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Napoleon Bonaparte. The Little Big Man. Myth. Current World Leaders. Was Napoleon short? Napoleon was 5’6” The average height for a man in the 1800s was 5’6” The average height for a man in Canada today is 5’9” The myth is likely do to two things: His bodyguards were particularly tall
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Napoleon Bonaparte The Little Big Man
Myth Current World Leaders • Was Napoleon short? • Napoleon was 5’6” • The average height for a man in the 1800s was 5’6” • The average height for a man in Canada today is 5’9” • The myth is likely do to two things: • His bodyguards were particularly tall • British propaganda portrayed him as short
Background • Born in Corsica August 15 1769, the second son of a lawyer • Spent 5 years at the military college in Brienne • Graduated early after 1 year at military academy in Paris • His father died while he was in Paris
Napoleon spent much of his early military career on leave or AWOL in his in Corsica where he was involved in both sides of their revolution • Early on in the revolution Napoleon was sponsored by the brother of Maxmilien Robespierre • When Robespierre was executed Napoleon was briefly placed under house arrest
Significant Battles • Siege of Toulon • Recaptured the port city from the British • Was wounded in capturing a hill for his artillery • Made very effective use of his artillery • Promoted to Brigadier General • Came to the attention of the Robespierre brothers • Italy • Defeated Austria forcing them to sign a peace giving France much of Northern Italy • Refused the request of the Revolutionary leaders to attack Rome • Made creative use of artillery and mobile forces to support infantry • Also made excellent use of espionage
Significant Battles • Egypt • Goal was to disrupt British trade and hook up with an enemy of Britain in India • Napoleon had become a member of the French Academe of Sciences and as such his forces also included a large scientific expedition • In spite of being severely out numbered most often Napoleon was able to defeat Egypt’s military forces several times with hardly any casualties • His forces were eventually hampered by disease and lack of supplies forcing a retreat back into Egypt
Taking Over • The Coup of 18 Brumaire • Napoleon was approached by 2 Directors and the speaker of the Council of 500 and his brother to overthrow the government • Napoleon used troops to run off council members • Quickly Napoleon and the two Directors were named as Consuls and put in charge of the government • Napoleon then out maneuvered the Directors and was elected First Consul
Peace in Europe • After taking control of France Napoleon then turned his attentions to Austria and Britain who were at war with France • By 1801 Napoleon, with a great deal of help from his generals, had defeated Austria and forced them to sign a peace treaty • By 1802 France and Britain both tiring of war agreed to a peace treaty
Power & Problems • On May 10, 1802 Napoleon was elected First Consul for Life with a popular vote of 99.76% • In the Law of 20 May 1802 Napoleon re-established slavery in the colonies where it had been banned during the Revolution • This led to a rebellion in Haiti which France lost • Britain had also declared war against France again in 1803 • Facing financial issues and war with Britain, Napoleon sold France’s territory in North America to the US
Emperor • As first Consul Napoleon faced several plots to kill him from the Jacobins and Royalists • In 1804 Napoleon used a Royalist plot to kill him to re-establish a hereditary monarchy with himself as Emperor • The idea was put to a vote of the French people and Napoleon won with a vote of 99.93% • Napoleon was crowned Emperor on December 2 1804 by the Pope in Paris
The Fall • Continental System • Was a response to the British naval blockade of France • In 1806 & 1807 Napoleon passed several decrees demanding that allies of France and nations that wanted to be neutral were to stop all trade with Britain • Goal was to cripple Britain financially and at the same time turn France into a commerce hub • Was never truly effective and in fact hurt France and her allies economically
The Fall • Spanish Ulcer • Portugal refused to take part in the continental system • Napoleon sent troops to deal with Portugal but on the way occupied parts of Spain • Britain came to the support of Portugal • French occupation spurred a Spanish civil war against the monarch who supported the French • The conflict tied up French resources and troops that were needed else where • Spanish would finally defeat the French at Toulson, AFTER Napoleon had abdicated
The Fall • Russian Campaign • Came about in large part to Russia’s withdrawal from the Continental System • Russian’s used a combination of scorched earth tactics and retreat to frustrate Napoleon • While Napoleon was victorious at Moscow it was NOT the decisive victory he needed • Napoleon had hoped the capture of Moscow would force Russia to surrender instead they burned the city and after a month Napoleon was forced to return to France
The End • Heartened by France’s defeat in Russia, Prussia joined with Austria, Sweden, Russia, Spain, Portugal and Great Britain to form the Sixth Coalition • In spite of several successes Napoleon was severely outnumbered and eventually Paris surrendered • Along with surrendering Paris deposed Napoleon as Emperor • Napoleon purposed attempting to recaptured Paris at which time his general’s mutinied • Napoleon was exiled to Elba
Napoleonic Code • Napoleonic Code was the unification of French civil law • The code remains in use in France and in various nations across the world • The Napoleonic Code and its protection of property ownership would help lead to the development of Nation States of Italy and eventually Germany
Other Changes • Metric System • Similar to prerevolutionary measuring units but based on the kilogram, metre • This would eventually lead to the adoption of the metric system throughout Europe and later much of the world • Concordat • Recognized the Catholic Church as the church of the majority and gave back much of its civil status • Balance of power remained in favor of the state
More Changes • Central Bank – basis of modern national financing • New tax code – unfair taxation had been the basis of both the French and American revolutions • Emancipation of the Jews
