Napoleon

Early Years Born August 15, 1769 on Corsica Age 10 went to Brienne military college in France At 15 went to École Militaire in Paris At 16 made an officer in army

Military Success 1793 as major, led Republican troops against royalists and British in Toulon Promoted to brigadier general Later jailed for being friends with Robespierre’s brother

Josephine Met and fell in love with Josephine Six years older, husband guillotined during revolution

Whiff of grapeshot 1795 royalist uprising in Paris Napoleon ordered cannons fired at crowd & ended protest Promoted to major general in charge of all troops in France

Italian Campaign France attacked Italy to get at Austria Napoleon took over in 1796 (two days after wedding to Josephine) Great leadership & strategy defeated Austrians

Egyptian Campaign France wanted to defeat Britain Napoleon attacked them in Egypt Military failure Napoleon fled Egypt Greeted as hero in France

First Consul 1799 Napoleon overthrew the corrupt Directory Took title First Consul Reorganized French civil law (“Napoleonic Code”) Guaranteed equality

First Consul Improved roads and ports Established new school system Created wealth through wars

Emperor Napoleon 1804 crowned himself Emperor of France Became tyrant Ruled with secret police, censorship

Napoleon and Europe Napoleon fought war with most of Europe Britain was greatest enemy Used Continental System to block British trade Led to widespread smuggling

Napoleon and Europe Won at Ulm, Austerlitz and Jena Defeated armies of Austria, Prussia and Russia 1807 Treaty of Tilsit, France contolled much of Europe

Rise of Nationalism Conquered countries embraced revolutionary ideas Led to the rise of people identifying with their nation This new feeling was nationalism

Loss in Spain 1808 placed brother Jerome on throne Spanish rebelled Used guerilla warfare British helped

Russian Campaign Napoleon gathered Grande Armée (600,000 soldiers) 1812 attacked Russia Russians fled Moscow Bad weather and no supplies left Grande Armée stranded

Abdication and Exile Next lost battle of Leipzig Napoleon gave up throne Exiled to Elba Later returned for 100 days but defeated at Waterloo Sent to St. Helena

Congress of Vienna France kept old borders Britain tried to create balance of power in Europe