Napoleon Bonaparte

Rise of Napoleon

24 years old is made a general by the Committee of Public Safety

At 26, he becomes commander of French armies in ItalyGains fame for victories in Italy

France wants him to invade BritainHe knows that invasion will fail, so he

invades Egypt insteadInvasion of Egypt also fails

Consul and Emperor

1799 Napoleon takes part in coup d’état that overthrows the Directory.A consulate government is set up

Napoleon is named the first consul3 years later he gets named consul for life

1804, Napoleon is crowned Emperor

Peace with the Church

Napoleon knows it’s good to mend relationship with the ChurchMakes deal with the pope

Catholicism is recognized as the religion of the majority of France

In return, the pope will not ask for the return of seized Church lands from the Revolution

Catholic Church is no longer an enemy of the State

People who seized lands now support the government.

Codification of the Law

Institutes Napoleonic (Civil) Code – unifies all the laws of Francethe equality of citizens before the lawthe right to choose your own professionreligious tolerationabolition of serfdom + feudal

obligationswomen less equal than men

No inheritance rights for daughters

A New Bureaucracy

public officials + military officers promoted on ability

Aristocracy (noble class) based on meritorious service to nation

Preserver of the Revolution???

Liberties taken awaynewspapers shut downbanned booksgovernment controlled publishingMail confiscated + opened by police

Building the Grand Empire Napoleon builds France and becomes the

greatest power in Europe at the time.Known as the Grand Empire

The Grand Empire would consist of three partsFrench EmpireDependent statesAllied states

Building the Grand Empire…. The French Empire

France and its new extended boundaries The Dependent States

Kingdoms ruled by relatives of Napoleon Unified German States Spain - brother Holland – brother

The Allied States Countries defeated by Napoleon Russia, Prussia, Austria

Building the Grand Empire…. Napoleon spreads the ideas of the French Revolution

Legal Equality Religious toleration Economic freedom

Clergy and nobility have all special privileges taken away Napoleons system of merit instituted in new states

Napoleon hoped to build a long lasting French Empire Two factors lead to its demise

Britain Nationalism

Britain Napoleon wants to invade Britain and conquer.

British navy too strong for Napoleons forces French defeated trying to invade

Continental System Napoleons new plan to defeat British Set up a blockade against importing British goods, try to

bankrupt them System fails

Allied states go behind his back Too many markets worldwide to try and stop British

trade

Nationalism Sense of identity of a people based on

Common language Religion National symbols

Conquered people are not forced to take on French culture Still unified by their own culture Resentful of invaders

Russia Under control of Napoleon, but ignoring Continental system

Must be punished Set precedent for other countries

Napoleon sets out with 600,000 men Only brings enough supplies for 26 days

Depending on quick victory War would last 6 months

Russians strategy baffles Napoleon Refuse to fight Retreat further into Russia

Burn fields and homes along the way

Russia… Napoleon finally reaches Moscow

Russian capital Finds it set ablaze

Wins two battles along the way, but costly victories Tens of thousands of men die in battle

Begins Great Retreat Napoleon makes decision to leave Russia Still in the dead of winter Thousands of troops are lost

Starvation Hypothermia Suicide

Less than 40,000 out of 600,000 make it back

Downfall of Napoleon Disaster in Russia leaves France vulnerable to surrounding

countries Napoleon defeated

Exiled to island of Elba Louis XVIII restored as monarch in France

Brother of Louis XVI Napoleon escapes Elba and returns to France to claim his

empire Foreign armies rally together to finish Napoleon for the last

time Napoleon defeated at Waterloo in Belgium Duke of Wellington leads British and Prussian troops

Defeated, Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena Dies in exile in 1821