Ms. Eileen Chubik Kwis
World History 638
5 March 2012
Napoleon: History’s Greatest Enigma
Napoleon Bonaparte is considered one of history 's greatest heroes and also one of its most contemplated leaders. Some people see him as a child of the enlightenment, preserving the accomplishments of the French Revolution, and exporting the ideas of liberty, equality, and nationalism to the rest of Western Europe making him a hero. Others argue that he was a ruthless tyrant who trampled on the very ideals for which the Revolution had been fought. Yet, Napoleon showed more accomplishments in his life to make France a better country. A hero is defined as, "a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities," (www.merriam-webster.com) and these noble qualities are just what Napoleon had. He had audacity and was not afraid of others even though his stature would appear quite contrary. Moreover, he was decisive which gave the citizens of France the sense of national identity and the pride they needed. Finally, he was caring for his people to gain their support and made France a better place for even the poor. Napoleon was a hero to France and its people and should be remembered as so. “Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms,” (Aristotle). Many would say Napoleon is not a hero, but rather a tyrant because his foreign policy killed many people due in part to wars and mistakes made by Napoleon due to his decisiveness. Some would say that he spread propaganda and was someone who beguiled the French public into believing he was the perfect ruler for them. Any person who says these things has been misled. There has never been great change in history without few casualties. His foreign policy helped him expand France and allow the people of his country to gain nationalism to become a united nation. Napoleon used propaganda only to gain the trust of his people so he can contribute for the best of his country. Trust is the first step between a leader and his people to step forward to evoke great change towards a positive direction. Moreover, Napoleon was a brilliant military genius; Napoleon 's audacity won many battles to expand France. His use of cunning warfare and strategy during many battles allowed him to be seen as a hero all over Europe. Although his army was outnumbered by the Austrians and Russians in December 2, 1805, Napoleon 's brilliant strategies resulted in the downfall of the countering armies in the Battle of Austerlitz. After winning many battles, he grew France by signing treaties with other countries with whom he had occupied. Napoleon made his brother Joseph, king of Naples, himself King of Italy, and allowed his other brother Louis to become King of Holland. Napoleon attained these lands through his strength and daringness. The fact that he won so many battles gave France’s Third Estate people something to be proud of. Napoleon 's care for his people was his greatest attribute and legacy to France. His domestic policies had such a colossal impact on the flow of life in France that they are used to this very day in the modern world. Through his domestic policy, Napoleon devised the Bank of France, and by doing so, he stabilized the French economy where as the previous leaders of France such as King Louis XVI had failed. Napoleon insisted that equality must be the first element for education. The reform in education that Napoleon broached in 1802 named Lycées allowed this equality to take place and therefore enhancing the method of learning for all of the citizens. Finally the serious cleft with the Church, created during the French Revolution, was mended when The Concordat of 1801 was suggested by Napoleon. Mending the break between the Church and State allowed for religious freedom and tolerance which breathed life into the beliefs within the people of France. This contribution to France concluded with domestic tranquility, which was ultimately what the Revolution was fought for.
Napoleon Bonaparte should be considered a hero because of all that he has accomplished and done for not only France, but a large part of Europe as well. Using his decisiveness, his domestic policies furthered the advancement of France by giving the people of the country what they longed for, which was equality. Furthermore, Napoleon gave them care in the form of an education system. Lastly, by being a military genius because of his audacity and winning so many key battles for his country, he gained his well-deserved respect around Europe. By giving the French society some nationalism, it made way of living better for all. Giving the nation something to be proud of was Napoleon 's goal. “A hero has faced it all: he need not be undefeated, but he must be undaunted,” (Andrew Bernstein) and what better person to fit this portraiture than Napoleon Bonaparte; ruler and long remembered hero of France.
Works Cited
BBC. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821). BBC, 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/bonaparte_napoleon.shtml>.
Cody, David. “French Revolution.” The Victorian Web. Hartwick Coll., 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.victorianweb.org/history/hist7.html>.
Faculty.ucc.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://faculty.ucc.edu/egh-damerow/french_revolution.htm>.
“France Under Napoleon III Nation Building in Italy.” Historydoctor.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.historydoctor.net/Advanced%20Placement%20European%20History/Notes/france_under_napoleon_iii_and_Unification_of_Italy.htm>.
“Hero Quotes.” Brainy Quotes. BookRags Media Network, 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/hero.html>. www.merriam-webster.com. merriam.webster.com, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2012. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/>.
Cited: BBC. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821). BBC, 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/bonaparte_napoleon.shtml>. Cody, David. “French Revolution.” The Victorian Web. Hartwick Coll., 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.victorianweb.org/history/hist7.html>. Faculty.ucc.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://faculty.ucc.edu/egh-damerow/french_revolution.htm>. “France Under Napoleon III Nation Building in Italy.” Historydoctor.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.historydoctor.net/Advanced%20Placement%20European%20History/Notes/france_under_napoleon_iii_and_Unification_of_Italy.htm>. “Hero Quotes.” Brainy Quotes. BookRags Media Network, 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/hero.html>. www.merriam-webster.com. merriam.webster.com, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2012. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/>.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
I think that Napoleon in a way demonstrated French Revolution ideals. The French Revolution ideals were for equality and rights for the people, but Napoleon took away a many of the rights that people wanted. The people of France were not allowed to gather in groups of people and discuss beliefs that did not follow Napoleons, and he re-established slavery. He also controlled everything that was published and banned some authors from writing or publishing books during his reign. To me he wanted the people to believe in this ideals rather than promote them to have their own beliefs and thoughts, and being killed for thinking differently to me is not equality or a…
- 1084 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
The are two sides to every story. The French Revolution brought significant change to France during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was a period of time that produced a remodeling of the French Government system, an Enlightened mindset, and the rise of a new prominent ruler, Napoleon Bonaparte. Emperor Napoleon, as he so deemed himself, initially took on his duties by trying to bring together what had been a much divided nation. He made concessions with both the left (the constitutionalists) and the right (the monarchists). His concessions earned him respect from many, however, as his power grew and grew, Napoleon developed a tendency to rely strongly on his military to gain power. His militaristic eagerness to monopolize Europe earned him much respect and praise from the French people, but very infrequently do we recognize those individuals that served in the military to carry through Napoleon’s aggressive orders. Those who fought for Napoleon’s success received very little in return; much to lack of motivation. Fortunately for the world, Jakob Walter’s story as a conscript for Napoleon’s Grand Army has been public for the world. His powerful accounts of the pitiful conditions that conscripts endured during their wartime travels would give many a different opinion of the “Great” Napoleon. As mentioned earlier, there are two sides to every story.…
- 1102 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Napoleon brought positve vibes and effects, when he and his gunners had welcomed thousands of royalists with a cannonade. Therefore, that sent the attackers in panic and confusion. He then became "Hero of The Hour." He was then hailed throughout the city of Paris as a savior of the French Republic. 1796 Napoleon led a French army against forces such as Austria, and the kingdom of Sardinia. Young Napoleon won remarkable sets of victories, but that of course wasn't going to last for long, when his army was pinned down in Egypt, and the British defeated his forces. However, Napoleon kept stories about his wars that had been out of newspapers and he remained a hero of France.…
- 322 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Napoleon Bonaparte is one of history’s greatest military commanders. Napoleon was a French military general and political leader, who grew famous and important during the French Revolution. He became the first emperor of France, serving from 1804 until 1814, and again in 1815, and his motive for military expansion changed the world. Napoleon changed military organization and training, and reorganized France’s education system. He is one of the most celebrated leaders in history, and is one of the most important people in modern world history.…
- 2014 Words
- 9 Pages
Good Essays -
Throughout time, the history of Napoleon is retold over and over again. His conquests of Europe are legendary. He is considered one of the greatest military leaders, his victories are widely known, yet people seem to forget his losses. Napoleon had many domestic and diplomatic/military achievements, some were great and others were his worst blunders.…
- 444 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Peace came to France with Napoleon's strong rule. After making himself a consul for life, he re-established the French monarchy, naming himself Emperor Napoleon I in 1804. He centralized French government by appointing new officials, made tax collections more efficient, and created a National Bank. He believed that he was chosen by God to be in power and made others believe it through the Napoleon Catechism. It showed the French people that Napoleon was blessed to get the throne. " he whom God had raised up under difficult circumstances to re-establish the public worship of the holy religion of our fathers and to be the protector of it" (Document 7).…
- 614 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Napoleon Bonaparte was the first emperor of France from 1804 to 1814. He is famous for his efforts to form a connected Europe that France would lead. His career as a military and political leader led to many big accomplishments, but unfortunately he became too greedy over time leading to his exile.…
- 373 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
There has not been a man so widely interpreted as Napoleon in European history. His early heroic reputation is questioned because of other dictators who went down the same path as he did but for other reasons, such as Stalin and Mussolini. The French Revolution had three goals, liberty, equality, and fraternity, and to make it truly successful these goals must be achieved. Freeing the French, making them equal within themselves, and unifying them, is what Emperor Bonaparte strived for with the Napoleonic Code. Although most believe he did not acquire Liberty, they are content with his achievements. Napoleon not only finished the revolution, he finished with what everyone expected, the demise of the King and the equality among all people. Napoleon truly is "the debate…
- 661 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Born in 1769, Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most famous people of French history. Being immersed in the military from the age of 9 and on, it is no wonder that he became one of, arguably, the best military leaders of all time. But, the question comes about, was Napoleon a hero or a tyrant? Along with the many good things that Napoleon did to help the people of France after the French Revolution, came some very, very bad things. In no time he went from being loved and adored by the people of France to being absolutely loathed. Some people argue that even with all the bad things that he did, Bonaparte was still a hero, but how can somebody who did so many terrible things still be a hero? Napoleon was a tyrant because of his belief in equality for only half of the…
- 1041 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
During Napoleon’s reign as Emperor of the French Empire he made laws, or a set of codes, that applied to all of France. He enacted laws that protected the people, promoted religious tolerance and took away the serfdom and feudalism systems, all of which gave people more freedom over their land to support themselves and their families. The well-being of the people was compromised since the workers lacked many rights, this being evident by the fact that trade unions and strikes were illegal, which encouraged employer abuse.…
- 502 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Napoleon Bonaparte rise to power was because of his strong army he formed and his strategy for winning wars however his fall came when he went to Russia intending to defeat them but lost. Napoleon’s policies were to ensure freedom and equality for the people and to give the people the education they needed.…
- 1522 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays -
Napoleon was indeed a great man, in that he made a significant impact on the course of history, although with both positive and negative consequences. He was one of history's greatest military commanders and succeeded in conquering most of Europe and did much to modernize the nations he ruled. He also introduced the Code Napoleon, which brought unity, order, progress and reform to France and Europe and the Code is still used today.…
- 389 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Napoleon Bonaparte was a very influential character in the history of France. When Napoleon rose to power, many reforms were made regarding the social system, economics, education, and political aspects. For some, the reforms made under his rule were for the better of the people, but others viewed the reforms as negative changes. Nonetheless, Napoleon will always be thought of as a powerful figure in the French Revolution. A leader from the beginning, Napoleon was sent to France for military training at age nine.…
- 977 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Was Napoleon Bonaparte a hero or a tyrant? Did the good of his actions outweigh the bad? Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military leader who rose to power during the French Revolution. He eventually conquered most of Europe and named himself emperor. I believe that Napoleon was a tyrant for a few different reasons. These include that he was egotistical, selfish, and untruthful.…
- 479 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Napoleon rose to power during the aftermath of the French Revolution. He staged a coup d'état and installed himself as First Consul, later becoming the emperor. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest military commanders of all time because of his success in his wars. Napoleon sought to spread ideas of the French Revolution but contradicted them in many ways.…
- 540 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays