CHY4U1- The West and the World
Napoleon the Military Man
Background:
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Napoleon’s rise to power came amid the war of the second coalition (1799-1802).
Napoleon gained fame and power through his successful military campaigns and
his willingness to use military force to control the revolutionary forces within
France. Military victories were the key to Napoleon’s success.
1799 – 1815 a series of short wars are fought. There is one year of peace (1802).
The allies do not fight together until 1813. At times Napoleon seems unstoppable.
War and Peace with the Second Coalition -1801
 After coming to power in 1799, Napoleon sent peace feelers to Austria and Great
Britain-the two remaining members of the second coalition
 A peace feeler in diplomacy is a means of determining whether a warring party is
prepared to end hostilities
 The second coalition had been formed against France in 1798 and included
Austria, GB, and Russia
 When these overtures were rejected, French armies defeated the Austrians
o In the Treaty of Luneville -1801
 Austria accepted the loss of almost all its Italian possessions
 Loss of German territories on the West bank of the Rhine was
incorporated into France
Treaty of Amiens -1802
 The British stool alone but were war weary
 1802 Napoleon signed the Treaty of Amiens with GB
 France remained
 Citizens of France welcome the peace.
 Attempts to subdue Haiti.
Napoleon’s Wars
 In 1802, Napoleon was so popular as first Consul that held a plebiscite and had
himself elected first consul for life
 The consulate became the Empire, and Bonaparte emerged as Napoleon I,
Emperor of the French
 Napoleon's domestic policies gained the popular support he demanded. But it was
his military victories that mesmerized the French people. Napoleon realized the
grand dream of Louis XIV -- the mastery of Europe.
 France was no longer revolutionary at home, but outside, its borders, Napoleon
became the terror of Europe
 They called him the Jacobin and the France he ruled was a formidable state
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Napoleon Crowned Emperor in 1804 (seen by many as a betrayal of the
revolution). 1804 – Napoleon names himself emperor. Beethoven 3rd symphony
“eroica” was going to be dedicated to Napoleon. Beethoven is furious when he
has Napoleon has called himself Emperor.
Immanuel Kant
War with Britain was continuous from 1803 on. Britain mostly harassed French
ships in the ocean. War broke out because Britain refused to hand over Malta.
War of the Third Coalition (slide 13)
 In 1805 the third coalition was born (Britain, Austria, Sweden and Russia under
Alexander I). Alex was ambitious and saw himself as the future arbiter of Central
Europe. He was young 24 in 1801.
 1805 – Napoleon was strongly considering invading England, but lacked the naval
power to control the channel. Then in 1805 at the battle of Trafalgar (off the
Spanish coast), the French fleet was annihilated. Any hope of an invasion is gone.
o At Trafalgar. 27 British ships lead by Captain Nelson. The French were
led by Vice-Admiral Villeneuve who had 33 ships.
o The British charged and broke the French line. Rear Admiral Dumanoir Le
Pelley attempted to mend the line but was fought off and forced to retreat.
o Only 5 French ships made it to Cadiz.
Battle of Austerlitz -October 1805
 Napoleon rebounded with his most impressive victory yet.
 Here the French army fought the Austrians and the Russians. 72,000 soldiers vs
85,000 (A+R).
 Allies lose 27,000 men, France – 9,000
 Napoleon allowed the Russians to hit his right flank, while the French forces
charged the center. The Russia and Austrian forces became divided and were soon
thrown into disarray.
Followed up in 1806 by crushing the Prussian army at Jena and Auerstädt in October.
 In these battles Napoleons shows off his ability to adapt to a changing situation.
 In the battle French Marshal Michel Ney advanced too far forward and was
encircled. Napoleon orders a rescue and brings in his imperial guard.
 Napoleon realizes the Prussians are pushing too far forward, and he orders his
cavalry to flank.
1807 Russian invades Prussia, but France defeats Russia (again) at Friedland. Napoleon
owns Europe.
Treaty of Tilsit – 1807
 Napoleon and Alexander met on the Niemen River.
 An uneasy alliance formed. Napoleon owned the west and encouraged Alexander
to look east. Napoleon put Russian into the continental system (a form of
economic war against Britain).
 Important to note that unlike Prussia and Austria, Russia has not been defeated on
home soil. Alexander cannot be controlled the way Napoleon is controlling the
other European monarchs.
Exporting the Revolution
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Napoleon abolished Feudalism in all the territories under his control. The
revolution spread with Napoleon
 He also codified laws and created constitutions.
 He stripped the church of its powers and religious tolerance became law. He
stopped the persecution of Jews in Spain (inquisition did not end till 1834)
 Many of these reforms created pro-Napoleon support throughout Europe.
 Although his reforms generated support, other policies created resentment among
the subjected peoples of Europe.
Napoleon’s allies and dependant kingdoms were required to supply money and troops to
his armies. This increased taxes in many areas outside France and maintained
conscription even in times of peace
Continental System
 Napoleon attempted to use economic warfare to defeat Britain. He shut out British
exports in Europe. He wanted to cause a depression in Britain.
 Portugal refused to comply and Napoleon invaded. He now became bogged down
in a costly campaign in Spain (heavy guerilla fighting).
British Blockade and Counter- Blockade
 Britain initiates a blockade to counter the CS. It will not starve the continent, but
will damage their ability to trade and make a profit off tariffs. British goods were
being smuggled onto the continent. Britain blocked out foreigner traders such as
America from the continent.
 CS was very unpopular in the Napoleonic Empire. Napoleon said “the destinies of
Europe turned upon a barrel of sugar.” European industries did prosper, but could
not replace the loss of British goods (especially hard hit in Eastern Europe).
 Britain made up for loss of the continent market by trading worldwide – no
competition (Canada, America, Latin America 300,000 pounds in 1805 to 6.3
million pounds in 1809). Future implications (the need for markets = carve up of
Africa).
 Dec 31st, 1810 Russia withdraws from the CS
Grand Empire at its Height – 1810
 Issue with Russia. Napoleon wanted to marry Anna Pavlovna of Russia (chance at
the title, he receives some clout in Russian politics). Alexander refuses. Napoleon
marries Marie Louise. They married in 1809 and in 1810 she gave birth to a son.
Russia- June 1812
 1812 – CS system a disaster
 Napoleon still controls Europe and his army is unbeatable. No chance of a popular
uprising.
 Napoleon does not want peace, cannot invade England. Invades Russia, why?
o He has one target
o Alex left the CS. He wants Ukraine for the wheat supply.
o A defeat of Russia might convince Britain to sue for peace
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La Grande Armée = 600, 000 strong
Napoleon is best in short wars…Russia is massive
Nap wanted to live off the land as he did in Europe…Russia destroyed land as
they retreated. Refused to fight a pitched battle.
Finally fight at Borodino and Napoleon wins.
o A few uncharacteristic blunders. Did not concentrate his artillery, did not
outnumber the enemy in the decisive spot or commit his reserves when the
Russian army had been crushed. Unlike Austerlitz, the Russian army
retreated in good order and Napoleon did not pursue and crush his enemy.
Sept 14th, 1812 he enters Moscow. Alex refuses to negotiate. Napoleon retreats
the winter was extremely brutal.
The Russian armies prevented him from using a southerly route and the
combination of inadequate supplies and an unusually cold winter destroyed the
Grand Army, fatally weakening Napoleon’s military power.
Napoleon returned to France with less than 100 000 men.
As Napoleon retreated and news of his defeat in Russia spread, his “allies” began
to turn against him
Napoleon’s best soldiers are gone. Cannot replace veterans who were a key to his
success. 1813 his new army is very inexperience and is crushed by a coalition at
Leipzig by Prussia, Austria and Russia.
Quadruple alliance (Prussia, Austria, Russia and Britain) forms in 1814. Napoleon
fought, but was defeat. The French are tired of war (how did he come to power?
He brought peace). April 1814 the alliance enters Paris. Napoleon abdicated
Abdication & Exile
 April 11, 1814: Treaty of Fontainebleau: Napoleon agrees to abdicate
 Exiled to the small island of Elba in the Mediterranean.
 Emperor of Elba
Louis XVIII is put on the throne as a Constitutional monarch. His charter of 1814 kept
many features from the Napoleonic system
o Legal equality
o Eligibility to public office for all
o Recognized Napoleonic law codes, settlement with the church, and
redistribution of property.
o Feudal privileges are gone.
- September 1814 Congress of Vienna (more on this next class). It was designed to
facilitate peace.
Exile & Corruption
 Ultimately, Napoleon failed to accomplish much.
 Efforts to revitalize the economy are thwarted by his own greed.
 Pocketed much of the money, increased land taxes
 This led to revolts that were suppressed under the threat of arms
Escape!
 February 26, 1815: Napoleon slips away from Elba while his British custodian
was temporarily away
 Heads to mainland where he reunites with loyal supporters and travels through
friendly areas
 June 18, 1815: Napoleon defeated at the Battle of Waterloo
o Arthur Wellesly, Duke of Wellington
o If you play with your opponent too long you will teach him the lessons of
war. Generals were now adopting levee en masse and Napoleonic tactics.
o 72,000 men vs. 118, 000.
 Exiled again to the island of St. Helena
The End
 1821: Napoleon dies of poisoning
 While rumours abound that it was an assassination, modern testing suggests that
Napoleon died as a result of exposure to arsenic compounds in his house… found
in his wallpaper.
 Scheele's Green was a colouring pigment that had been used in fabrics and
wallpapers from around 1770. It was named after the Swedish chemist Scheele
who invented it. The pigment was easy to make, and was a bright green colour.
But Scheele's Green was copper arsenite. And under certain circumstances it
could be deadly. Gosio discovered that if wallpaper containing Scheele's Green
became damp, and then became mouldy (this was in the days of animal glues) the
mould could carry out a neat chemical trick to get rid of the copper arsenite. It
converted it to a vapour form of arsenic. Normally a mixture of arsine, dimethyl
and trimethyl arsine. This vapour was very poisonous indeed. Breathe in enough
of the vapour, and you would go down with a nasty case of arsenic poisoning.