Napoleon - Overview

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE 1769-1821

BACKGROUND

• Napoleon was from the island of Corsica

• Joined the French army in 1785

• His father was a government bureaucrat – middle class family

• Napoleon gained a reputation as a strong and successful military leader in the late 1700’s.

• After the French Revolution the Directory failed to rule successfully

• Napoleon gained control of the government and was named First Consul of the French Republic 1799

• He crowned himself emperor of France in 1804

NAPOLEON’S GRAND EMPIRE

• Napoleon moved to create a French Empire in Europe

• Direct control of regions and countries

• France made alliances with other nations

• Napoeon created satellites under his control

• – often placed family members as rulers in these regions

• French expansion prompted nationalistic movements across Europe to address French aggression

• Napoleon never gained control of England or Russia

. Napoleon ordered the construction of this bronze fountain, representing ‘an elephant carrying a tower in the style of the ancients. Only a full-scale plaster model was built, which was demolished in 1846.

POLICIES UNDER NAPOLEON

• Napoleon created a since of national unity built on French nationalism

• Established order and law

• Civil Code of 1804 -

• equality before the law

• insured security of personal wealth and property

• Established a national bank and new currency

• Established a large bureaucratic system of government – centralized state

• Established Catholicism as the dominant national religion- Concordant of 1801

• allowed the Church greater control over its affairs in France

• Worked to improve the city of Paris-

• cleaned out slums

• built wide boulevards and parks

• Women’s rights diminished –

• husbands had absolute power over their wives and children

• Napoleon limited free speech and the press

• A spy network kept people in check

• There were very harsh penalties for challenging the government and its authority and policies

• By 1814 there were thousands of political prisoners in France

THE ARCH D’ TRIUMPHE IN PARIS

THE GRAND BOULEVARDS

AFTER RETURNING FROM HIS FAILED ATTEMPT TO TAKE CONTROL OF RUSSIA, NAPOLEON WAS DETHRONED AND SENT TO THE ISLAND OF ELBA WHERE HE RULED THE SMALL ISLAND KINGDOM

NAPOLEON WAS EXILED TO THE ISLAND OF ST. HELENA AFTER HIS DEFEAT AT WATERLOO

NAPOLEON’S HOME ON ST. HELENA

AFTER HIS DEATH, NAPOLEON’S BODY WAS RETURNED TO FRANCE

NAPOLEON’S TOMB IN PARIS

NAPOLEON’S DEATH MASK