Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Seizes Power

• Gained notoriety when he defended National Convention from Royalists.

• Became known as “Savior of the French Republic”

More Victories

• Victories in Austria and Italy added to his reputation.

• However, he led a disastrous raid into Egypt and left his army – French people never found out

Coup d’Etat

• Directory of France perceived as weak.

• November 1799 – Napoleons troops surround directory

• Napoleon seizes control of Government.

Napoleon Rules France

• 1800 – gains legitimacy as with a plebiscite for a new constitution with new leader.

• French wanted STRONG LEADERSHIP

Ruling France, Continued

• Installed efficient tax collection method• Ended corruption and inefficient

government.• Set up Public Schools• Established new relationship with Church.• Napoleonic Code – simplified French laws

and made a more unified set of laws.

Napoleon Creates an Empire

• December 2, 1804 – Napoleon crowns himself emperor of France.

• Places own crown on head – more powerful than the church.

Empire

• Napoleon expanded his empire – though conquest and alliances – in the first decade of the 1800s

• Great Britain, Sweden, Austria, and Russia rise up against Napoleon

MISTAKES!

• 1. Continental System – Blockade Great Britain and make Europe more self sufficient.

• 2. Peninsular Campaign –Attacked Portugal through Spain – fought costly guerrilla war.

To Russia, with Love

• France invades Russia because it refuses to cooperative with Continental system.

• Attacks with 420,000 soldiers.

• Battles and weather take their toll.

• Russians use Scorched Earth Policy.

Return from Russia

• Napoleon captures Moscow in September, 1812.

• Unable to supply Army.

• Must retreat – during winter

• Returns with 10,000 men.

Exile and an Extra 100 days

• Loss at battle of Leipzig causes Napoleon to surrender.

• Exiled to Mediterranean Island of Elba.• Escaped Elba in 1815 and raises new

army against new King of France• Europeans muster new armies and defeat

Napoleon for last time at WATERLOO.• Exiled to St. Helena in South Pacific and

dies 6 years later.