French Revolution: Napoleon pre-1800

Napoleon's early life?

- born in Corsica (often bullied and could play a part in his massive determination)

- His father (Carlo) was a lawyer who had connections in Paris

- Joseph and Nap attended an aristocratic military school (due to their father's connection

- showed determination and expertise in artilillery

what was Napoleon appointed to due to his connections? (Toulon)

- Robespierre's brother (Augustine) and Saliceti led to his promotion to the Commander of Artlirery in Toulon

What was the Battle of Toulon? When was it?

- September 1793

- Toulon had been taken by British forces (threat of external invasion and exacerbated internal fears of revolution ending)

- French Victory

Napoleon's skills in Toulon?

- Napoleon proposed the plan to defeat the British= place artilirery in a vantage point overlooking the Port of Toulon to give the French an advantage = worked and proved his genius in military tactics

- suffered a bayonet wound but kept on fighting = highlighted his courage

Napoleon's luck in Toulon?

- he was appointed in the first place due to political connections

- His connections convinced higher-ups in Toulon to actually go ahead with his plan

impact of Toulon for Napoleon?

- Promoted to Brigadier General in December 1793

- increased popularity and recognition

significance of Toulon?

- showed increased Reliance on army to diminish external threat

- increased power of Napoleon

Nap's luck to be involved in Vendemaire?

- recommened by Barras who had met him in Toulon

Napoleon's involvement in Vendemiare uprising?

- 5th October 1795

- Convention faced massive uprest and needed protection

- Nap used "whiff of grapeshot" to disperse the crowds= highlighted his skillful use of artilirery

-earned him promotion as Commander of the Interior

impact of Vendemaire for Nap?

- He was promoted as Commander of the interior

- Increased recognition

impact of Vendemaire for Directory?

- highlighted increased reliance on Napoleon and army

- emphasised Royalist opposition

why was Napoleon appointed to lead army in Italy?

- Connection to Barras

- connection to Josephine

- successes in Vendemaire and Toulon

Napoleon's Italian Campaign?

- 1796-1797

Napoleon's aim for Italian Campaign?

- aimed to divide his enemies and take army into Northern Italy= where he could spread revolutionary ideas, plunder and open up an invasion for Austria

French tactic to advance through Italy?

- French aidmed to defeat the piedmontese and then advance into the Austrian Tyrol through Milan

Napoleon's skills in Italian Campaign?

- Rapid movements and concentration of forces led to series of Victories in April 1796 and Piedmontese wanted to make peace = Napoleon advanced through Milan

- Austrians faced a young, dynamic general with superior tactics, effective use of artilirery and ability to motivate forces

- effectively fought-back against Austrian counter-attacks at Mantua

Napoleon's heroic incidents in Italian Campain? impact?

- Storming of Bridge Lodi and Napoloen's personal involvement in Battle of Bridge Arcola

- boosted his reputation and support of the French people

where were the Austrians defeated by Nap in the Italian campaign?

- Rivoli

what did Napoleon do after success in Italy?

- Set up the Cisalpine Republic and invaded Papal states as well as occuping the city of Venice

- Napoleon returned to Paris in December 1797 as a hero

- signed the Treaty of Campo Formio

Treaty of Campo Formio?

- October 1797 = personally negotiated by Napoleon

- gave France the Austrian Netherlands and the Cisalpine Republic

- ceded Venice to Austria

impact of Italian Campaign?

- increased popularity and highlighted his apparent genius

- ensured a steady stream of Plunder for France

reasons to undermine Nap's successes in Italian Campaign? (luck/favourable circumstances)

- Piedemontese gave up w/o a decisive defeat and he was lucky they wanted seperate peace terms than Austria

- Napoleon had 41,000 battle-hardened troops (not weak)

- faced inexperienced troops who were not led in unity

- Austrian generals also faced threats from other parts of Europe

Battle of Ceva?

- April 1796 = unsuccessful attack on Piedmontese base = more French losses but nevertheless Piedmontese commander wanted to withdraw

Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign?

- July 1798

- reasons for the Egyptian Campaign?

- it would be a blow for Britain = distrupt trade routes

- Egypt could be used as a base for future invasion of India= Napoleon's personal glory as he wanted to follow the paths of Alexander the Great

- public imagination and would give French Prestige

when did Nap land in Egypt and with who?

- Landed on the 1st of July 1798

- 35,000 soldiers

- accompanied by "Les Savants"

which group really controlled Egypt under Ottoman control?

Mamaluks

Skills in Egyptian Campaign?

- Superior tactics and use of artilirery made quick work of the mamaluks

which battles emphasises French dominance against mamaluks?

- Battle of the Pyramids

- success in the conquest of Cairo

when was the battle of the Pyramids?

- 21st July 1798

where were the French defeated and by who in Egypt?

- Defeated in Battle of the Nile (at Aboukir Bay) by the British which was led by Sir Nelson

what did Nap do in the face of defeat in Egypt?

- retreated back to paris w/o direct orders

lucky/ favourable circumstances of Egyptian Campaign?

- Mamaluks were relatively weak

- Napoleon exaggerated Victories

- campaign was celebrated despite failiures

impact of Egyptian campaign?

- Increased Napoleons support massively because he fullfilled the need for a public hero in France = approaced by Sieyes for the Coup of Brummaire

Was the Egyptian Campaign successful?

no= in practicality it was not because British naval commander Nelson ruined French ships and was forced to stay in Gaza and Jaffa which reinforced British dominance in Egypt

yes= good for propaganda as Napoleon exaggerated his victories and made use of Egyptian fascination ; allowed him to gain even more power

Was the Italian Campaign successful?

- Yes = took key territories in Italy and defeated external threats for some time + gained him support and recognition

- no = Campo Formio was not all beneficial for France and the extent to which the Italian Campaign had succeeded could be exaggerated

Coup of Brummaire?

- 9th November 1799

what was the Coup of Brummaire?

- Joseph tricked the council of 500 to go to st Cloud due to a Jacobin coup = was a lie

- Napoleon used his troops to force the councils under his control

- started the Counselate

why was Napoleon selected for the Coup of Brummaire?

- had strong public appeal and recognition

- strong loyalty of troops

- successes in campaigns and battles made Sieyes recognise him