Napoleon Bonaparte Research Paper
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769 in Corsica about a year and a half after its attachment to France. He came from a noble family. His father, a solicitor by profession, was against the French occupation of Corsica.
Since at age of nine Napoleon was enrolled in college in France, where was instructed and was educated under the French system, however, that did not change in his Corsican temperament. Five years taught at the military college in Brien, then a year at the Military Academy in Paris. At age sixteen graduated from the Academy among the most successful in the class and was awarded with the degree of artillery Sub-lieutenant. Continued to read and deal with a lot of intensity and more specifically with the materials of the areas of strategy and tactics. At that time the riots began which later became the French Revolution. He as a fan of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire, believed that political …show more content…
changes were necessary, but had not very clear what changes should be, because he was not familiar with the sufferings of workers. As a Sub-lieutenant he offered himself to Jacobins and for a short time became their leader. Explicitly legislated against nobles, monks and the archbishops.
In 1792 the party of his father, then under the rule of Corsican dictator Paoli, was preparing to separate Corsica from France, which was opposed by Napoleon vigorously, he mobilized the Corsicans Jacobins and occupied island of St.
Stephen, so that started the civil war in Corsica. After his father 's death, at age sixteen, Napoleon took all precautions and duties towards his mother and family members. When the revolution began he was only a low grade officer but educated. “The French Revolution offered several opportunities to prove his skills, notably during the 1793 siege of Toulon, but an oft-cited letter of 1795 to his brother Joseph again reveals that be felt 'little attached to life ', finding himself as though 'constantly on the eve of battle. ' He despaired that he would end up by not moving aside when a carriage goes by '. Fate — a force in which Napoleon often placed his trust - finally took action when Napoleon 's involvement in the suppression of the 1795 Vendémiaire uprising in Paris brought him
to national attention.”(Betros, 41) His position changed when many old officers fled from France and the Republic established in positions junior officers. Napoleon made from an artillery lieutenant to a general. At the time of terror he was in remission. When he was called upon to lead a pedestrian brigade he replied "I am a cannon man". Began to progress very quickly became a battalion commander, then Brigadier commander and Brigadier General. In 1797 he was placed in charge of the military campaign that began in northern Italy that was led against the Austrians who were sworn enemies of the republican French. After several battles Napoleon broke the Austrian army and he was declared a hero. Firstly Napoleon controlled the lands from the North Sea to the Pyrenees and most of Italy. All his victories against English in Toulon and then in Italy raised him in the eyes of the world as the "impregnable". His bravery and military genius couldn’t be denied. Egyptian Campaign, Battle of the Nile in particular showed Europe that Napoleon was invincible. Great Britain, Russia, Austria and Turkey formed a new coalition against France. In 1799 the French army suffered defeat in Italy and left most of the peninsula. Main cause of this defeat were the events that took place in France. Napoleon left the army and returned to Paris under the pretext "to save the Republic". Indeed, this was one of his goals, but his main goal, in reality, was the looting of the government. The directory itself called on for help. After only a couple of months Napoleon made the coup, all directors were forced to resign and he dissolved the legislative committee. The new government was formed - Consultation - three consuls. One of them was Napoleon, who became the absolute ruler of France. French people, although did not recognized him very well, they accepted and gained confidence in him due to reap victories in the battles of the war. They believed him because he was the only so-called "general servant", closest to the people. At the same time, Napoleon had completely different opinions about people and believed that people should not in any way lead the power, but people should be led. Napoleon, although he was close to people, put the military dictatorship in France, and changed the Constitution. The new Constitution did not guarantee "human rights" and nowhere didn’t mention "Freedom, equality and brotherhood".
Napoleon himself was indifferent to religion, but had gained confidence that the people needed some religion. At the instigation of the Chief of Police, Field Counsel was transformed into empire, which was announced on 18 May 1804 and was confirmed with special plebiscite. Napoleon declared himself emperor and was crowned by Pope Pius VII in the Cathedral Notary Dam. Invasion of Europe
In 1805 the European countries formed the third coalition against Napoleon, who had spent last year on the coast of Normandy, to prepare a military operation along with its ally Spain which will help against England, but soon realized that the new alliance should not take the form of neglect, so he returned once again in command of the great French army which reached more strain on the heart of Europe to defeat the forces raised against the empire. But Napoleon did not prepared well the strategy against the English fleet on 21 October 1805 defeated the French fleet led by Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, the British were led by Admiral Horatio Nelson. With Napoleon 's defeat, he had lost hopes for a possible invasion of England. European coalition forces were to consist mostly of Austrian and Russian. In the clash two fronts were to come the hottest battles: the German, where Napoleon commanded “la Grande Armée”, and Italy, where General Massena commanded “d 'Italie l ' Armée”. Taken victories as in the Battle of Caldiero, and taking Vienna by Gioacchino Murat, did not fear coalition, in fact part of their army was still operating. But by December 2, 1805, the date of in which Napoleon was crowned as emperor one year before, he beat the third coalition in the battle of Austerlitz. This battle of Europe showed once again the genius of Napoleon 's military strategies, after the battle Napoleon controlled all of Europe. A day later sovereigns of Europe asked to declare peace with France. Austria lost Venezia, which joined the kingdom of Italy, and lost any control over Germany, which was formed under the name "Confederation of the Rhine", the first time that Germany was united in a confederation.
A year later Napoleon defeated Prussia at the battle of Jena (14 October 1806).
Collision of four, which was commanded by Prussia, defeated by June 14, 1807 in Friedland, after the battle of Eylau, tsar Alexander I was forced to sign peace at Tilsit. After this peaceful Europe was divided into different areas of influence, as written in the treaty of Tilsit, the territory between the river Elbe and Memel will form the border between the two empires.
To force the England to surrender, that was the only European power that had refused to surrender to the French emperor, Napoleon established a continental bloc in Europe, so that England not to trades goods with Europe. However, this strategy resulted as ineffective, because many European states did not implemented this completely. Napoleon looking at European countries that do not comply with his orders, first decided to invade Portugal, which held a trading relationship with England. The first was Spain later conquered Portugal, but the decision to invade Russia would show catastrophic for Napoleon. Between 5 and 6 July 1809 Napoleon defeated at Wagram the fifth coalition, after he had conquered Vienna and Schönbrunn palace. Austria received severe conditions for peace and signed by issuing many areas such as Trentino, Baviera, Istria and Dalmatia.
Napoleon reached its zenith in 1810 when almost the whole Europe became his. All subordinated states were governed by his family. He was divorced from Josefina and married Maria Louise, daughter of the Austrian Emperor, Francie I.
The fall of the Napoleonic Empire
Military losses began. The "Spanish ulcer," appeared, as Napoleon called the Spanish resistance Guerrilla war through which was organized by the fast attack of small subunits, without going into open war. Spain was supported by Britain, so that Napoleon 's army failed to break the resistance of Spanish. In 1812 Napoleon began the attack on Russia Napoleon 's army initially entered the hinterland but in September the Russians forced Napoleon to stay at Borodino (70 miles west of Moscow). There was developed one of the bloodiest battles of the time. Russian commander to preserve the army withdrew, and Napoleon entered Moscow. Moscow was empty after the population had left. Napoleon 's army hadn’t necessary foods and so after a few weeks Napoleon withdrew his army from Russia. The withdrawal was carried out in a very cold time when the temp was -30 °. While Russia and the attacks were always present. By marching from Moscow less than 40 000 soldiers remained (first Napoleon army consisted of 614 000 persons). This was a political and military defeat of Napoleon.
During the last years of Napoleon, he did not provoke wars, but wars provoked him, and he accepted them as "Ultima Racio". In January 1814 the borders of France were attacked from all sides. Official allies stated they do not fight against the French people, but against Napoleon himself. It was almost impossible for the French army to resist the Allied military forces, which were already before the gates of Paris. And just when Napoleon was prepared to drop off their backs, the Senate appointed the interim government and as chairman Talleyrand, who proclaimed emperor dethrones and without declaration of the people proclaimed Louis XVIII, who had only the support of England. When Napoleon was left by most of the generals and defected to the enemy, he abdicates on 6 April 1814. He was sent to small island of Elba, from which, after ten months in residence, escaped and went back to France to take the rule for another 100 days. Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo was held June 18, 1815 by the Napoleonic army against the armies of the coalition, which consisted of seven from England, Austria, Russia, Prussia, Sweden, the Sardinian Kingdom, the Netherlands and some German states and was led by the Duke of Wellington. This was the last battle of Napoleon and marked the final loss. The fact that many countries participated and the fact that it was a very important battle, this battle is considered the bloodiest battle of the nineteenth century, the battle lasted approximately 7-8 hours which killed nearly 50,000 soldiers. After the tragedy in the vicinity of Waterloo Napoleon surrendered to the mercy of the enemy, against whom he fought for twenty years.
On July 15 he was imprisoned in the warship "Belrofon", waiting to find out how it will be fate. Before he surrendered to the English, he wrote the famously letter sent to British prince, heir to the throne, later king, George IV:
“Your Majesty,
Victim of factions that divided my country and the hostility of the major European powers, I had finished my political career and now as I go like Temistoklo to get a place in the heart of British people. I put myself under the protection of their laws, which is what I ask from your Majesty as a man among my stronger enemies, more positive and more bountiful.”(Weider, 27)
The English government was found in a delicate position. It took full two weeks to decide what attitude to take towards Napoleon. There were various proposals: to leave and live somewhere in England or to kill. The second proposal more vigorously was objected by Wellington - the same which he won the fight in the vicinity of Waterloo. Finally they took a decision to send him to the island of Saint-Elena, from which no bird can fly the across the ocean. This decision of the England was liked from the other Allied powers too. On July 31 the English Admiral Lord Katy reached the ship to read the Decree by which Napoleon was about to get deported to the island of Saint-Elena. On August 7, Napoleon and his suite passed on the warship "Nortumberlend", which after two days left for Saint-Elena, where they reached after 71 days. The man who was available throughout Europe, was now in the company of 27 people who voluntarily emigrated to the island with him. Elena Saint-island was ruled from the British ru and it was located 1700 miles away from Cape Town, South Africa, 1800 miles from South America and 4,000 miles from England. The nearest land was located at a distance of 700 miles - Asansioni Islands. The Island of Saint Elena was the place where Napoleon Bonaparte spent the rest of his life. Precisely at 5 and 49 minutes on 5 May 1821, Napoleon the Great and the indomitable died in the conditions and circumstances far more misery than any other ordinary person. “So little is known about the closing scenes of the life of Napoleon except through the prejudiced statements of Montholon and of others of the suite that it may be of interest to publish here some details, drawn from our Colonial Office archives, that bear on these questions. In view of the later assertions of Bertrand and Montholon that the emperor was the victim of liver disease, whicb was aggravated by the climate of St. Helena and the character of his detention.”( Rose, 312)
Despite the global opinion that Napoleon was an admirer of the war, he as an emperor admired the peace. This argues in a statement which he gave at the time he was not at war with anyone: "I thank God, I am at peace with the whole world"(Cherep-spiridovich, 88)
“HISTORIANS have long recognized that the Napoleonic period had an important influence on the institutions of France and Europe. The Code Napoleon is still in force in many European states and in other parts of the world. The Legion of Honor continues to reward Frenchmen for their achievements. The administrative system of Napoleon still governs the French people. His concordat of iSoo regulated the relations of church and state until 1905. He put vitality into the conscription law of I798 and forced that institution on the other states of Europe. He employed and popularized the institution known as the plebiscite, which has been used since his time for many purposes.”(Higby and Willis, 465)
Works Cited
Industry and Labor under Napoleon
Chester P. Higby and Caroline B. Willis
The American Historical Review , Vol. 53, No. 3 (Apr., 1948), pp. 465-480
Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of the American Historical Association
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1840565
Count Cherep-Spiridovich, The Secret World Government p. 88
(Weider, 27)
Betros, Gemma. "Napoleon the Man." History Review, 72 (2012): 40-45. http://library.rit.edu/databases/metasearch/record?group=2012-04-05-000021&resultSet=000080&startRecord=17 The Funeral of Napoleon and His Last Paper
J. Holland Rose
The English Historical Review , Vol. 17, No. 66 (Apr., 1902), pp. 311-316
Published by: Oxford University Press
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/548502
Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769 in Corsica about a year and a half after its attachment to France. He came from a noble family. His father, a solicitor by profession, was against the French occupation of Corsica.
Since at age of nine Napoleon was enrolled in college in France, where was instructed and was educated under the French system, however, that did not change in his Corsican temperament. Five years taught at the military college in Brien, then a year at the Military Academy in Paris. At age sixteen graduated from the Academy among the most successful in the class and was awarded with the degree of artillery Sub-lieutenant. Continued to read and deal with a lot of intensity and more specifically with the materials of the areas of strategy and tactics. At that time the riots began which later became the French Revolution. He as a fan of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire, believed that political …show more content…
changes were necessary, but had not very clear what changes should be, because he was not familiar with the sufferings of workers. As a Sub-lieutenant he offered himself to Jacobins and for a short time became their leader. Explicitly legislated against nobles, monks and the archbishops.
In 1792 the party of his father, then under the rule of Corsican dictator Paoli, was preparing to separate Corsica from France, which was opposed by Napoleon vigorously, he mobilized the Corsicans Jacobins and occupied island of St.
Stephen, so that started the civil war in Corsica. After his father 's death, at age sixteen, Napoleon took all precautions and duties towards his mother and family members. When the revolution began he was only a low grade officer but educated. “The French Revolution offered several opportunities to prove his skills, notably during the 1793 siege of Toulon, but an oft-cited letter of 1795 to his brother Joseph again reveals that be felt 'little attached to life ', finding himself as though 'constantly on the eve of battle. ' He despaired that he would end up by not moving aside when a carriage goes by '. Fate — a force in which Napoleon often placed his trust - finally took action when Napoleon 's involvement in the suppression of the 1795 Vendémiaire uprising in Paris brought him
to national attention.”(Betros, 41) His position changed when many old officers fled from France and the Republic established in positions junior officers. Napoleon made from an artillery lieutenant to a general. At the time of terror he was in remission. When he was called upon to lead a pedestrian brigade he replied "I am a cannon man". Began to progress very quickly became a battalion commander, then Brigadier commander and Brigadier General. In 1797 he was placed in charge of the military campaign that began in northern Italy that was led against the Austrians who were sworn enemies of the republican French. After several battles Napoleon broke the Austrian army and he was declared a hero. Firstly Napoleon controlled the lands from the North Sea to the Pyrenees and most of Italy. All his victories against English in Toulon and then in Italy raised him in the eyes of the world as the "impregnable". His bravery and military genius couldn’t be denied. Egyptian Campaign, Battle of the Nile in particular showed Europe that Napoleon was invincible. Great Britain, Russia, Austria and Turkey formed a new coalition against France. In 1799 the French army suffered defeat in Italy and left most of the peninsula. Main cause of this defeat were the events that took place in France. Napoleon left the army and returned to Paris under the pretext "to save the Republic". Indeed, this was one of his goals, but his main goal, in reality, was the looting of the government. The directory itself called on for help. After only a couple of months Napoleon made the coup, all directors were forced to resign and he dissolved the legislative committee. The new government was formed - Consultation - three consuls. One of them was Napoleon, who became the absolute ruler of France. French people, although did not recognized him very well, they accepted and gained confidence in him due to reap victories in the battles of the war. They believed him because he was the only so-called "general servant", closest to the people. At the same time, Napoleon had completely different opinions about people and believed that people should not in any way lead the power, but people should be led. Napoleon, although he was close to people, put the military dictatorship in France, and changed the Constitution. The new Constitution did not guarantee "human rights" and nowhere didn’t mention "Freedom, equality and brotherhood".
Napoleon himself was indifferent to religion, but had gained confidence that the people needed some religion. At the instigation of the Chief of Police, Field Counsel was transformed into empire, which was announced on 18 May 1804 and was confirmed with special plebiscite. Napoleon declared himself emperor and was crowned by Pope Pius VII in the Cathedral Notary Dam. Invasion of Europe
In 1805 the European countries formed the third coalition against Napoleon, who had spent last year on the coast of Normandy, to prepare a military operation along with its ally Spain which will help against England, but soon realized that the new alliance should not take the form of neglect, so he returned once again in command of the great French army which reached more strain on the heart of Europe to defeat the forces raised against the empire. But Napoleon did not prepared well the strategy against the English fleet on 21 October 1805 defeated the French fleet led by Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, the British were led by Admiral Horatio Nelson. With Napoleon 's defeat, he had lost hopes for a possible invasion of England. European coalition forces were to consist mostly of Austrian and Russian. In the clash two fronts were to come the hottest battles: the German, where Napoleon commanded “la Grande Armée”, and Italy, where General Massena commanded “d 'Italie l ' Armée”. Taken victories as in the Battle of Caldiero, and taking Vienna by Gioacchino Murat, did not fear coalition, in fact part of their army was still operating. But by December 2, 1805, the date of in which Napoleon was crowned as emperor one year before, he beat the third coalition in the battle of Austerlitz. This battle of Europe showed once again the genius of Napoleon 's military strategies, after the battle Napoleon controlled all of Europe. A day later sovereigns of Europe asked to declare peace with France. Austria lost Venezia, which joined the kingdom of Italy, and lost any control over Germany, which was formed under the name "Confederation of the Rhine", the first time that Germany was united in a confederation.
A year later Napoleon defeated Prussia at the battle of Jena (14 October 1806).
Collision of four, which was commanded by Prussia, defeated by June 14, 1807 in Friedland, after the battle of Eylau, tsar Alexander I was forced to sign peace at Tilsit. After this peaceful Europe was divided into different areas of influence, as written in the treaty of Tilsit, the territory between the river Elbe and Memel will form the border between the two empires.
To force the England to surrender, that was the only European power that had refused to surrender to the French emperor, Napoleon established a continental bloc in Europe, so that England not to trades goods with Europe. However, this strategy resulted as ineffective, because many European states did not implemented this completely. Napoleon looking at European countries that do not comply with his orders, first decided to invade Portugal, which held a trading relationship with England. The first was Spain later conquered Portugal, but the decision to invade Russia would show catastrophic for Napoleon. Between 5 and 6 July 1809 Napoleon defeated at Wagram the fifth coalition, after he had conquered Vienna and Schönbrunn palace. Austria received severe conditions for peace and signed by issuing many areas such as Trentino, Baviera, Istria and Dalmatia.
Napoleon reached its zenith in 1810 when almost the whole Europe became his. All subordinated states were governed by his family. He was divorced from Josefina and married Maria Louise, daughter of the Austrian Emperor, Francie I.
The fall of the Napoleonic Empire
Military losses began. The "Spanish ulcer," appeared, as Napoleon called the Spanish resistance Guerrilla war through which was organized by the fast attack of small subunits, without going into open war. Spain was supported by Britain, so that Napoleon 's army failed to break the resistance of Spanish. In 1812 Napoleon began the attack on Russia Napoleon 's army initially entered the hinterland but in September the Russians forced Napoleon to stay at Borodino (70 miles west of Moscow). There was developed one of the bloodiest battles of the time. Russian commander to preserve the army withdrew, and Napoleon entered Moscow. Moscow was empty after the population had left. Napoleon 's army hadn’t necessary foods and so after a few weeks Napoleon withdrew his army from Russia. The withdrawal was carried out in a very cold time when the temp was -30 °. While Russia and the attacks were always present. By marching from Moscow less than 40 000 soldiers remained (first Napoleon army consisted of 614 000 persons). This was a political and military defeat of Napoleon.
During the last years of Napoleon, he did not provoke wars, but wars provoked him, and he accepted them as "Ultima Racio". In January 1814 the borders of France were attacked from all sides. Official allies stated they do not fight against the French people, but against Napoleon himself. It was almost impossible for the French army to resist the Allied military forces, which were already before the gates of Paris. And just when Napoleon was prepared to drop off their backs, the Senate appointed the interim government and as chairman Talleyrand, who proclaimed emperor dethrones and without declaration of the people proclaimed Louis XVIII, who had only the support of England. When Napoleon was left by most of the generals and defected to the enemy, he abdicates on 6 April 1814. He was sent to small island of Elba, from which, after ten months in residence, escaped and went back to France to take the rule for another 100 days. Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo was held June 18, 1815 by the Napoleonic army against the armies of the coalition, which consisted of seven from England, Austria, Russia, Prussia, Sweden, the Sardinian Kingdom, the Netherlands and some German states and was led by the Duke of Wellington. This was the last battle of Napoleon and marked the final loss. The fact that many countries participated and the fact that it was a very important battle, this battle is considered the bloodiest battle of the nineteenth century, the battle lasted approximately 7-8 hours which killed nearly 50,000 soldiers. After the tragedy in the vicinity of Waterloo Napoleon surrendered to the mercy of the enemy, against whom he fought for twenty years.
On July 15 he was imprisoned in the warship "Belrofon", waiting to find out how it will be fate. Before he surrendered to the English, he wrote the famously letter sent to British prince, heir to the throne, later king, George IV:
“Your Majesty,
Victim of factions that divided my country and the hostility of the major European powers, I had finished my political career and now as I go like Temistoklo to get a place in the heart of British people. I put myself under the protection of their laws, which is what I ask from your Majesty as a man among my stronger enemies, more positive and more bountiful.”(Weider, 27)
The English government was found in a delicate position. It took full two weeks to decide what attitude to take towards Napoleon. There were various proposals: to leave and live somewhere in England or to kill. The second proposal more vigorously was objected by Wellington - the same which he won the fight in the vicinity of Waterloo. Finally they took a decision to send him to the island of Saint-Elena, from which no bird can fly the across the ocean. This decision of the England was liked from the other Allied powers too. On July 31 the English Admiral Lord Katy reached the ship to read the Decree by which Napoleon was about to get deported to the island of Saint-Elena. On August 7, Napoleon and his suite passed on the warship "Nortumberlend", which after two days left for Saint-Elena, where they reached after 71 days. The man who was available throughout Europe, was now in the company of 27 people who voluntarily emigrated to the island with him. Elena Saint-island was ruled from the British ru and it was located 1700 miles away from Cape Town, South Africa, 1800 miles from South America and 4,000 miles from England. The nearest land was located at a distance of 700 miles - Asansioni Islands. The Island of Saint Elena was the place where Napoleon Bonaparte spent the rest of his life. Precisely at 5 and 49 minutes on 5 May 1821, Napoleon the Great and the indomitable died in the conditions and circumstances far more misery than any other ordinary person. “So little is known about the closing scenes of the life of Napoleon except through the prejudiced statements of Montholon and of others of the suite that it may be of interest to publish here some details, drawn from our Colonial Office archives, that bear on these questions. In view of the later assertions of Bertrand and Montholon that the emperor was the victim of liver disease, whicb was aggravated by the climate of St. Helena and the character of his detention.”( Rose, 312)
Despite the global opinion that Napoleon was an admirer of the war, he as an emperor admired the peace. This argues in a statement which he gave at the time he was not at war with anyone: "I thank God, I am at peace with the whole world"(Cherep-spiridovich, 88)
“HISTORIANS have long recognized that the Napoleonic period had an important influence on the institutions of France and Europe. The Code Napoleon is still in force in many European states and in other parts of the world. The Legion of Honor continues to reward Frenchmen for their achievements. The administrative system of Napoleon still governs the French people. His concordat of iSoo regulated the relations of church and state until 1905. He put vitality into the conscription law of I798 and forced that institution on the other states of Europe. He employed and popularized the institution known as the plebiscite, which has been used since his time for many purposes.”(Higby and Willis, 465)
Works Cited
Industry and Labor under Napoleon
Chester P. Higby and Caroline B. Willis
The American Historical Review , Vol. 53, No. 3 (Apr., 1948), pp. 465-480
Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of the American Historical Association
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1840565
Count Cherep-Spiridovich, The Secret World Government p. 88
(Weider, 27)
Betros, Gemma. "Napoleon the Man." History Review, 72 (2012): 40-45. http://library.rit.edu/databases/metasearch/record?group=2012-04-05-000021&resultSet=000080&startRecord=17 The Funeral of Napoleon and His Last Paper
J. Holland Rose
The English Historical Review , Vol. 17, No. 66 (Apr., 1902), pp. 311-316
Published by: Oxford University Press
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/548502