1. The Napoleonic Age

2. Napoleon Bonaparte
Corsican, not French
Loved to stress his non-
aristocratic roots
Called the “Little
Corporal” as a term of
endearment by French
people

3. Early Education & Career
Given a rare scholarship—attended
military academy in France
Graduated at age 16 having studied
law, history, mathematics
Typical Enlightenment scholar
Joined French artillery as 2d
Lieutenant Young Napoleon, the
officer
Was a captain by age 23! Promoted
on merits (as opposed to purchasing
promotion, a common practice then)

4. The Directory
Napoleon in Paris 1795
& helped put down a
riot
Made a major general
& came to the attention
of the government
His commander was
named one of the
Directory because of
Napoleon’s actions

5. Napoleon & Josephine
Napoleon married
Josephine de
Beauharnais in 1796
A widow 6 years his
senior, beautiful with 2
children
Met at a Paris restaurant
& marriage for love
But she was a leader in
Paris society & he was a
rapidly advancing
general, so it was an
advantageous marriage
for both

6. Napoleon the Hero!
Sent to Italy where
French fighting
Austrians
Napoleon defeated the
Austrians in northern
Italy
Crossed the Alps and
threatened Vienna!
Returned to Paris a hero
Austrians sign peace
Napoleon Crossing the Alps,
treaty in 1797 Jacques-Louis David

7. Jacques-Louis David
Artist who began as neo- Impressed with the
classical painter of the romantic image of
French Revolution—very Napoleon, changes style
stark style, simple to become a Romantic—
wild, heroic imagery

8. Napoleon’s Rise to Power
After similar military success in Egypt (to disrupt the
British), Napoleon returned to Paris a bigger hero
Directory was weak, government in shambles
Napoleon staged a coup d’etat, dismissing the
Legislative Assembly at gunpoint
He & two others (with no real power) named consuls
of France
New constitution written & overwhelmingly ratified
by the people of France
At age 30, Napoleon was effective ruler of France!

9. Napoleon Bonaparte
Gained Bourgeoisie support
Jobs in government & army
Restored order, so business happy
Taxes on imports to promote trade &
industry
Set up national bank to stabilize the economy
Gained working class (peasant) support
Created new jobs
Made food available at lower prices
Allowed them to keep land gained in
Revolution

10. Gained support of Nobles
Offered pardons to nobles who had fled
during revolution
Appointed many to high government posts
Compromised with the Church
Revolution had tried to eliminate religion
1801 signed the Concordat that balanced the
rights of church & state
Napoleon had right to appoint Bishops &
pay the clergy
Catholics gained total freedom of worship in
France again, so Pope happy

11. Greatest Achievement for France
1804, reorganized & revised
the laws of France
The Code Napoleon became
basis for all countries who
follow civil law
Followed enlightenment
ideals
However, laws on women
MORE restrictive!

12. Napoleon
Successes of Napoleon
1. Napoleonic Code
2. All French men, regardless of birth, equal treatment
before law
3. All remaining class privileges abolished
4. Allowed religious freedom
5. Started free schools in every French town
6. Started academy in Paris to train teachers
7. Stabilized the economy with Bank of France
8. Started awards annually for achievements in sciences
a) France’s greatest scientists during Napoleonic period!
9. Equal or better treatment for Jews

13. Emperor Napoleon
In 1804, Napoleon
felt secure enough
in his position to
name himself
emperor
Crowned in Notre
Dame
Pope was to do it,
but at last minute,
Napoleon took Coronation of Napoleon, Jacques-
Louis David, 1804
crown & placed on
own head!

14. Napoleonic Wars
Occupied Italy, so declared himself to be King of
Italy
Annexed Belgium
Tried to invade Great Britain, stopped at battle of
Trafalgar where French fleet destroyed
Could not invade Britain, so Continental System
employed

16. Napoleon
Conquests throughout Europe
Alliance with Austria, Russia, Sweden, &
Great Britain to try and stop him
Benefits to Europe
1. Reforms of revolution brought to other parts
of Europe
2. Set up Napoleonic Code & constitutions
3. Reduced privileges of nobles & clergy
4. Brought an end to serfdom, started public
education supported religious toleration

17. Negative Conseqences:
1. Forced conquered people to supply his
armies
2. Taxes increased as wars cost money!
3. Soldiers conscripted from conquered
lands
4. Opposition ruthlessly quelled
everywhere
5. Did not allow free press anywhere (even
in France)

18. Defeat in Spain & Portugal
Set up his brother as
King of Spain (1808)
but Spanish people
rebelled against this
British came to
Spanish aid
Sent Portuguese king
to Brazil to safety
Guerilla warfare that
sapped his resources Shootings of May 3, 1808, Francisco
Goya

19. Invasion of
Russia
Invaded Russia June 1812
Russian strategy was to
burn & run
Napoleon reaches
Moscow, but no supplies
and has to retreat
Worst defeat in history
Episode from
Army of 614,000 returns Napoleon’s Retreat from
with only approximately Russia, 1812,
40,000 Theodore Gericault

20. First Defeat
Napoleon still raises army of over 350,000
within 6 months returning to Europe
Coalition of Russia, Prussia, Austria, GB
launch army to finally stop him
Defeated at Battle of the Nations 1813 - at
Leipzig in Germany
Napoleon abdicated and sent to Elba, an
island off coast of Italy (near his home of
Corsica—see map on next page)

22. The Hundred Days
Escaped from Elba 1815
Troops rallied to him as he marched to Paris
King Louis XVIII fled as he marched in
Crushed at Battle of Waterloo in Belgium (see
map on previous slide) spring of 1815; English
General Wellington hero
Sent to remote island in Atlantic, St. Helena
Very tight security with British soldiers
Probably died of stomach cancer 1821

23. The Battle of Waterloo and
Napoleon’s defeat at hand of
British commander Wellington

24. St. Helena
Island

25. The End!