NAPOLEÓN BONAPARTE: HISTORY’S ULTIMATE SELF-MADE MAN Jim Werbaneth La Roche College HIST October 2011

The Early Life of Napoleone di Buonaparte Born in Corsica 15 August Family origins were in the minor Italian nobility. Commissioned in the French royal army in Problematic early career, fighting sometimes for, and sometimes against, anti-French Corsican rebels. Lengthy leaves of absence from the French army.

The Making of Napoleón Bonaparte French Revolution Republican sympathies, and connections with the Robespierre family; recommended to Maximilien Robespierre by his brother in Planned French victory in Siege of Toulon, September-December “A whiff of grapeshot” in defense of the National Assembly against a Royalist mob, 3 October 1795.

Napoleón’s First Italian Campaign

Napoleón assigned to Army of Italy in 1795 in order to consign him to obscurity. Army in terrible condition when Napoleón took command. Conducted brilliant campaign to drive Austria out of northern Italy and threaten Vienna.

Napoleón’s Egyptian Adventure Invaded Egypt in Defeated Mamelukes at the Battle of the Pyramids Fleet destroyed by Horatio Nelson in the Battle of the Nile. Abortive invasion of Syria. Abandoned his army on 24 August 1799 to return to France and seize power. Failures in Middle East spun to look like victory.

The General’s Home Life Married to older woman, Joséphine de Beauharnais. Incapable of bearing more children. Loved her, but unfaithful. She was unfaithful to him.

The First Consul and Ruler of France Seized power in Paris on 9 November Major accomplishments: –Invention of Egyptology ― Brought scientists, scholars and artists to Egypt. –Legal reformation and the Napoleonic Code. –Institution of metric system. –Emancipation of Jews. –Second Italian Campaign and Battle of Marengo in 1800.

Empereur Napoleón 1er

Crowned himself Emperor of the French on 2 December 1804 in Notre Dame de Paris. Emperor of the French, NOT Emperor of France. Placed himself on an equal footing as the oldest dynasties of Europe, as a self-made monarch.

Napoleón the Warlord Years of Victory –1805: War with Austria and Russia, Victory at Austerlitz. –1806: War with Prussia, Victories at Jena and Auerstadt. –1807: Polish Campaign against Russia and Prussian refugee units ― Meeting with “Brother Emperor” Alexander I at Tilsit. Continually opposed, to the end of his career and even his life, by Britain.

Napoleón the Warlord Years of Decline 1808: War with Austria, Battle of Wagram –Divorce of Empress Joséphine –Marriage to Marie Louise ― Now son-in-law of Emperor Joseph I of Austria –Birth of “King of Rome” and establishment of dynasty Start of Peninsular War

Napoleón the Warlord Years of Decline –1812: The Russian Campaign –1813: The War of German Liberation: Conflict with Russia, Prussia, Austria –1814: Campaigns in northeastern France Fall of Paris 31 March 1814 Abdication and exile to Elba

The Emperor Returns Return from exile 1 March Return to power 20 March Declared an international outlaw on 13 March. Battle of Waterloo 19 June 1815.

The Emperor In Exile ― Again Sent to British island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic. Isolated from European affairs and family ― Marie Louise and young son taken to her family in Vienna. Died 5 May –Natural causes? –Murder?