• Napoleon Bonaparte (15th August, 1769 – 5th May 1821) was born at Ajaccio city in

Corsica Island. So, his family became French.

• He took his education in military school (Ecole Militaire) in Paris. After completion of
education, he joined in Artillery section of French army.
• Later on, he became a French military and political leader who rose to prominence
during the French Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the
Revolutionary Wars.
• He was the de facto leader of the French Republic as First Consul from 1799 to 1804.
As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 until 1814 and again in 1815
CAUSES BEHIND THE RISE OF NAPOLEON
• French revolution prepared Circumstances for his Rise: napoleon was
son of French revolution of 1789 because the positive works prepared
circumstances for his rise.
• French revolution destroyed old France, based on class privileges and
hereditary rule. Offices were thrown open to merit and because of that a
born genius like Napoleon could enter a high state office and captured the
imagination of common French man through his achievements.
• o Principle of equality was declared as a basis of state and
society in France because of this a common born person like
Napoleon could aspire for high offices and acquire them.
• o French revolution destroyed monarchy and established a
republican system. Since French thrown was vacant,
Napoleon could think about sitting a French thrown, without this
vacancy created by revolution, the rise of Napoleon would have
never been taken place
ROLE OF NATIONALISM

• Nationalism played an important role in the rise of Napoleon.

• When France was invaded by the forces of First European Coalition, French
nationalism was born.
• Frenchman suffered immensely during the days of their invasion, they live nothing more
than national glory and prestige.
• The hunger of National pride of Frenchman was satisfied by the Phenomenal
military success of Napoleon.
• When Napoleon captured power, everyone welcomed his rise
FIRST EUROPEAN COALITION?
• The first coalition of anti-French states, consisting of Britain,
Russia, Prussia, Spain, Holland, and Austria, disintegrated by
1796.
NAPOLEON AS A PRODUCT OF REACTION
AGAINST REVOLUTION

• : Napoleon was not only son of revolution but at the same time he was
also a product of reaction against it.
• o With the outbreak of revolution in France in 1789, The Frenchmen faced a
long period of Anarchy, whatever little economic activities were there in
France, this disorder caused by revolution had destroyed them.
• o The forces of revolution committed extreme excess on people. Lakhs
of Frenchmen lost their life after the outbreak of revolution. More than
40,000 Frenchmen were killed during the reign of terror itself.
• o That’s why napoleon commented that “He found the crown of France
lying in dust and picked it up with the tip of his sword to put on his
head”
POLITICS AND PROGRAMS OF NAPOLEON

• Politics and Programs of Napoleon were inconence with the needs

and aspirations of different sections of French population.
• o Middle class was promised peace and security. The French
Nationalists were hypnotized by phenomenal success of Napolean.
Peasants were promised ownership rights over the land captured by
them after the outbreak of revolution.
• o French monarchist was hopeful that powerful man like Napoleon
would restore monarchy in France.
• o The support from different sections of population also contributed to
rise of Napoleon.
FAILURE OF DIRECTORY
• Failure of Directory was also responsible for his victory.
• o The internal policy of directory increased economic hardship of common Frenchmen
because directory carried out devaluation of French currency. This action was taken to
boost French exports but its only outcome was rapid increase in inflation.
• o External policy of directory brought national shame. The directory sent Napoleon to
Egypt to keep him away from France but in his absence, second European coalition
emerged and French forces started losing everywhere.
• o Since Frenchmen loved nothing more than glory, not a single person shed tears for
directory when it was overthrown by Napoleon.
ABBE SIEYES
• Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès known as the Abbé Sieyès was a French Roman Catholic
abbé, clergyman, and political writer who was the chief political theorist of the
French Revolution (1789–1799)
• he held offices in the governments of the French Consulate (1799–1804) and the
First French Empire (1804–1815).
• His pamphlet What Is the Third Estate? (1789) became the political manifesto of the
Revolution
• He was offered and refused an office in the French Directory (1795–1799).
• After becoming a director in 1799, Sieyès was among the instigators of the Coup of 18
Brumaire (9 November), which installed Napoleon Bonaparte in power.
REFORMS UNDERTAKEN BY NAPOLEON
• Spirit behind Reforms:
•  Future Ambitions: In hindsight it is very much clear that the true spirit of reform was
directed at abolition of Consulate and making of Napoleon the new emperor which duly
happened in 1804.
•  Collective Leadership: The crux of reform by Consulate was to show that Napoleon
could work in collective leadership which gave signs that he is non-dictatorial and
people centric as far as administration is concerned. Equality and liberty were
cornerstone of evolution and Napoleon moulded his image in that regards only.
•  Meritocracy: The meritocracy was promoted with any prejudices in order to crack the
very roots of ancient regime which lied in feudalism and hereditary rights. This
meritocratic people remained loyal to Napoleon when he abolished the Consulate system.
•  Elimination of Rivals: By eliminating the communes and reducing elements of elections,
Napoleon removed the biggest hurdle in reverting back to monarchical system.
•  Creation of Allies: By sowing seeds of reforms in neighbouring countries such as
Spain and Portugal Napoleon had already created allies. He topped it by showing the
way to good governance via his reforms especially Napoleonic Code. This reduced
international pressure from European countries when Napoleon reverted to Monarchy.
ECONOMIC REFORMS
• Banking system: The Bank of France was founded in 1800 and its constitution drafted
by a leading Paris banker, Perregaux. Although at first an independent corporation, the
Bank of France was from the outset linked with the management of government loans
and tax- collectors' deposits, and in 1803 it was given the monopoly of issuing bank-
notes. Hayes writes about it, "It is one of the soundest financial institutions in the world."
• Taxation: The system of collecting taxes, which the Revolution had entrusted to
autonomous local authorities, was now centralized and made more efficient by Gaudin.
• Abolished Guild system: He abolished the guild system and
prohibited the merchants from making fresh guilds, because
according to Napoleon Bonaparte these guilds were the
centres of corruption and indiscipline.
• Establishment of Industrial Committee: In order to settle the
disputes between the merchants and the labourers, an
Industrial Committee was formed by Napoleon, but the
merchants had their majority in this committee.
• Rapid Industrialisation: He imported machines from Britain and America for
the rapid industrialisation of France. More than 299 roads were
constructed to improve connectivity within France.
• Peace with Europe: Appealed to the rulers of Austria and England asking
them the utility of war in the era of prosperity and development. Treaty
of Amiens between England and France leading to friendly relations
between two countries.
• Agricultural reforms: He took steps for increasing fertility of the soil,
barren and unproductive lands were brought under cultivation. He also
adopted liberal attitude towards farmers.
Treaty of Amiens, (March 27, 1802), an agreement
signed at Amiens, Fr., by Britain, France, Spain, and
the Batavian Republic (the Netherlands), achieving a
peace in Europe for 14 months during the
Napoleonic Wars.
EDUCATIONAL REFORMS
•  Established secular institution: National Assembly took out education
from the hands of religion when it established National Education Council.
Napoleon established secular institution for education for primary to
higher education.
•  Primary Schools: These schools were under public control and the
communes looked after their management through prefects and sub-
prefects, but the state had no control over them.
•  Grammar Schools: The Secondary or the Grammar Schools were under
the supervision of the Central Government; and Latin, Greek and French
were taught in these schools.
•  High Schools: They were meant for higher education. They were
established in big towns, and the courses in these schools were decided
by the government and appointments of the teachers were also made the
government.
• Vocational Schools: Vocational schools were established vocational
training, and military schools("Lycee") were also opened to provide
military training to the students. A Normal School was also started the
training of the teachers.
•  Paris University: (French University was established in 1808) -
All the educational institutions were controlled by the University of
Paris. It was essential to pass the Higher Secondary Examination to
get admission in the University.
•  Teacher training: The Ecole Normale Superieure was set up with
the sole purpose of training teachers. Teachers were rewarded for
finding and promoting students with 'special' talents as Napoleon felt it
was more important to focus on them so that France would be
equipped with intelligent and qualified leader.
SOCIO- CULTURAL REFORMS
•  Social equality: He proclaimed social equality for all the Frenchmen and this
ensured most important gain of French Revolution. Napoleon used to say that "a state
without a religion is like a mariner without a compass."
•  Narrowing the differences with pope: The National Assembly of France had framed a
civil constitution for the clergy who had created a breach with the Pope but Napoleon
wanted to narrow down these differences due to the following reason.
• o The clergy and the vast majority of the French people were dissatisfied. Not only
France but most of the European countries had a great reverence for the Pope; hence,
Napoleon wanted to befriend the Pope.
• o There were a number of Bishops in France who propagating against the Revolution
in the country. They getting honorarium from the British Government. Napoleon wanted to
patronise them for the safety of the country but could not be done without the active
cooperation of the Pope.
CONCORD AGREEMENT (1802)

• Excessive interference by the state in religious matters had alienated

conservatives and church from revolution. Napoleon was, as such neutral
in religious matters but understood the ground realities and wanted to use
religion to consolidate his own position. Thus, he settled a religious
compromise with the pope in 1802 known as Concord.
• o According to it,
• Catholicism was accepted as the state religion.
• Bishops arrested during revolution freed & deported priest
were allowed to come back.
• Religious freedom was granted in France
• Church renounced its right over the confiscated property.
• Priests were mandated to take oath of loyalty to the constitution.
• Church now became a partner of state instead of its
antagonist.
POLITICO-ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS
• Creation of Modern state based on principles: Napoleon created a "Modern State" in
France based on the principles of equality, rule of law and secularism. The principle of
merit was adopted for appointments under the state.
• Promoted Fraternity: Napoleon promoted Fraternity to heal the wounds of France.
Emigres were allowed to come back to France without fear of persecution.
•  Creation of Central Secretariat: Central Secretariat was created to manage the
affairs of state. A new civil service known as Auditeur was created to run the
administration.
•  Centralisation: The system of election of local officials was brought to an end.
Local prefects and sub-prefects were appointed by Napoleon in their place. Local elected
councils were left with only advisory powers, and even the mayor of each commune
was centrally appointed.
•  Codification of laws: The enormously complex task of
codifying French law was completed. The synthesis, which
was eventually embodied in the 2,287 articles of the
Napoleonic Code of 1804, was itself made possible by
Bonaparte's readiness to employ men of talent whatever their
past.
JUDICIAL REFORMS
•  Five types of laws comprised his code. (i) Civil code (ii) Code of civil
procedure (iii) Penal code (iv) Code of criminal procedure (v)
Commercial code.
•  Prior to revolution, France had many laws enforce which had mutual
contradictions and discrepancies. There was nothing new in these laws
but significance was that it compiled old as well as new radical laws.
•  These were the provisions of the code, provision of court hearing by jury,
principle of equality before law, marriage was accepted as a holy and
permanent bond but women were completely subordinate to their husbands.
Civil marriages and divorce were accepted. Principle of private property was
recognised and it could be appropriated by the government only after
suitable compensation.
•  Napoleon’s code of law proved to be his permanent achievement. The
code of law presents an outline of cultural society and strikes compromise
numerous laws enacted during the period of revolution and old permanent
conventions. It may be incomplete or brief but the proof of its popularity lies
in it that it has been adopted outside Europe.
•  Established 4 Houses: He established 4 Houses:
• Council of States,
• Senate,
• Tribunate
• Legislative Body
• introduced a Unique voting system known as 10 % law.
• It was a list system. District (10%) -> State (10%) -> Centre (10%). From
Centre list only Napolean could pick members for 4 houses.
CONTINENTAL SYSTEM
• England was the only last major power
• Without its destruction France can never become superpower.
• European countries had had to carry out Napoleon’s Ordinances and orders
• Organizing economic boycott of England through which Napoleon wanted to
destroy its trade.
• On November 21, 1806, Napoleon barricaded British Isles and banned European
trade with England and all her colonies. All ports of Europe were put under
Embargo.
CONTINENTAL SYSTEM
• Napoleon decided to attack the "nation of shopkeepers" by

• starving Britain of money

• destroying British trade, particularly the export of colonial goods to Europe
CONTINENTAL SYSTEM
•  Warsaw Ordinance issued on 25th January 1807 by Napoleon banned British trade on
the sea-cost of Prussia & Hanover.
•  England issued ordinance called “Orders in Council" in January 1807 by which ships
of France and its allies would not be attend allowed to cross the regions dominated by
England nor independent trade would be carried out with them.
• "Napoleon's embargo was merely a threat, but England stopped the imports of colonial
goods to France in response to these threats".
• However, in absence of strong forces, France failed to put embargo successfully. On
the other hand, by effective barricading, England put France under severe stress &
beside its trade with colonies remained unaffected. Thus, Napoleon’s policy could not
succeed and England retained its influence over international Trade and sea routes.
CAUSES OF FAILURES OF CONTINENTAL
POLICY
• For want of huge army England trade with its colonies couldn't be barricaded
effectively.
•  The entire scheme was impracticable. It was folly to think the conquered states
would implement this scheme effectively at their own suffering.
•  Effective barricading of Europe led to slum in trade and brought upon people of
Europe untold misery. People become discontented with his policies.
•  Napoleon waged battles against countries unwilling to ban the trade with
England. Those countries become sworn enemies of Napoleon.
•  Scarcity of food in England was lightened up by Napoleon himself by selling
food grains at exorbitant prices (with a view to fleece England of its wealth). This was
a mistake as it prevented crisis brewing in England.
•  French industries couldn't meet the demand of Europe in such a short time.
Hence Smuggling and trade with England became imperative
IMPACT
• Napoleon failed to take advantage of Britain's partial collapse and even allowed
European grain to be sold in Britain in return for gold, which he needed desperately.
• Trade restrictions were lifted and Britain reaped the benefits because smuggling
began again.
• Continental System was disastrous for Napoleon because it backfired on him.
• French custom' revenue fell and European nations were starved of British colonial
goods: coffee, sugar, tobacco, cocoa, and cotton textiles.
• Apart from cotton, the imported goods were addictive luxuries and people resented
the French depriving them of these commodities.
• Replacement items such as sugar beet and linen were not tolerated. The British
blockade of European ports and the scarcity of goods created a rise in European
nationalism.
IMPACT
• Napoleon slackened the restrictions, which immediately benefited Britain - so he again
tightened up the regulations in 1811. This caused both his allies and his vassal stated to
revolt.
• Russia refused to implement the Continental System and this led directly to the Moscow
Campaign of 1812.
• The rise of nationalism in Europe gave Britain the opportunity to fight France on land.
Britain used peoples against the French government of occupation, allowing Britain to
follow up her naval victories with the army.
• The Spanish state of Asturias, with a population of half a million, took on the might of
France. The people turned against the French because they resented French occupation
and the removal of their king, Charles IV, in 1808 so that Joseph Bonaparte could have the
kingdom. Britain sent her army to help the Spanish. Eventually Sir Arthur Wellesley ( the
Duke of Wellington) commanded the British army in the Peninsula.
• Napoleon found himself faced with a war on two fronts: after 1808, Spain was in rebellion
against French rule and in 1812, Napoleon launched the Moscow Campaign because the
Czar refused to implement the Continental System after 1810.
THE CAUSES OF THE DOWNFALL OF NAPOLEON
BONAPARTE:
• The process of the fall of Napoleon set in even before the completion of his
empire building project. His political life came to an end with his defeat at
Waterloo in 1815 yet Napoleon became a legend within his lifetime. He left
a permanent imprint on every department of the French administration
due to his original thinking. Ironically, his failures had been predetermined by
precisely those very qualities which helped in his spectacular rise.
•  Limitless ambition: Limitless ambition was another reason for Napoleon's
fall. Had he confined his war operations to the extent that they would
help consolidate revolutionary gains and protect the frontiers of the
country, he would not have met with such opposition. Napoleon undoubtedly
brought back a semblance of peace and order to France and his successive
victories in war also restored national pride. However, the relentless
pursuit of military adventures eventually left people weary. They
stopped extending their moral support and military might turned out to be a
source of disloyalty.
•  Continental system: The failure of the Continental System hastened
Napoleon's fall. He did not have sufficient naval power to enforce the
blockade successfully or to rival British naval supremacy. The Continental
System badly affected the economic interests of European countries
dependent on British goods and soon they articulated their resentment in
public. Napoleon, in trying to force the blockade of British merchant ships
sailing into European harbours, brought about a long and unnecessary war.
• Spain Ulcer: Napoleon injured the national pride of the Spaniards by putting his
brother Joseph Bonaparte on the Spanish throne. The French army met with near
defeat in the Peninsular war against the combined forces of Spain and Portugal,
suffered heavy casualties, and the Spanish resistance turned into a national liberation
war. The Spaniards, exerted a strong influence on other European countries.
Realising his mistake, Napoleon remarked that it was the 'Span ulcer' which had proved
to be disastrous for him.
• Invasion of Moscow: Napoleon's downfall was further facilitated by his invasion of
Moscow in utter disregard of the Russian climate and topography. Far away from
Central Europe, hard winters made Moscow inaccessible for any military campaigns.
When Napoleon realized this bitter truth and finally decided to return home, it was
too late and the Moscow expedition cost him dearly in terms of loss of soldier's
pride, and prestige.
• Annexation of the Papal kingdom: The Pope's refusal to
accept the Continental Blockade led Napoleon to annex the
Papal kingdom. This caused an adverse response from
European catholics while the earlier Concordat of 1801 signed
with the Pope had turned the protestants against Napoleon.
Thus, he alienated the entire Christian world, which did not
prove beneficial for his empire,
•  Limitations of individual ability: Napoleon's success in war hinged
mainly on his use of military blitzkrieg tactics. His personal marshalling of
forces was the key to French success in this form of offensive hence the
army commanders of other European countries now began to focus on
those theatres of war where Napoleon was not present to command his
men.
• Revolutionary Ideas vs Self-interests: The French army under Napoleon
had been initially inspired by patriotic zeal and a revolutionary spirit to
sacrifice their lives for the motherland. As the empire spread in the later
phase, people of different nationalities like Poles, Danes, Germans,
Italians, and the Dutch joined the army not for revolutionary ideals but to
serve their own narrow self-interests.
•  Role of bourgeoisie: The bourgeoisie who had backed Napoleon's rise
their interests threatened when he got involved in unnecessary power, felt
warfare to satisfy his growing ambition. Extended war efforts called for larger
mobilizations of resources which put added pressure on the state
finances. The bourgeoisie, who had to bear the added burden, felt utterly
disillusioned with Napoleon to the extent that they ultimately parted ways
with him.
MILITARISM

• He extended and perfected militarism in France. He recruited large armies,

trained and hastened them to the battlefields. With its help defeated one by
one nation. He used to say, "God marches with the biggest battalions.“
• Such a process could not continue long and was bound to result in disaster.
His militarism led to militarism in other countries, mainly in Austria,
Prussia and Russia. Finally, their combined militarism defeated Napoleon.
Second thing he had to recruit army men from newly conquered territories.
Those soldiers were not effective in fighting and loyal to him also.
• Struggle with Pope: By the policy of conciliation Napoleon had established good
relations with Pope. But Pope did not supported his Continental Policy. It created
rivalry between them. Napoleon conquered territory of Pope's state. Then imprisoned
Pope. Total Catholics became his opponents. It was great loss of ruler.
•  Nature of Napoleon: Napoleon himself was responsible for his failure. He was always
conscious of his own superiority over others. He centralized everything in his own
hands and believed nobody. He became boastful and the habit of boasting often leads to
the fall of man. Metternich had urged him to accept his terms and peace to Europe
but boastfully he rejected the proposal. He could not tolerate the idea of compromise.
•  Brave and strong opponents: Napoleon supposed himself superior of all. He always
neglected or supposed minor to opponents. Many brave, clever Generals were
available in rival group. Arthur Wellesley of England, Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher of
Prussia etc were capable Generals. They 34 studied strategy of Napoleon and
planned own strategy accordingly. Napoleon could not take care of this change. So, he
failed before them.
•  Weak Naval force: Weak naval force of France was one of the reasons for is downfall,
because of which he could not defeat England and started searching for alternatives.
• Men of uncommon genius often tend to forget their limitations and find themselves
under the spell of mounting ambition. Napoleon was no exception. He gained and
clung to power largely through the use of military power, and he tended to impose his
wish on his countrymen, people of defeated states, and even on his advisors. Had
Napoleon taken lessons from Trafalgar it is possible that he would not have met his
Waterloo
IMPACT OF NAPOLEONIC EMPIRE ON EUROPE
•  Development of Ideals and Principles: Wherever Napoleon's rule extended, there
followed the abolition of feudalism and serfdom, recognition of equality of citizens before the
law, and precepts and principles of his famous Civil Code, Napoleonic Code. Even those
countries which were outside the influence of France were stimulated by the inspiration of
French ideals. Thus, Napoleon imposed the Revolution on Europe.
•  Seeds of Future Europe: Reorganization of Europe by Napoleon contained the seeds of
future developments. The simplification of the maps of Germany and Italy as the result of
Napoleonic reconstruction secured administrative unity in both countries and was prelude to
the national unity.
•  Birth to Nation-State: The creation of kingdom of Italy, the revival of kingdom of Warsaw
and the remaking of Germany by reducing around 200 states to 39 (after dismantling Holy
Roman Empire) sowed seed of nationalism in these countries. Although Napoleon himself
was averse to political liberty, unconsciously his work of reorganization led to the birth
of the spirit of nationalism.
•  Fatal Blow to Monarchy: Politically, he created a fatal crack in the citadel of the divine
right of monarchy. By his reorganization of Europe, overthrow of old dynasties with
bewildering rapidity, he discredited the institution of divine monarchy.
• Reconstruction of European Order: The apparent ease with which he overthrew the
vast mercenary armies of Austria, Prussia and Russia exposed the rottenness of the
institution. His greatest service to Europe was that he helped to destroy the anomalies
of its Old Regime and thereby paved the way for its reconstruction on new lines and
principles. The magnitude of his achievements is not diminished by the fact that they
were also the expression of his personal ambition.
•  Entrenched Changes: Although the divine right monarchies came back after
Napoleon's fall, they had little chance to survive against the current of new ideas
spread by Napoleon. Changes brought by Napoleon became too widespread and too
deep-rooted to be wiped away by the reaction which followed the collapse of the
Napoleonic Empire.
•  Reform Oriented Governance: Socially, his reform in Europe outlasted his conquest.
Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Spain and Netherlands tested the fruit of his
reforms. In some countries, his social reforms were not enduring but they created a spirit
of hope. The Code of Napoleon became the common property of Europe. The
regeneration of Prussia was indirectly caused by Napoleon. His methods of government
and social reforms were introduced in Prussia.
• Weakening of Papacy: Napoleon laid the foundation of a novel system by way of
sidelining the Holy Roman Empire, weakening the power of Papacy, and revoking the
orders made by priests and feudal barons. These were highly significant for Europe.
•  Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity: The social gains in the direction of equality were the
most permanent achievement of the Napoleonic era. The idea of fraternity or national
patriotism was learnt from him by others in Europe. Nationality in Germany, Italy and
Spain etc. grew out of the idea of fraternity.
•  Trading Organisations: The Continental System of Napoleon was perhaps the first
trading organisation or system of the Europe. This gave impetus to trade warfare and
development of economic consciousness in Europe.
•  Militaristic Orientation: It also contributed to the culmination of militarization of Europe.
For eg. the Concert of Europe was the direct result of Revolution and Napoleonic
Warfare.
•  Emergence of Personality Cult: The success of Napoleon, Robespierre etc. led to
dictatorship and personality cult in Europe and later Europe saw the emergence of
Metternich, Bismarck etc.