1. Napoleon: Most successful military leader in Europe’s history?

2. Napoleon: The Man, the Myth, the Legend
Emperor of France from , and again in 1815
Recognized as one of the greatest military commanders of all time
Heavily influenced by the Enlightenment
Wrote constitutions for many of the nations he conquered!
Conquered most of Europe through the Napoleonic Wars
Except Russia… Russia is famously hard to defeat.

4. Napoleon’s Rise
After the reign of terror, in 1799, Napoleon staged a coup d’etat & took control of the French government
Crowned himself emperor in 1804
French people accepted loss of political rights
Why?
They believed he would provide stability & defeat France’s enemies.
He was a military genius!

5. Napoleonic Wars
In 10 years Napoleon conquered & ruled most of Europe including Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, and some kingdoms in Italy
He spread revolutionary ideas by writing constitutions for the countries he conquered.
Failure: invading Russia in the winter
European states revolted, invaded France, & restored the monarchy (Louis XVIII)
He was exiled (twice!) by the British, eventually dying on the island of Elba

6. Napoleon’s Empire

7. Napoleon’s Legacy
Napoleonic Code: abolished privileges based on birth, promoted religious tolerance, and stated government jobs should go to the most qualified
Ended feudalism in Europe
His control of monarchies in Europe led to independence movements in Latin America
Continued hatred between British and French
Sale of Louisiana Purchase to the US
Tons more land to USA!
Confederation of the Rhine led to consolidation Germany (bringing Germany together under one rule)

8. Significance of Napoleon’s Reign
After Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna met and restored the balance of power in Europe (reinstated monarchies)
The French Revolution fueled a sense of nationalism in France – begins nationalism in Europe
Nationalism fuels the competition between European countries that culminates in WWI.

9. Exiled Napoleon