NAPOLEON BONAPARTE Little Man, Big Goals

Origins Born in Corsica, France…but was actually Italian Had 9 brothers and sisters Classmates made fun of his accent in school Graduated from military school in 1784 as an artillery officer…he was 16 years old

Early Military Success Gained rank as Lieutenant in for the French army in Italy Brilliant strategies lead to him becoming a General in 1793…he was only 24 Sent back to Paris after victory in Italy

Saving the Directory October 3, 1795- Citizens excluded from the Directory rebel in Paris Thousands of angry protesters storm Paris City Hall to kill the Directors and other throw the government Napoleon takes command of ragtag defense force and fires grapeshot into the crowd Kills 1400 people, saves the Directory

Successful Campaigns 1796-1797- Napoleon leads France to victory in Italy Capture the city-state Venice, end the city’s independence after 1,100 years. 1798-1799- Napoleon leads an expedition in North Africa against Ottoman Turks Ravage the local populations and steal riches from the Egyptian pyramids Returns to France a hero

Emperor The Directory is weak when Napoleon returns to Paris Uses the military to perform a coup Establishes the Consulate (3 ruler government) in 1799 After a series of social reforms and military victories led by Napoleon, he declares himself Emperor of France in 1804 France becomes a military dictatorship

Napoleon’s Reforms The Napoleonic Code- Makes the laws equal for all, makes men the head of the house, allows divorce. Creates the metric system (cm, mm, meters) Outlaws Jewish ghettos and ends Jewish persecution Makes peace with the Catholic Church

Wars of Conquest Britain, Russia, and Austria declare war on France in 1805 Major victories against the British, Russians, Austrians, Prussians, and Spanish between 1805-1811. Allied himself with Ottoman Turks and Persians (Iran)

Invasion of Russia In an attempt to bring all of Europe under his control, Napoleon invades Russia in June, 1812 Invaded with 450,000 French soldiers Russians avoided a major battle and kept retreating further into Russia Russians used “Scorched Earth” strategy Finally stood and fought at Battle of Borodino outside of Moscow in September, 1812 44,000 Russians and 35,000 French casualties, bloodiest single day in warfare up till that point

Invasion of Russia Russians retreat and abandon Moscow Napoleon plans to enter the city, citizens of Moscow burn it to the ground French forced to retreat from Russia, they are out of supplies Winter sets in and kills thousands of French soldiers Only 40,000 of the 450,000 French survive Russians lose 150,000 troops and 300,000 civilians

Exile and Big Time Comeback United force of Great Britain, Prussia, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Italy, and Sweden invade France soon after Napoleon gets back from Russia Napoleon defeated and Paris captured Gives up title of Emperor and exiled to the island of Elba off the coast of Italy in 1814 But wait.. February, 1815- Napoleon returns to France and the army supports him Marches to Paris and takes back title of Emperor with 200,000 troops

The Last 100 Days Napoleon rules in Paris for 100 days as Emperor again Great Britain, Russia, Austria and Prussia promise to each put 150,000 men into the field to end his rule June 18, 1815- Napoleon meets and is defeated by the Allied European armies at Battle of Waterloo 48,000 French casualties and 25,000 Allies killed Napoleon is exiled to St. Helen Island, 2000 miles off the coast of Africa Dies of stomach cancer in 1821…51 years old