The Age Of Napolean Essay Research Paper

The Age of Napolean During the period of time when there was continuing war with Great Britain, Austria, and Sardinia, France needed a new military leader. These wars opened up opportunity for a reflexive unknown general named Napoleon Bonaparte. At the age of 26 this general suppressed the uprising in Paris that attempted to prevent the establishment of the directory. The people of France chose Napoleon because they needed stability. Napoleon was born in 11769 on the French island of Corsica. He attended military school in France and he graduated as an artillery officer. Napoleon might have stayed there if the revolution had not given him the chance to rise to the rank of general. Napoleon was not that tall , he was five foot – two inch. He required only two or three hours of sleep a night. He combined overwhelming ambition with a vain and domineering personality. Because of these traits, he proved to be a great organizer and administrator in both political and military affairs. Besides this, he was a military genius. Napoleon was one of the best generals of all time. Because of the dominant role he played in 2 1796, the wars the French fought from then until 1815 are generally know as “The Napoleonic Ages”. One of the things that Napolean was great at was the ability to move his troops and to miss forces at critical points on the battlefield. This way of fighting gave Napoleon an advantage over his opponents. In Italy, Naopoleon quickly showed his ablity. He took the small, week, and poorly equiped french army and in a couple of weaks, they were so organized and inspired it that he forced the Sardinians Auststrians twice. In 31797, he forced them to sign a humiliating peace treaty that gave France control of all northern Italy. Napoleon became the popular hero of his time, but his popularity could not change the facts. France forced a dangerous situation. The British had organized a second coalition against France that included Austria and Russia. These forces drove the French armies out of Italy and French controle over the other conquered states slipped. In 1799,4three of the dictators resigned and the other two were arrested, leaving the way open for Napoleon. Napoleon’s troops forced most of the legislative members to leave. These people that did not leave turned the government over to Napoleon and his fellow plotters. A seizure of power by force is called “Coup De’Tat” meaning ” stroke of state.” Napoleon said “I found the creon of France lying on the ground, and I picked it up with a sword.” This made him director of France. From 17995 to 1814 he infleunced events in France and the rest of Europe to such a great extent that this period is know as the Napoleonic Era, or the Age of Napoleon. The People in France accepted Napoleon’s dictatorship, some of the people were not sure of Napoleon but they wanted stability . Other people were afraid to protest because they did not want to get arrested. Napoleon made life easier for people. He respected the decleration of the right of man. He assured the peasants that the land that they have now will reamain theirs. Napoleon gave himself unlimited power. Executive bracnch, made up of three consuls was called the consulate. Napoleon took the name first consul. As first cosul, Napoleon commanded the army and navy, he had right to appoint and dismiss all oficial and propose all new laws. Napoleon submitted the constitution of his new government to the people for a vote, a plebiscite. We know Napoleon for his military services, but his work on the government had more importance and a longer lasting affect. Many other governments in Europe and elsewhere used the system that Napoleon used. It was called the Napoleonic Code. Napoleon finally destroyed the second coalation against France. In 1799,6 Russia destroyed the coalation. By 1801, Austria asked France for peace. In 1802 Great Britain had signed a peace treaty with France. Napolean would keep his promisess to the French people. Peace was won by, vitory from war, firm and steady government, and an economic prosperity. In France, Napoleon wanted to increase his power by making it permanent and hereditory. The French people voted to declare France an empire. The first consul, Napoleon Bonapart, became Emperor Napoleopn 1’st. Napoleon planned to defeat the British navy and invade Great Britain. Unfourtanitly for Napoleon, in 1805, a British fleet led by Admiral Horatio Nelson defeated Napoleon and his navy. Nelson was killed in the battle, but not before he defeated the French and spanish fleet. Napoleon also surrendered in the land battle. When Napoleon was being crowned emperer by the Pope, Napoleon took the crown from the Pope and crowned himself because he wanted everyone to know that no one is higher than him in power. He was the mightiest one, not even the Pope was higher than him. By 1908, 7Napolean completely dominated Europe. He forced Prussia and Austria to sign a humiliating peace treaty. He also ruled Europe but the enimies were getting stronger. The generals that Napoleon defeated were using his tacktics and started to get stronger. Nationalism strenghtened Napoleons opponents. The Peninsula Camaign war lasted from 18088 to 1814. Napoleon still kept power of Spain buthis military was weeknd. In 1814, the British took over Spain, this is part of Napoleons downfall. When Napoleon was fighting Russia they practice a scorched earth poicy which gave Napoleon no land which they can use. Everyone on Europe broke their alliance with Napoleon. Napoleon tried his old stratigy but it did not work. Napoleon was defeated. During the hundred days Napoleon plotted his return. He eventually ruled France, but once again was greedy and wanted more land so he went to battle with the British and once again was defeated. The British sent Napoleon to live under constant guard on the lonly dismal island of St. Hellen in the south Atlantic ocean, there, Napoleon died in 1821. As the years went by, Napoleons legend grew but people forgot his failures and they only remebered his victories and how good of an emperer he was. The British allowed France to take his body to paris where he lyes to this day under the dome of Inivalides, the magnificent home for old soldiers that Louis XIV had built.