napoleon. rise of napoleon rose through office ranks to general, after string of military successes...
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Napoleon
Rise of Napoleon
• Rose through office ranks to General, after string of military successes
• Strong Jacobin supporter: wanted democratic, non-monarchist government
• 1797: Defeated Austria in Italy, and negotiated peace treaty on his own
• 1799: Austria, Russia, Ottomans, Britain allied against France
Slave Auction house in Atlanta
Rise of Napoleon
• Economic and military weakness heightened need for new constitution
• Napoleon allied with the Abbe Sieyes in coup d’etat against The Directory to end inefficiency and protect original revolution
• Napoleon concentrated power for himself under provisions new Constitution of Year VIII
• Apparently democratic constitution concentrated power in First Consul, Napoleon; declared himself emperor in 1804
Napoleon’s Coronation
Napoleonic France
• Napoleon’s rule ended the Revolution, and cemented in place many of its effects
– Abolished inherited privilege
– Continued private land ownership by peasants
– Ensured power for the urban commercial class
Napoleon, by David, a quintessential Romantic painting
Napoleonic Code
• “Napoleonic Code,” or Civil Code, enacted 1804
• Codified all regional and national laws into one central national law
• Clear laws with clear penalties
• Maintained conservative, traditional social and financial order
• Became basis of European legal system to present day
English cartoon, satirizing Napoleonic Code
Battle of Austerlitz, by Gerrard
Concordat with Catholic Church
• Agreement with Pope: bishops to be named by state, spiritually invested by Pope
• Compromise: clergy remained tied to government, but with papal approval
Concordat depicted as miraculous
Military Exploits through 1807• Military might: huge army size, trained troops and officers,
promotions based on merit not nobility
• 1803: defeated Austria and occupied Vienna
• 1805: defeated Russia and Austria at Austerlitz, making Napoleon king of Italy
• 1805: French navy defeated at Trafalgar by Lord Nelson
• 1806: organized western princes into Confederation of the Rhine: ended HRE
• 1806: defeated Prussia at Jena, taking Berlin
• 1807: defeated Russia at Königsberg, taking all of Prussia and Germany
• 1807: Treaty of Tilsit confirmed France’s gains, and Russia allies with France
Continental System• Prevented
European trade with Britain
• Internal tariffs favored France; caused resentment
• Backfired, as Europe needed trade with Britain more than Britain needed trade with Europe
Changes in Europe
• Napoleonic Code and constitutional law imple-mented in conquered areas
• Feudalism and serfdom abolished in conquered areas
• Guilds dissolved, freeing artisans and capitalists
• Churches made subservient to states
• Despite changes, conquered peoples grew nationalistic, sought to overthrow French rule
Fall of Napoleon
• 1808: French troop presence in Spain led to Spanish revolt
• Napoleon replaced Bourbons with his brother on Spanish throne
• Spanish fought bitter guerrilla war against French troops
• 1810: Tensions increased with Russia, and Russia left the Continental System
Shooting of the 3rd of May, by Goya, 1814
Retreat from Russia, by Charlet
Fall of Napoleon
• Napoleon invaded Russia with 600,000 troops, but Russians retreated into winter
• 1812: Battle of Borodino, French defeat despite heavier Russian losses
• Napoleon took burned-out Moscow, but Alexander I ignored treaty requests
• Only 100,000 French soldiers returned to France, Napoleon resigned to Elba
Napoleon at Borodino
Congress of Vienna
• Austria, Russia, Britain, Prussia joined to reorganize Europe into stability
• Key goal: create peace and stability, and prevent further revolution
• Restore Bourbons under constitutional monarchy in France
• HRE not revived
Congress of Vienna
• Russia took much of Poland, Prussia took much of Saxony
• Established the Congress System to meet periodically to discuss stability in Europe, led mainly by Metternich
• 100 Days: Napoleon returned from Elba to lead France again
• Battle of Waterloo: final defeat for Napoleon, and his exile to St Helena
• Quadruple Alliance: Austria, Prussia, Britain, Russia
• Created a framework for international law and future meetings to maintain peace
Charge of Posonby’s Brigade, Waterloo