5.6 - Napoleon's Rise, Dominance, and Defeat

Napoleon Bonaparte and the Aftermath of the French Revolution

• Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte

  • Following the chaos of the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte emerged as a leader who promised stability.

  • Napoleon rose to the rank of General by 1794 and gained a strong reputation for his military leadership in Italy.

  • Despite a failed campaign in Egypt, Napoleon returned to France and led a coup in 1799, overthrowing the Directory and establishing the Consulate with himself as First Consul.

  • By 1804, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I, marking a return to a form of monarchy in France, albeit with a different face.

• Why Did the French Accept Napoleon?

  • The radical phase of the French Revolution had dismantled long-standing social and cultural institutions, leading to widespread instability.

  • After the Reign of Terror, the French people were desperate for order, which Napoleon promised to deliver.

  • Napoleon claimed to embody the principles of the Revolution—liberty, equality, fraternity—while also providing the strong leadership that many felt was necessary to restore stability.

• Napoleon’s Domestic Reforms

  • Napoleonic Code (1804):

    • Reasserted the equality of all male citizens before the law.

    • Protected wealth and private property.

    • Introduced a degree of religious toleration.

  • Centralization of Government:

    • Napoleon created a bureaucracy based on merit rather than birthright, awarding positions to the most qualified individuals.

  • Religious Reform – Concordat of 1801:

    • Restored some religious freedoms to French Catholics while keeping the Church subservient to the state. Napoleon retained the right to nominate and pay bishops and priests.

• Limitations on Rights Under Napoleon

  • Secret Police:

    • Napoleon’s secret police, led by Joseph Fouché, suppressed dissent, often through fear and execution, to maintain control.

  • Censorship:

    • Freedom of the press, gained during the Revolution, was severely restricted under Napoleon’s rule, with state-sponsored censors overseeing French newspapers.

  • Marginalization of Women:

    • Women lost many of the rights they had gained during the Revolution, becoming legally dependent on their husbands and fathers under the Napoleonic Code.

• Napoleonic Wars and European Conquest

  • Napoleon waged wars across Europe, claiming to spread the ideals of the Revolution but also aiming to dominate the continent.

  • By 1806, he had defeated Austria, Prussia, and Russia, significantly redrawing the map of Europe.

  • By 1810, Napoleon saw himself not just as the Emperor of France but as the Emperor of Europe.

  • Continental System:

    • Napoleon attempted to blockade British trade with the Continental System, mandating that no British ships could dock at any port controlled by France.

• Nationalistic Responses and Challenges

  • Napoleon’s dominance stirred nationalist sentiments across Europe:

    • Spain (1808): Resistance to French occupation led to a brutal guerrilla war.

    • Russia (1812): Napoleon invaded Russia with a massive army, but the Russian strategy of retreat and scorched earth led to disastrous losses for the French.

• Napoleon’s Downfall

  • The failed Russian campaign left Napoleon's forces severely weakened.

  • By 1814, Napoleon was forced to abdicate and was exiled to Elba.

  • He escaped in 1815 and briefly regained power during the Hundred Days, only to be defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.

  • After this final defeat, Napoleon was exiled to Saint Helena, where he spent the rest of his life.