The Napoleonic Era

Napoleon Bonaparte Attended military school at the age of nine, joined the French military at sixteen Supported the Revolution Served in several places during the early part of the revolutionary wars Became famous after protecting the National Convention in 1795 Led successful campaigns against Austria, Sardinia, Italy Became known as “the general”

Mother - LetiziaFather - Carlos

Siblings Joseph Lucien Louis Elise Pauline CarolineJerome

Napoleon’s Rise to Power Earlier military career  the Italian Campaigns: – –  he conquered most of northern Italy for France, and had developed a taste for governing. – –In northern Italy, he moved to suppress religious orders, end serfdom, and limit age- old noble privilege.

Earlier military career  the Egyptian Campaign: – –1798  he was defeated by a British navy under Admiral Horatio Nelson, who destroyed the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile. – –Abandoning his troops in Egypt, Napoleon returned to France and received a hero’s welcome!

Josephine marries Napoleon in 1796

Coup d’Etat, “Blow of state” By 1799 the corruption of the Directory along with the failing war effort against the Second Coalition left the government vulnerable Napoleon was put in charge of the military on November 9, 1799 The next day, he and his army seized power by overtaking the legislature, which then voted to end the Directory. The Directory was replaced with three consuls, and Napoleon was made First Consul

18 Brumaire (Nov. 9, 1799)  Coup d’état by Napoleon.  Approved by a plebiscite in December.  Abbe Sieyès: Confidence from below; authority from above.

Europe in 1800

First Consul Of France

Napoleon as First Consul With the government in disarray, Napoleon launched a successful coup d’ etat on November 9, He proclaimed himself “First Consul” [Julius Caesar’s title] and did away with the elected Assembly [appointing a Senate instead]. – –In 1802, he made himself sole “Consul for Life.” – –Two years later he proclaimed himself “Emperor.”

The Government of the Consulate Council of State – –Proposed the laws. – –Served as a Cabinet & the highest court. Tribunate – –Debated laws, but did not vote on them. Legislature – –Voted on laws, but did not discuss or debate them. Senate – –Had the right to review and veto legislation.

Napoleon's rule of France Napoleon appealed to many, like Abbé Sieyès, who looked for a strong military leader to end the country's upheaval. He maintained order and worked out important compromises.

Conquerors: Napoleon

Napoleon’s Achievements His Civil Code of 1804 granted the middle class equality under the law and safeguarded their right to own property. He confirmed the gains of the peasants.

He centralized the government, strengthened the bureaucracy, and granted amnesty to nobles. He signed the Concordat of 1801, which guaranteed freedom of worship for Catholics.

Concordat of 1801 Napoleon wanted to heal the divisions within the Catholic Church that had developed after the confiscation of Church property and the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. But, Napoleon’s clear intent was to use the clergy to prop up his regime.

Catholicism was declared the religion of the majority of Frenchmen. Papal acceptance of church lands lost during the Revolution. Bishops subservient to the regime. Eventually, Pope Pius VII renounced the Concordat, and Napoleon had him brought to France and placed under house arrest.

Lycee System of Education Established by Napoleon in 1801 as an educational reform. Lycées initially enrolled the nation’s most talented students [they had to pay tuition, although there was some financial help available for poorer student]. Lycées trained the nation’s future bureaucrats.

Napoleonic Code 1804 It divides civil law into: – –Personal status. – –Property. – –The acquisition of property. Its purpose was to reform the French legal code to reflect the principles of the Fr. Revolution. Create one law code for France.

Napoleon and his Code

“Consecration of the Emperor Napoleon & the Empress Josephine,” 1806 by David Coronation December 2, 1804

Empress Josephine

Josephine’s Bedroom

Napoleon’s Bedchamber

Napoleon’s Throne

The Imperial Image

The “Empire” Style Madame Recamier by David, 1808

Napoleon brought order and stability to France but betrayed the ideals of the Revolution by violating the rights of free speech and press and free elections. –1. Women had no political rights; they lost many gains they had made, and the Napoleonic Code reestablished the power of the male in the family. –2. There were harsh penalties for political offenses.

Napoleon's wars and foreign policy He defeated Austria (1801) and made peace with Britain (1802), the two remaining members of the Second Coalition. Another war (against the Third Coalition-- Austria, Russia, Sweden, and Britain) resulted in British naval dominance at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805).

The Third Coalition collapsed at Austerlitz (1805), and Napoleon reorganized the German states into the Confederation of the Rhine.

In 1806, Napoleon defeated the Prussians at Jena and Auerstädt. –1. In the Treaty of Tilsit (1807), Prussia lost half its population, while Russia accepted Napoleon's reorganization of western and central Europe. –2. Russia also joined with France in a blockade against British goods. (Continental System) Map

Napoleon divorces Josephine and marries Marie-Louise de Hapsburg

Josephine dies in 1814

Napoleon's Grand Empire in Europe meant French control of continental Europe. –1. Napoleon introduced many French laws, abolishing feudal dues and serfdom in the process. –2. However, he also levied heavy taxes. –3. French rule sparked patriotic upheavals and nationalism in other countries.

The beginning of the end for Napoleon came with the Spanish revolt (1808) and the British blockade. The French invasion of Russia in 1812 was a disaster for Napoleon--over 500,000 died or were taken prisoner. Napoleon was defeated by the Fourth Coalition (Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain) and abdicated his throne in 1814, only to be defeated again at Waterloo in The Bourbon dynasty was restored in France under Louis XVIII.

3 Big Mistakes Peninsular War with Spain Continental System Invasion of Russia

Napoleon and the French Army

French Governments of the Revolution Absolute Monarchy = Louis XVI National Assembly Legislative Assembly National Convention Directory = Council of Elders = Council of 500 = Council of 500 Consulate = 3 leaders Empire = Napoleon Hundred Days = Napoleon’s comeback 1815

The Congress of Vienna

The Leaders Metternich (Aus.) Alexander I Castlereah (Br.) Francis II (Aus.) Frederick William III (Prus.)Talleyrand (Fr.)

King Louis XVIII

By 1814, the conservative monarchs had defeated French armies and checked the spread of the French Revolution--but many questions remained unanswered.. After exiling Napoleon, European leaders at the Congress of Vienna try to restore order and reestablish peace.

Key Principles Established at Vienna VBalance of Power VLegitimacy VCompensation VBalance of Power VLegitimacy VCompensation eCoalition forces would occupy France for 3-5 years. eFrance would have to pay an indemnity of 700,000,000 francs. eCoalition forces would occupy France for 3-5 years. eFrance would have to pay an indemnity of 700,000,000 francs.

The European balance of power The victors (mainly the alliance of Russia, Austria, Prussia, and Great Britain) restored the French boundaries of 1792 and the Bourbon dynasty. They made other changes in the boundaries of Europe, establishing Prussia as a "sentinel" against France, and created a new kingdom out of Belgium and Holland. It was believed that the concept of the balance of power--an international equilibrium of political and military forces--would preserve peace in Europe.

But the demands of the victors, especially the Prussians and the Russians, for compensation threatened the balance. –1. The Russian demands for Poland and the Prussian wish for Saxony led to conflict among the powers. –2. Castlereagh, Metternich, and Talleyrand forced Russia and Prussia into a compromise whereby Russia got part of Poland and Prussia received two-fifths of Saxony.

Napoleon dies on St. Helena in 1821

Napoleon’s Tomb