FREE ESSAY ON NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

Who would have ever predicted that by the "1800's a young lieutenant, who was barely
French, would be master of France" (Maurois 5)? Napoleon Bonaparte was a military genius
who won many wars and battles for France. Napoleon Bonaparte had a huge impact on all of
France and numerous other countries around Europe. He had many great accomplishments, two
of which were his positions as First Consul and Emperor.
Napoleon was a military genius, known for all of his many successes on the battlefield.
He began his career in the military as an artillery officer (Weidhorn 16). In 1793,
Napoleon received the title of Lieutenant colonel. He felt that his ability needed to
tested, and he proved himself well in a battle against the British Napoleon received the
position of commander of all troops in Paris (Weidhorn 21-24). In response to his
victories as the commander, he was then given the title of "commander in chief of the
Army of the Interior" (Wiedhorn26). Napoleon began piling up victories left and right. He
won six battles against Austria, including the battle of Lodi in 1796 and the battle of
Ravoli in 1797 (Weidhorn).
Napoleon became the first consul when the consulate was established in the year of 1799.
"Napoleon made a point of ruling as a civilian, but he was more authoritarian than Louis
XVI" (Columbia). He did many things while he was consul, one of which was establishing
the Bank of France. With the Concordat of 1801, the result was peace with the Roman
Catholic Church. The Concordat reestablished status and church unity, as long as in
return the church had to give the civil authorities stricter submission. The next thing
Napoleon did was he ended the second coalition. This accomplishment 
happened through the treaty of Luneville in 1801 with Austria and the treaty of Amiens 
in 1802 with Great Britain. Because of this, "France became paramount on the
continent"(Columbia). Napoleon eventually managed to monopolize all of the power of the
first consul. He made himself in charge of the appointments of top posts such as the
legislative and the executive posts as well as the judicial and the civil service posts.
In the year of 1802, Napoleon made himself first consul for life. By doing this, he made
himself able to choose his own successor (Weidhorn 65). 
On December 2, 1804 after coronation ceremonies in Notre Dame, Napoleon became the
emperor of France (Herold 128). In violation to the constitution, Napoleon proclaimed
himself as emperor. After doing this, Napoleon declared himself hereditary emperor to
avoid any attempts on his life by assassins. His logic behind this was that, if he were
to be assassinated, another Bonaparte would inherit the throne (Weidhorn 66). In 1804,
Napoleon created the Marshals of the Empire. Of these Marshals, there were 4 princes, 30
dukes, 388 counts, and 1090 barons (Maurois 76). In 1805 Napoleon proclaimed himself as
King of Italy, and the annexed Genoa to France (Columbia).
On April 11, 1805, England, Russia and Austria formed the third coalition (Maurois 146).
Napoleon responded to this by defeating the Austrians at Ulm. He then occupied Vienna. On
December 2, 1805 at Austerlitz, Napoleon defeated Russia and Austria. This is said to be
his most brilliant victory (Columbia). On December 26, in this same year, Napoleon made
the Treaty of Pressburg, which forced Austria to leave the coalition (Herold 145). 
In late 1806, the Holy Roman Empire dissolved, and Prussia entered the coalition. On
October 14, 1806, they were thoroughly defeated. British sea power grew stronger so 
Napoleon decided to use economic warfare against them. On February 8, 1807, the battle of
Eylau took place. Russia lost this battle, and was therefore forced to leave the
coalition on June 14 (Columbia). In July 1807, King Frederick William III of Prussia lost
half of his territories. As well as that, Napoleon made him a slave of France. All that
was done through the Treaty of Tilsit. 
At this point Britain remains the only country left in the coalition. Napoleon is the
master of the continent, and Europe's map was completely rearranged (Columbia). Around
the years of 1806-1807, Napoleon was putting his family and friends in power. He made
them kings of places such as Naples, Holland, Westphalia, Spain, and Sweden (Maurois
146). On July 6, 1809, Napoleon goes to battle with Austria Wagram. Austria loses, but
not by much (Weidhorn 121). June 10, 1809 Rome and the Papal States are annexed into
France (Maurois 147). Pope VII excommunicated himself. Napoleon had him imprisoned. After
this, another concordat was signed (Columbia). 
On December 16, 1809, Napoleon had his marriage to Josephine annulled because she was
unable to bear him children. On April 10, 1810, he got married to Marie Louise a princess
of Austria. On March 20, 1811 she gave birth to their son, the "heir to the empire
Napoleon had conquered and created" also considered the King of Rome (Weidhorn 126).
In 1811 Napoleon began to let up his guard in a sense, and "he seemed to lack the will
and courage to act" (Weidhorn 130). In July of 1812, the French were defeated severely at
Salmanca. They were then beat in 1813 at Vitoria and in1814 at Toulouse. The French went
on to get victories in 1814, but the enemies still advanced. The Czar and King of Prussia
entered Paris with their forces combined. On April 1, 1814, Talleyrand came in and formed
a provisionary government. The next day the Senate 
proclaimed the Emperor's downfall. Napoleon abdicated himself and left for Elba (Maurois
147). 
In 1814 Napoleon heard that "Republicans and Bonapartists are conspiring against Louis
XVIII" (Maurois 147). Napoleon then made a decision to go to France and to return to
power. On March 20, He arrives in Paris, to find Louis XVIII has fled (Maurois 147).
After the battle of Waterloo Napoleon was again forced to abdicate. 
Napoleon Bonaparte did a lot for France. The French made many sacrifices for him, but in
most ways, it was not worth it. Although the French traditions were not completely broken
by him, they were damaged. Napoleon created a dictatorial authority that brought the
revolution "sharply to order" (Herold 7). Before Napoleon's time, France had never
experienced such great levels of glory and power. It was not until Napoleon's successes
began running out that France began to experience trouble. Other countries were becoming
great, while in the end France remained "somewhat shrunken on the map, at the crucial
center of aroused nationalism and international rivalries" (Herold 10). After nearly
twenty years of war, he left France with losses of over a million lives, and millions in
property. France had large bills for reparations, and several provinces under enemy
control (Herold 392). Through all of this, Napoleon's ideas were proven premature. Who
would have predicted that by the "1800's a young lieutenant, who was barely French, would
be master of France" (Maurois 5)? 
Bibliography
Herold, J. Christopher. The Age of Napoleon. New York: American Heritage Publishing CO.,
INC., 1963. 
Maurois, Andre. Napoleon and His World. New York, NewYork: The Viking Publishing Press,
1964. 
Weidhorn, Manfred. Napoleon. New York, New York: Antheneum Macmillan Publishing Company,
1986.