The Napoleonic Era

I. Napoleon Bonaparte

War w/Brit., Austria, & Sardinia gave opps. for rising leaders

1795-1799: Napoleon Bonaparte Suppressed uprising in Paris Corsican Military school in Fr. (artillery officer) Ambitious & military genius

Napoleonic Wars (1796-1815)

Could move troops rapidly to critical pts. 1796: Directory appointed Nap. to lead army against Aust. &

Sardinia Defeated Aust. 4 times Took control of northern Italy Directory worried about his rising status

Nap. cont’d to seek new conquests (Egypt) 1798: Nap. failed near Alexandria (Brits.) Lied about successes—still the hero!!

Second Coalition: Brit., Aust., & Russia Drove Fr. out of Italy

A. Napoleon’s Seizure of Power

Poor domestic conditions gave Nap. opp. By 1799: people had lost confidence in Directory Plot to place Nap. in power

Drove out 4 directors Dissolved Directory coup d’etat (seizure of power by force)

Nap. became dictator of Fr. 1799-1814: Napoleonic Era or Age of Napoleon People accepted this He supported changes by Fr. Rev.

II. Napoleon & the Consulate

Nap. reorganized admin. of Fr. Executive branch (3 Consuls) –the Consulate

Nap. = “First Consul”

None of Consulate’s legislative bodies had real power Nap. submitted his const. to people for vote thru a

plebiscite People approved

Fr. laws revised into the Napoleonic Code Promoted authority over individual rights

Nap. est. Bank of Fr. Public education Civil Rights of the Clergy (1790)

Nap. signed the concordant w/Pope (1801) Restored position of Church in Fr.

Nap. destroyed the Second Coalition He kept his promises for peace, govt., & economic

prosperity

III. Napoleon as Emperor

1804: people declared Fr. an empire & Nap. as Emperor

Coronation at Cathedral of Notre Dame Nap. undermined Pope’s authority

Fr. Empire was great! Was Brit. next?

Third Coalition

Battle of Trafalgar (1805) Brit. destroyed Fr. & Spanish fleets Brit. no longer in danger

A. The Continental System

Nap. sought to disrupt Brit. trade The Continental System = Fr. blockade of Brit.

Isles Brits. imposed blockade against Fr.

Hurt Fr. Nap. cont’d to win Dec. 1805: Third Coalition collapsed

B. The Reorganization of Euro

by 1808: Nap. dominated Euro Aust. & Prussia signed treaties Russia allied w/Fr. Confederation of the Rhine Abolished H.R. Emp. Unified all northern Italian states Placed members of fam. on conquered thrones

Napoleonic Code, abolished feudalism & serfdom Awakened a nationalist spirit in those conquered

Opposition copied Nap’s military strategies

C. The Peninsular War

1807: Port. refused to observe Continental System Fr. occupied Port.

Nap. conquered Spain Placed Joseph Bonaparte (bro) on throne 1808: Spanish revolt

Brits. sent army to Spain & Port. Peninsular War—1808-1814

1814: Spain gave Joseph the boot New const. = limited monarchy

D. Catastrophe in Russia

Czar Alexander I = alarmed w/Nap’s domination Continental System disrupted Russian/Brit. Trade

1812: Russia ignores it Nap. invaded Russia w/his Grand Army

Not as “driven” as earlier Fr. armies Spring 1812: Nap. marched into Russia Russian approach = scorched-earth policy Fall 1812: Fr. captured Moscow

Russians burned it Harsh Russian winter

Oct. 19, 1812: Fr. Retreat Nap’s retreat = one of greatest military disasters By Dec. = Grand Army lost over 2/3 of troops Russians pursued Fr.

E. Final Defeat

W. Euro. monarchs broke ties w/Nap. Prussia, Aust., G.B. joined Russia (alliance) Nap’s old strategy failed Oct. 1813: Nap. defeated at Saxony March 1814: allies captured Paris Nap. gave up claims to throne

Retired to Elba

Allies = Fr. will NEVER disrupt Euro again! Restored Bourbon monarchy (Louis XVIII)

F. The Hundred Days

Restored Bourbons made many enemies Nap plotted his return (escaped from Elba)

If there be one among you who wishes to kill his Emperor, he can. I come to offer myself to your assaults.

Nap triumphed in Paris—began prd. called the Hundred Days Louis = fled

Prussia, Brit., & Netherlands moved into Fr. June 18, 1815: Fr. army defeated at Waterloo Nap. abdicated, Bourbons returned Nap. sent to St. Helena (d. 1821)