Foreign and Domestic Policy

The Concordat Began Secret Negotiations with the Pope after his victories in Italy Understood that the church still played an important part of French Culture and without church support the population would never be completely happy Terms of the Concordat 1. France would pay clergy 2. Seminaries were re-opened 3. Clergy was responsible to Rome 4. France keeps the land seized during the Revolution 5. France could choose its own bishops but Pope had veto power 6. Pope would publicly support Napoleon’s rule

Economic Reforms Standardized Coinage Created a centralized bank for France Balanced the Budget Put the French economy back on track

The Code Napoleon Probably his greatest contribution to the world He didn’t write it but helped with the final edits Also, he was the only one strong enough to push it through The first time a code of civil laws was applied to a large European nation Very influential, adopted be most of Europe in the 19 th century

Peace! When Napoleon enter power, France was still at war Napoleon defeated the First Coalition (England, Russia, Austria and others) 1799, Second Coalition formed, France won the land war but was losing the naval campaign 1801 – Treaty of Luneville – Austria surrenders – France takes control of Italy and ends Austria’s control of Germany – allows larger German states to form 1802 – Russia backs out of War and England negotiates with France France gets to control Europe while England gets the sea France was in the best position in its history

War again! Napoleon had everything – a powerful, modern nation under his control, all of Europe under his influence His vision of stabilizing France and Europe had been reached But his vision changes – a universal Empire with France at the center “My power proceeds from my reputation and my reputation from the victories I have won. My power would fail me if not supported by more glory and victories. Conquest made me what I am; only conquest can sustain me.” In 1803, war breaks out between England and France

The Continental System The French navy was defeated at the battle of Trafalgar A direct assault on England would be impossible War was a stalemate Napoleon introduces the “Continental System” to attack England through economic isolation Forbids any European country from trading with England Huge mistake – England expands its trading relationships in Asia and continues to make money However, the rest of Europe was reliant on British products, they suffered the most

The Russian Campaign (1812) Russia abandons the continental system in 1810 Napoleon gathers his grand Army – French supported by Austrian and Prussian Troops – 600,000 men – and invades Russian in 1812 The Russians refuse to engage the French and constantly retreat – instead they burn, destroy and poison everything while they move back In September of 1814, Napoleon reaches Moscow and rather than victory, he finds the city on fire! He realizes that his troops would not survive the winter and he orders the retreat

The Long Road Back The retreat was a nightmare Food, shelter and fresh water were difficult to find (because the Russians burned everything and poisoned the wells) The Grand Army was slowly picked apart by Russian hit and run tactics, Cossack horsemen, angry peasants and a brutal winter 600,000 went in, only 50,000 made it out! There was not a single major battle! Napoleon abandoned his men and travelled back to France

The Emperor dethroned With the French Army in ruins, a new coalition forms In 1813, at the battle of Leipzig, Russian, Prussian and Austrian forces beat Napoleon English forces invade France from Spain March 31, 1814, coalition armies take Paris and Napoleon is dethroned The coalition re-establishes the Bourbon monarchy and Louis the 18 th takes over (Louis the 16 th brother, who was living in exile in England) Napoleon is exiled to Elba (a small Mediterranean island)

The Emperor Returns! In March 1815, Napoleon escapes and returns to France He walks from the Southern coast of France to Paris As he travels, French peasants recognized him, grab weapons and join him Louis sends soldiers to stop him again and again However, each group of soldiers that meets Napoleon joins him in his Quest Louis runs away and Napoleon reclaims the thrown The rest of Europe rallies against him Napoleon gathers an army and meets them at Waterloo Napoleon is defeated by Lord Wellington’s English troops combined with an army from Prussia Napoleon is exiled again – to St. Helena – a cold and windy rock in the middle of the Atlantic ocean He dies there in 1821 of Stomach cancer – he was 51 years old