Napoleon’s Empire

It all falls apart….

“A government like ours to strengthen itself, must dazzle and astonish…it must be

the first or collapse.”

Cracks in his empire

• Incompetent relatives in power

• Nationalism

England is last enemy standing

“If I can be master of the Channel for six hours, I can be the master of the world.”

Continental System 1806

• If you cannot beat the British on land or sea, you can try to do it economically.

• Economic blockade of England

• Hurts continent far more than England

• Impossible to enforce, therefore, smuggling

Effort to stop smuggling helps inspire invasion of Spain

• 1808-118,000 men into Spain

• Expects to be considered a liberator; no empathy for the conquered

•Catholicism is stronger here

•Horrific war; source of term guerilla warfare

•British help

Marriage to Marie Louise1810

• “I want to marry a womb”

• Part of his system of shifting alliances. At different times, he is allied with Austria, Prussia and Russia.

Why does he go into Russia?

“A government like ours to strengthen itself, must dazzle and astonish…it must be the first or

collapse.”

What does he think will happen?

• “If he (Emperor Alexander) were a woman, I would make her my lover”

What happens?

He returns to Paris

• What do you think the reaction of the Austrians, English, Prussians, Spanish, Belgians…..is?

• Battle of Nations, October 1813

• He abdicates 4-4-14

• Louis XVIII is made king.

• A white terror- they try and undo every single thing that came from the Revolution.

Ticket to Elba

• Emperor of Isle of Elba

100 Days

• “A man of genius always get back on his feet”

His progression to Paris

Arrives in Paris 3-20-15

His Waterloo

St. Helena