Contribution of Napoleon to European History - Report Example

Napoleon Bonaparte Introduction The European and French leadership are well known historically for their supremacy in thehistorical times. This was in the courtesy of the works of several strong men historically who contribution to the empire’s growth. For instance, Napoleon is regarded as the strongest of the French leaders. He is said to have super passed the great Charlemagne and Louis XIV. Analytically, he was a being a prescient commander, magnetic leader and a skilled politician as well as a master in administration among others.1 Additionally, he was both educated and a trained soldier and hence why he perfectly played his role as an emperor. His reign played a major role in the European and French history especially political influences. This research seeks to critically discuss the role and contribution of Napoleon to the French and European history. A vast range of scholarly sources are used as key sources of data for the research in order to reach a conclusive conclusion on the subject matter. This includes books, journals and any other reliable data on Napoleon and his empire. Napoleon’s life and biographical details He was born in Corsica in 1789 to his parents Carlo and Marie Bonaparte. He trained as a soldier at the Ecole Militaire and graduated from the school in a year for being a brilliant student in mathematics. Soon after graduation, he was commissioned as a lieutenant. In the support and help of the French royalties, he took part in the siege of Toulon a British occupation as the commander of the artillery forces. Six years after the Toulon acquisition, he got a promotion to be a brigadier general in the military marking the beginning of his success as a leader. Among his many achievements was his effort in facilitating the signing of the treaty of campoformio in 1797.2 Through a coup d’ tat; he rose in to power by overthrowing the directories’ government in 1799. This was on the courtesy of his support and royalty from the committed army. His rule as an emperor borrowed significantly from his background in the military. Thus, his rule was military dictatorship for he alone would question on the fate of France and Europe. The most significant of his achievements was the establishment of the code Napoleon and restoration of the Catholic Church in the emperor. These two came after the conclusion of the many treaties that won Europe its peace and he had time to focus on rebuilding France. He spear headed reformation in the economy, legal system, church, military, education and generally the government. 3 Principally, reforms were crucial in his rule bringing out his skills both as a legislator and statesmanship. Napoleon was thus “an ambitious, risk taking gambler; a workaholic genius and an impatient short term planner; a vicious cynic who forgave his closest betrayers; a misogynist who could enthrall men”4 This virtues significantly contributed to his success as both a military commander and the empire of the French empire. In addition, he developed powerful and centralized administration with bureaucratic officials. Achievement and qualification in this set up was measured by the ability to perform. Napoleon’s Empire At the time of Napoleon becoming a consul in 1799, France was at war with the European coalition comprising of Russia, Great Britain and Australia. 5 To end the chaos, he signed a peace treaty in 1802 although it did not last for it soon started with the British and the rest joined in a third coalition (comprising of Austria, Russia, and Prussia). The defeat of the Austrian, Russian and Prussian armies in 1805-1807 paved way to the creation of new European order. He became the master of Europe up to 1812 with the grand empire “comprising of the French Empire, dependent states, and allied states”6 Further, the empire became inclusive of; “The French Empire consisted of an enlarged France extending to the Rhine in the east and including the western half of Italy north of Rome. Dependent states were kingdoms under the rule of Napoleon’s relatives. These came to include Spain, Holland, the kingdom of Italy, the Swiss Republic, the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, and the Confederation of the Rhine (a union of all German states except Austria and Prussia). Allied states were those defended by Napoleon and forced to join his struggle against Britain. The allied states included Prussia, Austria, Russia and Sweden.”7 Concurrently, Napoleon pushed with the intent to spread the French revolution principles that comprised of the French revolution, legal, religious and economic freedom among others. However, the empire relied on the grand empire and he continuously worked on destroying the old order. He decreed equality in employment, law and religion; the spread of the French revolution to other countries ignited a great revolution on the nations. His role and contribution to the European and France history The 18th century was the crucial century in which a shift was experienced on the old world system order. For example, in the early years of the century, the old system was strong and highly in use in Europe. The nobles, clerics, towns and provinces enjoyed all privileges with the monarchs seeking to enlarge their bureaucracies and hence increasing their tax income to sponsor army activities. The armies later on lead to the explosion of world wars at a wide scale. Although the wars had limited influence on Europe, the Great Britain became the world’s greatest naval and colonial power.8 However, the French revolution brought about a modern revolutionary concept that began in1789 lead by Napoleon. However, revolutionaries knew that the proper us of mass uprisings could overthrow unwanted governments. The revolution was a classic social and political model useful for revolution in the modern world marking the beginning of a new era in the world. The British army combined with French-Spanish fleet was strong to defeat in Trafalgar in 1805 and so France had to device a new approach towards the group. Napoleon used his continental system to stop the British goods from trading in the European continent. This approach was the most viable on the fact that the military action proofed futile. The continental system aimed at denying the British access to the European ports, destroying the trade and hence limiting money the British used to sponsor the enemies. This in return would destroy British trade and weaken its economic power and hence destroy the ability to wage war. Unfortunately, this strategy failed as a result of resistance from French allies, upcoming of new markets both in the Middle East and Latin America. Consequently, the British exports hit the highest records in 1809-1810. The continental system impacted and resulted in the recession of the British economy between 1807 and 1808. There exports declined significantly with 20% on exports and 10% on production. The years between 1810 and 1812 resulted in more negative impacts on the British Empire and more so in relation to overproduction and economic depression.9 However, England still made profits through smugglers and the corrupt officials who traded with South America. Additionally, this enabled the British defeat the continental system. The British set up naval blockades in reaction towards the elimination of the continental system. It is noted that during the Napoleon the Great Britain doubled its annual income contradicting the expectations of the French with their continental system intentions to cripple its economy. The Grande Empire had crucial impact on the European people in the areas incorporated into France and the satellites. For example, the Napoleon Empire introduced French laws, eliminated the feudal dues and serfdom. The reforms were crucial and helpful to the peasants and the middle class for he put propensity to safeguard his power base. The heavy taxes won his name of the conquering tyrant to enlightened liberator. However, Napoleon experienced resistance from coalitions such as the Catholics, monarchists and patriots in relation to making Spain satellite part of his kingdom. The Grande Empire at its peak in 1810 was still unable to defeat the British Empire who was helping Spain and Portugal in the guerilla war fare. The blockage of British goods from trade instead affected the French middle and the French artisans.10 The downfall of the Napoleon Empire strongly links to the invasion of Russia especially on their refusal to be part of the continental system in 1812. The Russian forces opted out of the possible war with the Napoleon army and instead eliminated food sources even by means of attacking their own cities. The army retreated and arrived back in Poland but the number reduced to 40, 000 of the initial group in 1813. This disaster gave room to the European states to attack the disadvantaged French army. In 1814, Paris was captured and Napoleon send to exile on the island of Elba off the Italian coast.11 Luckily, he escaped Elba and won his 100days of rule from March to June 1915. The battle at the Waterloo resulted in a defeat and his exile to St. Helena Island in south Atlantic. The survival of the British Empire and nationalism force contributed to the defeat of the Napoleon Empire.12 The sprit of the French nationalism necessitated the mass army revolutions and Napoleonic eras. Nationalism was also spread by the French revolution that was in two specific ways. For instance, they were hated as oppressors hence stirring the patriotism of others in the French opposition. In addition, the French showed the Europeans the meaning of nationalism and what nations could do about it. General studies on the reign of Napoleon The reign of Napoleon is linked to the French revolution of the 18th century that influenced the European and French territories both negatively and positively. For example, the French revolution was an accumulation of the international and domestic events. The Napoleonic wars transformed the European borders and the European economy. The French revolution popularized the international law that emphasized on the people right to self determination. Initially, international wars had been fought for religious purposes, territorial expansions and trade. Principally, the French revolution was a significant turning point of the European and French nation’s political and social power. Conclusion References Channing, William E. Analysis of the Character of Napoleon Bonaparte: Suggested by the Publication of Scotts Life of Napoleon. Boston: Printed for Edward Rainford, 1828. Print. Channing, William E. Remarks on the Life and Character of Napoleon Bonaparte. 1827-8. N.p, n.d.. Print. Giles, Frank. Napoleon Bonaparte: Englands Prisoner. New York: Carroll & Graf, 2001. Print. Landau, Elaine. Napoleon Bonaparte. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books, 2006. Print. Lyons, Martyn. Napoleon Bonaparte and the legacy of the French Revolution. Macmillan, 1994. McLynn, Frank. Napoleon: A Biography. New York: Arcade Pub, 2011. Internet resource. Schom, Alan. Napoleon Bonaparte. New York: HarperCollins World, 1998. Print. Scott, Walter. The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French: With a Preliminary View of the French Revolution. Paris: A. & W. Galignani, 1828. Print. Read More