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Explore the remarkable journey of Napoleon Bonaparte, who rose to power in France through military genius and political maneuvering. Appointed general of the French army in 1799, he orchestrated a coup d'état, eventually becoming Emperor in 1804. While he transformed France through the Napoleonic Codes, which increased order but limited personal liberties, his ambition to conquer Europe led to significant military conflicts. His downfall came after disastrous campaigns, particularly in Russia, culminating in his exile first to Elba and then to St. Helena after his defeat at Waterloo.
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Rise to Power • 1799 • Appointed general of French army • Coup d'état • Military seizure of governmental power • 1800 • People gave all real power to Napoleon in a vote • Napoleonic Codes • Limited liberties, authority over individual rights, but promoted order and eliminated many injustices • 1804 • Napoleon crowned himself emperor of France
Napoleon as Emperor • Focused on Europe • Wanted to conquer all of Europe • Russia, Prussia, and Austria signed peace treaties • Battle of Trafalgar • British naval victory • Destroyed French fleet, ensured France would never invade Britain • 1812 • Only countries not under French control were Portugal, Sweden, and Ottoman Empire
Napoleon’s Mistakes • Continental System • Blockade of Britain • Britain then blockaded France, weakened French economy • Peninsula War • France sent troops into Spain to conquer Portugal • Spain outraged - Guerilla Warfare • Invasion of Russia • Alexander I - Czar of Russia • Russia sold grain to Britain - angered Napoleon • Russian army retreated to Moscow - scorched earth policy • Entered with over 400,000 troops, left with around 10,000
Downfall • Russia, Britain, Prussia, and Austria • Joined forces to defeat Napoleon • 1814 • Coalition army pushed in Paris • Exiled to the island of Elba, off Italy
End of Life • Comeback to France • Battle of Waterloo - Defeated by British and Prussian troops • Exiled to St Helena - South Atlantic