Napoleonic Rule

Background

  • Napoleon was born in Corsica as an Italian and became a French citizen at the age of 1.

  • In 1799, Napoleon launched a coup against the Directory. Napoleon became a dictator.

  • He became an emperor for life after winning a plebiscite (yes/no vote)

Napoleon’s Rule as Leader

  • Napoleon was immediately at war with the Second Coalition (countries united against France).

    • The Second Coalition was formed as other European monarchs wanted a monarchy restored in France. Against revolution coalition.

    • Napoleon won this war and was beloved by all of France.

General Reforms

  • Freedom of worship

  • Stabilized food prices

  • Class equality

  • Rebuilding Paris-post revolution

  • Removal of Robespierre’s 10 day week.

Legal reforms

  • Napoleonic Code - single set of laws for all France. Removed the contradictory monotony of laws that previously governed France.

    • Equality of law

    • Basic liberties

    • Restored slavery

    • Limits on the rights of women

    • Limits on political rights, freedom of speech and press. → still more than pre-revolution

    • No laws upon Napoleon.

Class Reforms

  • Clergy

    • Improved Catholic status

    • Gave back land

    • Dropped state control of the Church

  • Nobility

    • Enabled return of Nobility from exile

    • Gave back land & political status

  • Bourgeoise

    • Stabilizing markets and trade

    • Lowered taxes

  • Peasants

    • Provided jobs

    • Stabilized & lowered food prices

Napoleon as a military leader was beloved. He rode a wave of victories and was seen as an awesome general who fought with his men.

Napoleon’s Three Blunders

  1. Invasion of Spain - replaced the old king and implemented his brother Joseph as King. With the British, Spain fought back and Napoleon had to back out.

  2. Continental System - Napoleon tried to have all of Europe isolate trade with Britain, but it backfired with British aggression.

    1. Battle of Trafalgar - Napoleon lost to the British navy, first major defeat.

  3. Russia - in 1812, Napoleon invades Russia. Because of the cold weather, Napoleon came back with 10,000 troops from 400,000.

Whilst Napoleon suffered his blunders, the Coalition came together to defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig / Battle of Nations in 1813.

As a result, Napoleon is forced into exile in Elba.

Napoleon’s Return to Power

  • The Bourbon family was reinstated as King; Louis XVIII became King, brother of Louis XVI.

  • Napoleon escaped Elba whilst Louis fled to Belgium. Napoleon regains full power.

  • Napoleon then attacks British General Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. Napoleon loses.

  • Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena and will never escape.

Napoleon dies in 1821 due to a stomach ailment.

Legacies of Napoleon

Napoleonic Code

  • a comprehensive code of laws

    • removed diverse, contradicting laws, therefore a new body of laws were necessary.

  • now the Civil Code of France

  • all male citizens equal, extinguishes class privilage

  • laws of persons: civil rights

  • laws of property: reintroduction of slavery → controvercial

  • still in use in Belgium, Luxembourg and Monaco.

Financial system

  • Bank de France: post-revolution economic recovery.

  • still exists, was the issuer of bank notes for Paris.

Military academies & central universities

  • Saint-Cyr was founded by Napoleon, one of France’s top military academies.

  • University of France, responsible for primary, secondary and individual education, was a central university.

Judicial system

  • Napoleon created the Imperial Court

    • a unifying court over all of France, thereby limiting regional differences. → developing a cohesive civic nation.

Geographic

  • dissolution of the Holy Roman empire.

  • The Louisiana Purchase, selling French colonies to America.

Culture & Arts

  • Through the universities, arts in France flourished during Napoleon’s rule.