Napoleon Bonaparte

1. Napoleon Bonaparte

2. Biography • Not French…Corsican (not wealthy but noble family) (Short?) • Went to a French military school and became an artillery commander. Joined the revolutionary army in 1792 as a captain • 1794 made brigadier general • Sent to Egypt to strike at British wealth in 1798 • Victory at the Battle of the Pyramids (Mamelukes) took Cairo • Marooned when Nelson destroyed his fleet at the Battle of The Nile (Aboukir Bay) • His troops discovered the Rosetta Stone in 1799

3. Coup D’etat • Napoleon learned form his brother Lucien that the Directory was weak • November 1799 the 30 year old Napoleon organized a military coup • Napoleon became First Consul (of three) of a new government called The Consulate • Controlled the entire gov’t • 1802 first consul for life • 1804 Emperor

4. Domestic policy under Napoleon • Tried to please everyone (order and stability) • Cut a deal that preserved the gains of the moderate revolution (The Napoleonic Code of 1804) • Equality before the law, advancement based on merit • Freedom of religion • Security of property and wealth • National bank • Tariffs • No unions or strikes • No sefdom • Missing? (free speech, free press, democracy, women’s rights to divorce were curtailed)

5. More domestic policy • Emigres: after taking a loyalty oath they were invited back and given government jobs • Roman Catholics: The Concordat of 1801 with Pope Pious VII to restore stability • Church gave up claim to lost land in return for veto power over nominated priests • Church regained its support

6. War in Europe • In 1802 Napoleon was elected first consul for life and began to turn his attentions to dealing with France’s enemies • Austria: French armies defeated the Austrians and forced them to surrender all of their possessions in Italy as well as land on the West bank of the Rhine River • Great Britain: Agreed to return a number of Islands they had seized during the revolution. However Napoleon’s aggressive actions on the continent angered Great Britain. He begins preparations to invade England • Napoleon used the renewal of fighting as an excuse to have himself proclaimed Emperor in 1804 (Pope crowned him Emperor of the French)

7. The Battle of Trafalgar 1805 • October 21 1805 a combined French and Spanish Fleet was destroyed by Lord Horatio Nelson (Spain was an ally of France) • Fleet was not going to invade England (at this point) • However it made the eventual invasion of England impossible

9. Napoleon on the offensive • Austria, Russia Sweden and Great Britain and Prussia will all oppose him • December 1805 Napoleon begins a string of victories • Battles of Austerlitz, Jena , EylauFriedland • The Russians under General Kutuzov retreat • Treaty of Tilsit(Russia and France) • Tsar Alexander and Napoleon • From 1807-1812 Napoleon is master of Europe

10. The Napoleonic Empire • By 1807 Napoleon viewed himself as the Emperor of Europe (3 parts) • France: Belgium, Holland, N. Italy, Germany to the Rhine) • Dependant satellite Kingdoms: Family members usually placed on the throne (Ex: Spain) • Independent but allied nations: Austria, Prussia, and Russia. All of these countries had to support Napoleon’s Continental system to embargo trade with Great Britain

11. Napoleonic Empire

12. Napoleon’s impact on Europe • In France and the satellites he established French law • Abolished serfdom and feudal dues • However, this came at a heavy price in taxes and soldiers to support Napoleon and his army • In France people began to grow weary of conscription and constant warfare • The British began a blockade to counter the Continental system that hurt the economies of European nations

13. Revolts • 1808 Spain: led by Roman Catholics the Spanish begin to revolt against the Rule of Joseph Bonaparte who was installed as King in 1808 after the abdication of the King and Prince • Napoleon also offered an ultimatum to the Portuguese who were in violation of the Continental system • The people of Spain rose up when French troops came to Spain to support Joseph and invade Portugal • They were supported by the British who sent troops into what became known as the Peninsular War • Guerilla tactics

14. Russia • Tsar Alexander I had been in violation of the Continental system and in 1812 Napoleon finally confronts him • This will lead directly to the invasion of Russia in June of 1812 • The Grand Army of 614,000 men (only 1/3rd French

15. The Russian strategy • Alexander orders General Kutuzov and his 160,000 men to retreat to Moscow and burn everything that could be of use to the invading army (“scorched earth”) • Stretched the French supply lines • Made the fatal mistake of not stopping to winter in Smolensk • Napoleon was forced to fight the Battle of Borodino to a draw (30,000 Fr. 2x as many Russians dead) 70 miles outside Moscow (Sept 12th) • Napoleon arrives in Moscow Sept 14th but the Russians had burned Moscow and Napoleon spent 5 weeks awaiting the Tsar’s surrender

16. The French retreat • Napoleon had waited too long (mid October) and the Russian Winter had begun • Only 100,000 men would escape Russia • Napoleon raced home ahead of his forces to form another army of 85,000 • He refused an offer of peace from Austria • His enemies form the Quadruple Alliance (GB, Austria, Prussia, Russia)

17. The Battle of Leipzig (The Nations) • Napoleon waged a skillful campaign but was eventually defeated by alliance forces led by the Duke of Wellington in October of 1813 • At the end of March 1814 alliance forces marched into Paris • Napoleon abdicated and was forced into exile on the island of Elba • The victors restored the Bourbons in the person of Louis XVIII and created a constitutional monarchy

18. The 100 days • In February of 1815 Napoleon escaped from Elba island because the victors began to argue amongst themselves • March 1 1815 Napoleon landed in France and was met by French forces • Eventually he is defeated again at the Battle of Waterloo and exiled to St. Helena • Louis XVIII is once again restored but the peace settlement from the allies is much more harsh