Rise and Fall of Napoleon
SSWH14.C
Early Life

Born on the island
of Corsica (a French
colonial possession)

Moved to France for
his education
• Military College of
Brienne
• Military Academy of
Paris
• Graduated 42nd in a
class of 58.
Military Career

After the commanding officer was wounded,
Napoleon led the National Convention’s army
in a successful assault on Toulon in 1793.

At age 24, in recognition of this
accomplishment, Napoleon was promoted to
brigadier general.
Jacobin Trouble

Napoleon had been an active with the
Jacobins since graduation from military
academies.

In 1794, when Robespierre was thrown from
power and executed, Napoleon was arrested
because he was seen as a student of
Robespierre.

He was freed shortly afterwards, but he was
not restored to his position.
Rescuer of the Directory

1795 – The Directory was faced with the threat of a
royalist uprising in Paris.

They needed help to put down this threat, so they
called on Napoleon.

Napoleon easily put down the columns of rebels and
was seen as a savior of the National Convention.

He was given sole command of the Army of the
Interior, based in Paris.
Becoming a Legend

During 1796 and 1797 Napoleon
leads the French army against
Austria. He wins victories
at:
• Battle of Lodi
• Battle of Arcole
• Battle of Rivoli

He forces the Austrians to
sign the Treaty of CampoFormio.

The First Coalition (Prussia,
Austria, and England) against
Revolutionary France had
collapsed.

He returns to Paris as a
hero.
Napoleon v. England

1798 – Napoleon is assigned by the Directors
to lead the army that is assembling on the
coast in an invasion of England.

He takes a quick look at things and told the
directors that it could not be done unless
France had control of the Sea.

Next best thing…hurt their empire.
• The plan is changed to an invasion of Egypt, and
the directors send Napoleon.
• Happy to get the ambitious young general further
away from Paris
Napoleon v. Nelson
Round One
Napoleon v. Nelson
Round One

August 1, 1798 – Battle of the Nile
• The Royal Navy launches a surprise attack of
the French Fleet at anchor in Abu Qir Bay
• Napoleon and his army have no ride home

He attempts to march the army home on land,
but the British Army stops them in Syria.

The French retreat to Egypt…very costly.
War at Sea in the Age of
Napoleon
Battle of the Nile
Battle of the Nile
Battle of the Nile
Napoleon v. Europe

The Battle of the Nile and the defeat in
Syria showed the world that Napoleon was
not undefeatable.

England, Austria, Russia, and Turkey form
an alliance against Bonaparte.
Napoleon Comes to Power

By 1799, the moderate leaders of the
Directory were seen as being too weak.
Napoleon hears about the trouble in Paris,
leaves his men in Egypt, and returns home.

The Directors were thrown out. A new
government called the Consulate was placed
into power.

One of the consuls = Napoleon

The other two were pretty weak. Napoleon, now just
30 years old, is the real leader of France.
Across the Alps to Italy

Napoleon leads the
French army into
Italy in 1800.
• Forces Austria to
sign the Treaty of
Lunville.

The Second Coalition
(Russia, Austria,
and England) against
Revolutionary France
had collapsed.
From Consul to Emperor

1802 – Napoleon takes
a leading role in
forming a new French
Constitution…it makes
him First Consul for
life.
• In 1804 the senate
would declare that
Napoleon was Emperor.

Disaster in Haiti

1803 - Napoleon sells
the Louisiana
Territory to the
United States.
Treaty of Amiens (1803)

England wins Battle of the Nile (1798)

France wins the Battle of Marengo (1800)

France wins the Battle of Hohenlinden (1800)

England wins the Battle of Copenhagen (1801)

1803 – The two sides call a ceasefire
Nelson v. Napoleon
Round Two
The Battle of Trafalgar (1805)
Battle of Trafalgar
A Bittersweet Victory for England
HMS Victory
From Empire to Exile

Napoleon decides to issue orders that closed
the ports of continental Europe in order to
hurt England’s economy. This plan was
called the Continental System.

Britain responds by issuing its own
blockade. England’s blockade works better.
• The Royal Navy begins stopping American ships
headed for Europe.
• War of 1812
From Empire to Exile

The Spanish people are not happy that
Napoleon is marching his invasion army
through their country = Peninsular War.
• Guerillas
• No traditional battles
• 300,000 French casualties
Napoleon’s Biggest Mistake

1812 – Napoleon leads the French Grand
Army, of 420,000 troops, into Russia.

Russians refuse to meet Napoleon in open
battle.
• Scorched-earth policy
• Early winter forces retreat
• Only 10,000 troops return home to France
Retreat From Russia
Into Exile
(More of a vacation really)

Napoleon’s enemies (England, Russia,
Austria, Prussia, and Sweden) attack while
Napoleon is weak.
• Battle of Leipzig (1813)
• April, 1814 – Napoleon gives up his throne and
is sent into exile on the island of Elba.
Napoleon is Back…Briefly

Louis XVIII was placed in charge of France,
but the French people feared that he wanted
to undo the Revolution.
• That was all Napoleon needed to hear. He
returns from Elba, lands in France, and
marches to Paris.
• An army joins him along the way.
• Within days, Napoleon is Emperor again.
Exiled Again

Napoleon meets the Duke of Wellington at
the Battle of Waterloo
• The French Army is defeated by the combined
English and Prussian forces

The defeat ended Napoleon’s second and
final reign of power. This second bid for
imperial power is known as the “Hundred
Days”

The English shipped Napoleon to his second
exile on the island of St. Helena.
Congress of Vienna

Representatives of the 5 “Great Powers” met
to design a new Europe
• Russia
• Prussia
• Austria
• Great Britain
• France (under Louis XVIII)

The Goal = A stable and peaceful Europe
Prince Klemens von Metternich

Most influential
representative at
the Congress of
Vienna.
• Represented Austria
• Three goals:

Surround France
with strong nations

Restore a balance
of power

Restoration of
Europe’s monarchies
Taking it Easy on France

The representatives at Vienna did not want
to punish France too severely.
• The goal was to establish a “balance of power”
among the nations of Europe
• They believed that making France too weak
would not result in a lasting peace
The Results of Vienna

No nation came away from the Congress
holding a grudge

None of the Five Great Powers went to war
against each other for 40 years

Many groups of people were placed under the
rule of new nations after the Congress of
Vienna redrew the map of Europe. This
resulted in the growth of nationalism.
Europe Before Vienna
Europe After Vienna