NAPOLEON THE GRAND MASTER OF EUROPE

Rise of Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769 on Corsica – An Italian island annexed by France several years before Napoleon’s birth Brilliant military leader who achieved numerous early successes and rose quickly through the ranks – Victory at Toulon, victories against Austrians and Italians Left his army in Egypt and sailed back to France – Used his status as a national hero to seize power – 1799 coup d’etat led by General Napoleon brought an end to the Directory

Established the Consulate and was named first consul Submitted a plebiscite (question put before all the voters, based on popular vote) to the people – 1802 plebiscite – Napoleon is made consul for life – 1804 plebiscite – Napoleon asks to establish an empire and the people say yes The French craved the order and stability that Napoleon promised and were willing to give up some freedoms for peace, prosperity, and glory – The pope comes to crown Napoleon as emperor Napoleon puts the crown on his own head – he took authority for himself “I am the Revolution”

Domestic Policies Wants to end the hostility from the Revolution – Welcomes emigres back to France – Makes peace with the Catholic Church through a Concordat (agreement) with the pope Catholicism is recognized as the religion of the majority of France Church land confiscated is not returned Napoleon gets to approve all church appointments Establishes the Bank of France to regulate the economy and sets up a more efficient tax collection system Established a network of schools, universities, and technical schools

Codification of the laws – prior to the Revolution France had 300 different legal systems – Known as the Napoleonic Code or Civil Code – Made laws uniform across the nation – Preserved most of the gains of the Revolution by recognizing the principle of the equality of all citizens before the law – Limits some individual rights, such as freedom of the press, and only applied to male citizens Created a new aristocracy based on service to Napoleon and France – No privileges, just land and money and it could not be passed on to heirs

Napoleon’s Empire Wants to rule Europe – Sells the Louisiana Territory to the U.S. to get money to fight his wars the Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars that were an extension of the ones fought between France and other nations during the Revolution – In 1799 France was at war against a European coalition of Great Britain, Russia, and Austria Peace treaty of 1802 and brief truce – War renews itself and Napoleon defeats the combined armies of Austria, Russia, and Prussia Prussia barely saved from being wiped off the map

1807 – 1812 Napoleon is the master of Europe Grand Empire – French Empire Enlarged France, territories added on to France – Dependent States Nations that Napoleon conquers, puts these kingdoms under the rule of his relatives Spain, Holland, Kingdom of Italy, Swiss Republic, Grand Duchy of Warsaw, and Union of German states – Allied States Defeats these nations in battle and forces them to ally with him against Britain Prussia, Austria, Russia, Denmark, and Norway

– The only nations free of his control are Great Britain, Sweden, Portugal, and the Ottoman Empire

Why Napoleon’s Empire Collapses Great Britain’s survival – Geography, sea power of Britain Napoleon tries to invade Britain, but his fleet his defeated by the British led by Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar This battle saves the British from invasion – Napoleon then institutes the Continental system – wants to stop British goods from reaching Europe Britain depends on overseas trade and if the economy of Britain is weakened, then it would destroy their ability to wage war

Prohibits French or Allied ships from trading with Britain – The British respond by requiring ships from neutral nations to stop in British ports and not trade with France – leads to the war of 1812 between the British and the U.S. Fails due to smugglers and Britain’s numerous colonies Nationalism = a sense of identity and unity as a people – Spread principles of revolution and also nationalism to people conquered by the French – France showed people what nationalism was and what a nation in arms could do

The Peninsular War – War against Portugal – they refused to comply with the continental system – War in Spain – Napoleon conquers Spain and places his brother on the throne Spanish revolt, don’t want a foreign ruler and Britain sends military forces to help them – Guerrilla warfare, Napoleon is forced to keep a good portion of his troops there Calls it his “Spanish Ulcer” Invasion of Russia – Russia refuses to remain in the continental system, so Napoleon invades

– June 1812 Napoleon enters Russia with a Grand Army of over 600,000 men – needs a quick win Problems – new recruits and many of the army’s supplies were lost or spoiled – Russian troops retreat hundreds of miles The peasants also move east and burn their own villages, fields, and countryside – called scorched earth tactic – Napoleon finally reaches Moscow and finds it mostly deserted and in flames – lacked supplies and food – “Great Retreat” across Russia in horrible winter conditions Starvation and freezing temperatures kill thousands and only 40,000 make it out in Jan. 1813

Downfall First defeat and exile – Napoleon’s army is weakened, so Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia ally against France Defeat Napoleon’s new army and in March of 1814 they capture Paris – Napoleon surrenders and gives up his throne Gets to keep the title of emperor The brother of the beheaded Louis XVI is made the new king of France – Napoleon is exiled to the island of Elba off the coast of Italy and is allowed 400 guards

Napoleon’s Return – The Hundred Days – Napoleon escapes and starts making his way back to Paris in early 1815 Troops sent to capture him join him instead The new king Louis XVIII flees Napoleon arrives in Paris to cheering crowds – He raises a new army and starts to reconquer Europe and his enemies gather once again This is known as the Hundred Days Battle of Waterloo – June 18, 1815 – Final confrontation of Napoleon’s troops against British troops led by the Duke of Wellington – Napoleon is decisively defeated

Betrayals, hemorrhoids Huge numbers of casualties on both sides – Napoleon flees to a port, but is soon captured The second exile – This time the Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena, a volcanic island in the South Atlantic that is 1,200 miles from the nearest mainland – Napoleon dies there six years later