NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

A New Kind of France

THE TERROR COMES TO AN END

1795-1799

France tries a new

government of Directors (after
Robespierre is executed)
Inflation continues; poor governing
1799 an army general forces out the
Directors and takes over the
government in a coup

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
Born in Corsica* in 1769
7 siblings (second eldest)
At 9 years old, he is sent to
France for military school/training
At 16, he leaves school to become
lieutenant in French army

NAPOLEON CONTINUED

Four years later, the Revolution began

Throughout the Revolution, Napoleon gained

promotion rapidly

By 24, he is a General*

In 1796 he is made Commander of the Army of Italy (a big

role). As Commander he was to rid Northern Italy of the
occupying Austrian army

For 18 months, he fought off the Austrians and eventually

France had control of Northern Italy

Napoleon becomes Frances most successful and

celebrated General

CAMPAIGNS: 1796 - 1802

For the next 8 years, Napoleon has military success

against Britain and Egypt, and he is sent to India

The British navy sinks Napoleons ships and he is

stranded in the Middle East for a year (on his way to
India)

Napoleon disregards orders, leaves his army behind in

Egypt and heads back to Paris where he takes over the
government

Sphinx
Great Pyramids of Giza

Napoleon takes control

of the government of
France

The Directors are

kicked out

A new Government is
formed

It consists of Three
Consuls

3 million French voters

show favour to this
new arrangement

NEW RESPONSIBILITIES

Now that Napoleon runs France,

he has to protect it from invaders

Napoleon marches his army

across the Alps

His troops are tired, cold and

outnumbered*

Somehow they defeat the

Austrians

SUCCESS IN BATTLE

French armies win control of Belgium, parts

of Germany, northern Italy, and eventually
much of Spain

Napoleon divides control of various regions

amongst his siblings

Not everyone likes their new leaders, but

some good comes out of the Bonaparte's rule

REFORMS
Napoleon reinstated the Catholic Church in France after the Revolution
de-Christianized it
He signed an agreement with the Pope called the Concordat allowing the French
to worship freely
He allowed rebel leaders to bring their complaints to him he would deal with
them on a case by case basis
He reformed schools creating a kind of Secondary School with a
government-created curriculum
Wrote down French Law in 7 books known as the Code Napoleon
Made himself Emperor of France (Emperor Napoleon I)
He brought back noble titles: princes, dukes, barons, knights, etc.

NAPOLEON IS CROWNED EMPEROR, 1804

NAPOLEONS REIGN
Under rule by Napoleon, occupied regions paid heavily*
Many European people hated French rule, especially in Spain
Spain responds by beginning a War of Independence against the French
Britain is never occupied by the French
It becomes Napoleons priority to conquer Britain
He aims to take control of their naval trade routes**
He issues embargoes on trade with Britain
Invades Portugal because Britain trades with them
Fights for 5 years against the British and Spanish in the Peninsular War
Russia pulls support of France
Napoleon invades Russia (his forces are spread thin all over Europe)

NAPOLEON & RUSSIA (1812)

A poorly led campaign

655,000 men invade

Russia

50,000 return*

Napoleons Grand
Army is wiped out in 6
months

THE FALL OF NAPOLEON

By 1814, French armies are driven back to France
Napoleon is forced to surrender he gets no support from other
European nations (they are all against him)
Napoleon gives up his throne to the Allies who set up Louis XVIII
(brother of Louis XVI) as King of France
Napoleon is exiled to the Island of Elba (off the coast of Italy)
He escapes and races back to Paris where he takes over from Louis
XVIII who wasnt doing a good job and was unpopular (hadnt they had
enough of that family?!)
His second empire lasts only 95 days
He is attacked by Allies again and forced to spend the rest of his life in
captivity without trial on the Island of St. Helena (South Atlantic)
Napoleon died a prisoner in 1821