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Napoleon's rule over France
Reform of Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon's rule over France
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In the century after Napoleon’s exiles in 1814, 1815 and later death in 1821 there were several regime changes in France which had varying attitudes towards Napoleon and therefore put his memory in differing levels of significance. It is my intention to show that although Napoleon had his enemies in France, in the centuries after his death, he remained a significant figure whether through fear of the so-called ‘man on horseback’ or in reverence. In the immediate change in regime resulting from Napoleon’s exile the Bourbons were reinstituted as rulers of France. Napoleon’s political significance post-First Empire is reduced by the vast change in government that occurred under the Bourbons and the Comte D’Artois, who Artz states: ‘Prided himself …show more content…
However, this does not mean that Napoleon was universally loved, Chateaubriand in 1814 constantly refers to him as ‘the madman’ and tried to alienate him from the French people by addressing him as ‘Buonaparte’ and therefore accentuating the fact that Napoleon was indeed, a foreigner. Furthermore, Artz makes the statement that: ‘Finally with the fall of Napoleon the distracted country entered on a more peaceful and freer political life’ this most likely refers to how the new regime was unlike the previous monarchy in that it was constitutional not an absolute monarchy. In all, the significance of Napoleon was undoubtedly affected by the political and societal changes experienced during the Bourbon restoration although the fact that he is discussed and how he returned in the 100 days of 1815 shows how significant he still was to the French people. The July Monarchy took over from the Bourbons in the ‘three glorious days’ revolution in July of 1830, where Louis- Philippe declared himself king of the French. Napoleon’s significance is shown in this period by how the republicans, in order to increase support for themselves according to Dubreton: ‘adopted his great name’ and proceeded to associate themselves more and more with Napoleon. This was important as Napoleon was more significant during this period as the …show more content…
This evidently shows how changes in society and politics brought on by the defeat of Louis Napoleon had reduced the significance of Napoleon in the era as he was now associated with his nephew and the defeat that he endured. However, although Bonapartism had all but disappeared in politics he was still prominent in the people’s hearts and minds as ‘After a brief hiatus in the early years of the third republic, public interest in all things Napoleon had revived’. Datta supports this view as he claims ‘The period of 1890 until the First World War witnessed a flowering of the Napoleonic cult in France’. This is shown by many things, for example the arts; L’Aiglon was a play written about Napoleon’s son, which translates as ‘The Eaglet’, a flattering name if there ever was one, which shows Napoleon and his son in a very
During his rule, Napoleon called himself an emperor, but he acted like the kings before him. The French Revolution stood against the idea of one leader with all authority over one country and promoted liberty, equality, and fraternity. The French citizens did not glorify Napoleon as a king because he gave his people sovereignty over political situations. He used plebiscites or voting to spread equality, however, the majority was always in favor of Napoleon. This happened due to fear because he was the strongest man in Europe at the time. He idolized himself as a hero, saving the French people from the
Napoleon Bonaparte’s attitude towards the French Revolution is one that has often raised questions. That the revolution had an influence on Bonaparte’s regime cannot be denied – but to what extent? When one looks at France after Napoleon’s reign it is clear that he had brought much longed for order and stability. He had also established institutions that embodied the main principles of the revolution. However, it is also evident that many of his policies directly contradict those same principles. Was Napoleon betraying the same revolution that gave him power, or was he merely a pragmatist, who recognised that to consolidate the achievements of the revolution he needed to sacrifice some of those principles?
Napoleon Bonaparte ruled in France from 1789 to 1815. Napoleon came to power in 1789 and immediately became a powerful figure in the French government. However, some thought Napoleon was such a great leader. The Napoleonic Empire started to grow France’s territories. Some might have believed that Napoleon was too eager with his rule, while losing and failing to succeed against the power of England, in an attempt to blockade their trade, and of Russia, where he led his army to a defeat and retreat back to France. Even in his success over Spain, the battle still costed Napoleon and his army in men and resources. Napoleon was mostly viewed as a powerful and militaristic leader in some aspects, but others saw him as a coward and terrible leader in other ways.
Only a year before Napoleon was born, Genoa had been forced to sell Corsica to France. In one of history’s amazing coincidences, this would forever tie Napoleon to France, even going so far as to change his name to a more French sounding name. Had Genoa kept hold of Corsica, Napoleon would have been born an Italian, and the thousands of books since written about him would have ceased to exist. Alas, fate had a role to play, and Napoleon found himself a part of a minor noble family in an island wishing for independence. From a young age Napoleon would wish to be a part of the struggle to regain sovereignty for Corsica. Here is where he would become fascinated with history in an attempt to write a history of his homeland. At that time one could not learn about history without learning about the great empire of Rome. This knowledge of Rome would influence Napoleon’s actions for the rest of his life.
Beginning in mid-1789, and lasting until late-1799, the French Revolution vastly changed the nation of France throughout its ten years. From the storming of the Bastille, the ousting of the royal family, the Reign of Terror, and all the way to the Napoleonic period, France changed vastly during this time. But, for the better part of the last 200 years, the effects that the French Revolution had on the nation, have been vigorously debated by historian and other experts. Aspects of debate have focused around how much change the revolution really caused, and the type of change, as well as whether the changes that it brought about should be looked at as positive or negative. Furthermore, many debate whether the Revolutions excesses and shortcomings can be justified by the gains that the revolution brought throughout the country. Over time, historians’ views on these questions have changed continually, leading many to question the different interpretations and theories behind the Revolutions effectiveness at shaping France and the rest of the world.
Napoleon was a military general that participated in multiple war victories. His interests included history, law, and mathematics. His strengths as a leader benefitted in planning financial, legal, and military plans. His aspiring attitude made him believe he was destined to be the savior of France (Coffin & Stacey, 494). He favored a republic over a constitutional monarchy. When Napoleon came to power, he immediately consolidated personal power by overthrowing the five-man Directory and created a Republic. Napoleon used his status and power during the Revolution to bring out and surface Revolution ideals and help his people. Napoleon’s role in European history was the savior of the French Revolution due to the fact he accomplished most objectives that the people hoped for. Goals of the French Revolution included overthrowing the old regime of an absolute monarch, write a basic and worthy constitution, and give more rights to the third estate and limit the first and second estates power in the Estates-General.
One of Napoleon’s first areas of concern was in the strengthening of the French government. He created a strong centralized government and pretty much got rid of the hundreds of localized law codes that had existed during under the control of the monarchy. He also created an army of government officials. He had the entire country linked under a rational administration. He also was able to get an easy supply of taxes and soldiers under his new and improved French government. Before he could get very far, however, he had to gain public favor and shape the public opinion. To do this he used reforms of propaganda and thus caused people to think that they were getting the better end of the deal, but were actually, subconsciously giving Napoleon their approval for his actions. Among some of the methods he used for propaganda included getting all of the printers and book sellers to swear an oath to Napoleon and all newspapers fell under state control, so Napoleon gained access to almost everything that the citizens of France were able to read. Many of the gains from the French Revolution were kept, such as equality before the law, and careers open to talent. Some anti-revolution actions that Napoleon took included repressing liberty, restoring absolutism, and ending political liberty. He believed that allowing political freedom would end with a state of anarchy. He believed that he could solve these problems by acting in favor of the people’s interests as an enlightened desp...
French citizens did not dare question his authority, as they respected him more than their former absolute monarch, King Louis XVI. During Napoleon’s reign, France participated in many gruesome battles, building a reputation as one of the most powerful countries in Europe. Napoleon’s armed forces carried the nationalistic ideologies of the French revolution. Soon, nationalism would be regarded a political epidemic poisoning neighbouring kingdoms and empires, many of which were multi-nation states. Collective groups who were forced to co-exist with one another were outraged, as they believed that they all deserved their own territory and sovereignty. If the revolution was able to transform France into the most powerful nation on the continent, why wouldn’t it work out for everyone else? Soon enough, nationalism would be dividing nation-states rather than unifying
After the Napoleonic era, the Congress of Vienna restored King Louis XVIII to power in France. The French government now consisted of a king, constitution, and a legislature, but the king still had the most power. Charles X inherited the throne, after his brother Louis XVIII died. King Charles X wanted to rule as an absolute monarch, but the citizens got angry and rebelled. This became known as the Revolution on 1830 and caused Charles to flee to England. Moderate liberals now formed a constitutional monarchy and Louis Philippe was chosen as the new king. By dressing and acting like a normal citizen, Louis Philippe gained popularity among the middle class citizens. Many French people referred to him as the “citizen king.” Louis Philippe increased the number of wealthy citizens that could vote, limited the freedom of the press, and began to silence those who opposed him. These actions gradually made him seem less like a citizen and more like a king. In 1846, an economic depression made life difficult in France for everyone but the wealthy. The economic depression led to ano...
Furet, Francois ‘Napoleon Bonaparte’ in G, Kates(ed.) The French Revolution: Recent Debates and New Controversies Clarendon Press, Oxford (1997)
Kirchberger, Joe H. The French Revolution and Napoleon. New York: Facts on File inc, 1989.
Even though Napoleon did not gain control until one year before the next century, the people of France no longer wanted their revolution. For my conclusion, I would like to step back and deliver my own opinion. In my brief time on this planet, I have never come across a more brutal. depiction of a man at his worst. The sad truth is that events of this nature have occurred with amazing regularity.
Napoleon Bonaparte was an interesting ruler in that he was compromised of attributes of both a tyrant and a hero. Napoleon had a strong following throughout his reign and even during his two exiles. He was the emperor of France between 1799 and 1815, following the fall of the Directory. Despite the efforts of the French Revolution to rid the country of an autocratic ruler, Bonaparte came to power as Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte I in 1804. He claimed that he preserved the goals of the Revolution, which can be easily argued as his rule became more dictatorial as it progressed. Despite his departure from some of the gains of the Revolution, he overall was a hero for the French people. Through his military ventures, political changes and social reform, Napoleon proved himself as a hero. This is not to say that there were aspects of his reign that were tyrannical, but he was overall beneficial for France.
For Napoleon the beginning of ‘800 is a turning point, and in this moment he gave prove of his military capabilities but also of his propagandistic abilities. While commanding the Army of Italy, for example, Bonaparte owned two minor newspapers, the Courrier de l'Armée d'Italie and La France vue de l'Armée d'Italie. Both were used to narrate the heroic deeds of his soldiers and keep up the spirit of the troops in a foreign land. Bonaparte began to shape a favorable public image through his careful wording and strategic use of his bulletins, dispatches, and proclamations.
Certain individuals approved of Napoleon's reign as the saviour of France. He finished and completed the Revolution by fulfilling the ideals the people of France demanded. A person such as one belonging to the bourgeoisie, or even a peasant would be very satisfied with the way Napoleon ruled over the country. He gave them equality, freedom, justice, and many rights. Such things never existed during the reign of the monarchs before Napoleon stepped in. A banker too would be very affirmative on how Napoleon had truly helped France in its economic problems. He made the franc the most stable currency in Europe, and the banker had witnessed that, as probably one of the bankers of the Bank of France. Another type of individual that agrees that Napoleon isn't the destroyer of the ideals of the Revolution would be his soldiers and generals. He had fought alongside with his men in many battles. Through inspiration, he gained their loyalty, to "follow him to the stars" if he asked them to. Such inspiration would never be gained if he never respected them, if he never treated them fairly. And then, the "Legion of Honour", which awarded to some certain citizens for their civil and military achievements.