A-Level History: Napoleon Bonaparte to 1807

1796 / 1797

- The success of the Italian campaign was useful propaganda, cultivated a loyal army – more loyal to him than the government – which was imperative to the success of the coup of Brumaire, seen as a 'national hero'

- showcased that the Directory was dependent on Bonaparte – e.g., signing the armistice with Austria in April 1797; Directory was furious but forced to accept – which laid foundations for the Treaty of Campo Formio in October that same year

How did the revolutionary wars help Napoleon gain power?: Italian campaign

1798

- associated with scientific and cultural advancement by bringing scientists to Egypts who made discoveries such as the Rosetta Stone and bringing back items from Egypt to France at a time when there was an excitement surrounding them

- some military successes, such as the Battle of the Pyramids. HOWEVER: ultimately a failure at Aboukir Bay so not very significant

- most importantly successful propaganda where Napoleon exaggerated how successful the campaign was

How did the revolutionary wars help Napoleon gain power?: Egyptian campaign

1793

- this success earned him a rapid promotion from captain to Brigadier general. - militarily competent, and caught the eye of key revolutionary figures such as Augustin Robespierre (brother of Robespierre) and other prominent Jacobins

- HOWEVER: his association with Jacobins could have jeopardised his career due to the subsequent Thermidorian reaction if it wasn't for the Vendemaire Uprising

How did the revolutionary wars help Napoleon gain power?: Siege of Toulon

-Apathy (lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern).

- Napoleon used propaganda e.g. The Great Survey of Year IX and The State of France at the end of year VIII said by 1799 there was widespread poverty due to a decline in trade and the country was on the brink of invasion from the Second Coalition

By 1799 the role of the army in civilian politics had become an accepted fact. However, their role had changed from the early years of the Directory, and the Directory only realised this when they had handed control of the 8000 soldiers in Paris over to Napoleon, who refused to take the oath of loyalty to the Directory despite their demands

The coup of Brumaire 1799: public opinion

- His backing of Brumaire helped ensure that there was no popular rising to save the Directory due to his 'hero' status

- Brumaire required support from the army – N's involvement ensured that the army would not obstruct

These soldiers were well aware of Napoleon's reputation within the army and knew as well that he had arranged for his soldiers in Italy to be paid half their wages in gold and silver, rather than the depreciated paper money. Napoleon promised the soldiers of Paris to remedy their main grievances: a shortage of tobacco, decent footwear and delays in payment of their wages.

The coup could not have been carried out without the intimidating presence of the army at Saint-cloud and it was Napoleon's reputation which ultimately secured their trust in him

HOWEVER: Sieyes initially wanted Moreau showcasing that any army leader was wanted, not Napoleon himself

The coup of Brumaire (1799): Napoleon's role, reputation and ambition

- Reason why Sieyes wanted a coup in the first place was to strengthen the gov

- Internal divisions of the Directory between the left and right meant that they were very vulnerable

- Increasing reliance on the army had increased the army's power to crush uprisings such as the Prairial Uprising

The coup of Brumaire (1799): weakness of the directory

- sent to military schools such as the prestigious École Militaire in Paris – which allowed him to gain military skills such as artillery fire, which was imperative to him crushing the Vendémiaire uprising

- father was a minor noble in Corsica which allowed him to be able to move to Paris (but Napoleon took advantage of these opportunities greatly)

How did Napoleon's early life help him rise to power?

- leadership and decisive skills helped him get such significant army loyalty that he had little opposition during the Coup of Brumaire

- clever use of propaganda – especially in the Egyptian campaign despite failures at Aboukir Bay

How did Napoleon's character help him to rise to power?

- Making himself first Consul (Constitution of the Year VIII in 1799) allowed him to have complete control of events home and abroad

- Reduced the power of the 2 other Consuls

- Use of patronage allowed him to have the support of wealthy members – and meant that they were less likely to work against him – link to political opponents

Did this to ensure that political opponents couldn't attack

How did Napoleon consolidate his authority – from Consul to Emperor – directly increasing his own power

- Controlling and supervising all govt appointments to the Senate and Council of State (who were already appointment by N) so that those below him couldn't work together against him

- Becoming Emperor with a line of succession in May 1804 reduced power of potential opposition for his children

- used censorship

- improved surveillance through expanding the role of the police under the Ministry of General Police , Fouche

How did Napoleon consolidate his authority - from Consul to Emperor: strengthening authority over political opponents

- 1800 plebiscite was rigged with only 1500 votes against to gain legitimacy in order to have authority over opposition, as he has the people's support

- More plebiscites in 1802 and 1804 during times of major changes, e.g., when N was to be declared as emperor, showcase how much N wanted the public's support – especially after seeing the power of the sans-culottes

- Being crowned with the Pope present 2nd December 1804 further provided 'religious' legitimacy – important as France is still majorly Catholic – alongside 1801 concordat

HOWEVER the public was still relatively apathetic – shown by almost ½ of those who were eligible to vote not voting in the 1800 plebiscite – and gained legitimacy so that it was harder for others to take power away from him

How did Napoleon consolidate his authority – from consul to Emperor: Gained more legitimacy to rule increasingly alone

- contrasted previous governments during the revolution, especially the Directory such as through his military successes and the centralisation of power (hence efficient governing)

- assassination attempts largely made the Senate approve N becoming 'Emperor' in May 1804 and making the title hereditary

EV: We can suggest that stability was the most important reason because if it was solely Napoleon's success, then surely only he would be given this title – not his descendants.

Why was Napoleon given more power: stability

- plebiscite showcased that people wanted him to rule and provided him further legitimacy to rule – despite 1800 one being rigged and over ½ of those who could vote not doing so, he gained this support through his propaganda campaigns and military successes, i.e in Italy and economic reforms, such as establishing the Bank of France and the consequent stabilisation of the currency via the Franc Germinal which was harder to reduce the value of as it was backed by precious metals such as Gold and Silver

EV: Not inherently most important, as there was still some political apathy – having this support also made his position more stable, as the Directory didn't have popular support

Why was Napoleon given more power: popular support

- Constitution X made him a de facto dictator by reducing the power of the 2 other Consuls

- appointing the Senate and Council of State - utilising patronage to reduce wealthy opposition, reducing the desire to oppose Napoleon

EV: By reducing this opposition, he was able to make France more stable internally, which allowed him to win more wars outside of France, which increased his popular support and further stabilised his position.

Why was Napoleon given more power: reducing the power of political opponents

Napoleon imposed greater control over finance, improving tax collection efficiency and establishing the Bank of France in 1800. The introduction of a stable currency, the franc de germinal 1803, due to the use of gold and silver, aimed to stabilise the economy and avoid inflation.

Free market capitalism

REFORMS TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF FRANCE

Financial changes under Napoleon

Negotiated Treaty of Tilsit helped the dissolution of the 4th coalition

Tactics – Living off Land, Corps system, Speed of Manoeuvre, Diamond formation, Strategy of central position (fighting one army before able to join up with another.)

Inspired Loyalty

Reasons for military success: Napoleon's leadership and tactics

ENEMIES STILL USED OLD FASHIONED TACTICS (Linear formations)

BRITAIN FELT ISOLATED SO THEY HAD THE 1802 TEMPORARY PEACE OF AMIENS WITH FRANCE

- Fragmentation and internal disagreements within coalitions, such as the Third Coalition, contributed to their inability to mount a unified and effective opposition against French expansionism.

SEEN IN DISJOINTED ATTACKS - 1806 BATTLE OF JENA

Reasons for military success: Enemy weakness

• Mass conscription (levée en masse): Created huge armies of citizen-soldiers with high morale and nationalistic motivation.

• Promotion by merit: Skilled officers rose through the ranks, improving leadership and effectiveness. (Masséna)

• Flexible corps system: Allowed independent manoeuvres and rapid deployment across multiple fronts. - Gave more power to capable generals.

• Superior training

• High morale: Many soldiers believed they were fighting for liberty and the nation, not just a monarch.

Reasons for military success: Strength of the French Army.

Nationalism and morale: Soldiers fought for the nation and revolutionary ideals (liberty, equality), not just for a monarch.

Could’ve caused defection from enemy armies – sympathetic to revolution.

Less resistance to conscription – quicker to create an army.

Reasons for military success: the legacy of the French Revolution