the army is lost.
• Napoleon arrived back in Paris before his army on
December 18.
The Decline
• Napoleon builds another army in Paris.
• He was defeated at the battle of Nations at
Leipzig in October of 1813.
• He continued to fight until March of 1814
where Napoleon abdicated the throne and put
his son Napoleon II in place.
• Soon after Louis XVIII was put on the throne.
This was the return of the Bourbon family to
the throne.
Exile 1
• Napoleon is exiled away from France to the
island of Elba.
• However, Napoleon began planning and
plotting to get France back on top and restore
his name.
• Ten months later with the French people once
again upset with the monarchy, Napoleon
began to invade.
The Return of Napoleon
• In February of 1816 Napoleon began sailing
from Elba to France.
• Napoleon with only 1000 men began
marching. The French army, discontent with
the new king, began to follow Napoleon.
• He arrived in Paris unopposed and took the
throne on March 21.
• Louis XVIII fled the throne.
The Hundred Days
• With Napoleon being back the countries
immediately began the war again.
• Napoleon began advancing through Europe
winning the battle of Ligny.
• However, at the battle of Waterloo Napoleon’s
army is soundly defeated on June 18, 1815.
• He returned to Paris defeated and was once
again abdicated on June 22.
Exiled for Good
• Napoleon is exiled to the island of St. Helena,
this after trying to escape to the United
States.
• There he spent the rest of his life writing his
memoirs
• He died of skin cancer on May 15, 1821.
The Congress of Vienna
• After the battle of Waterloo the European powers
meet in Vienna, Austria, in an effort to reconstruct
Europe and also to make peace. This meeting was
known as the congress of Vienna.
• During these meetings the European powers quickly
decided that France would not be punished for
Napoleons actions.
• Through the meetings an alliance between the five
major powers in Europe was created known as the
Concert of Europe
• Because of these meeting there would not be a major
war in Europe for almost 100 years
Works Cited
• http://www.napoleonbonaparte.nl/html/body
_nap_and_revolution.html
• http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/bonapa
rtenapoleon/a/bionapoleon.htm
• http://www.answers.com/topic/napoleonbonaparte
• http://www.essortment.com/all/napoleonbon
apar_rxda.htm