Napoleon Part Two

 

 

            Napoleon was interested in learning about the great conquerors of history in order to study the methods they used to create their empires.  He studied in great detail, Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar.  This knowledge is said to have helped Napoleon with his strategies.  For example, his crushing the royalist rebellion in Paris, Napoleon was given special command controlling the “Army of the Interior”.  Napoleon developed an interest in defending France; however his aggressive nature combined with his ambition to be a great leader had him defending France, but outside of its borders.  Personally Napoleon would rather put France on the offensive, attempting to conquer the enemies of France, Austria, Prussia and Britain.  Napoleon convinced the new government of France to permit him to extend France’s borders.  Napoleon believed that Austria and Prussia should pay for their interference in the revolution, so he decided he would attempt to conquer Austrian and Prussian territories through warfare.

 

            In the year 1797, Napoleon went to Northern Italy with 30 000 men.  In two different battles (Rivoli and Mantua) Napoleon showed his military genius and was able to drive the Austrians out of Northern Italy.  Rather than move his forces to the capital of Vienna, Napoleon made a deal with Austrian monarch Francis II.  Vienna would be left alone as would Venice in return for most of northern Italy. 

Napoleon was granted:

1.      Lombardy

2.      Nice

3.      Savoy

4.      Belgium

5.      Left Bank of the Rhine River

6.      Holland

 

Napoleon easily moves into the rest of Italy, taking control of the Papal States, Rome and Naples.  The new territories of Napoleon would be consolidated by the treaty of Campo-Formi (October 1799).  In each of the regions that Napoleon conquered, he set up a puppet republic modeled after the French Republic, placing his close friends and relatives in charge.  From the church in Rome, Napoleon demanded 100 of the most valuable religious art treasures, valued at 30 million francs.  Many ports in Italy were closed to British trade.

 

 

Napoleon’s Campaign in Egypt

 

            Napoleon had a plan to destroy the British economy.  To do this, he decided not to attack Britain directly; rather he would attempt to conquer British colonies in an attempt to take over British trade in the Middle East.  His goal was to capture the Suez Canal, the Nile River and the Red Sea to India.  He assembled a fleet and approximately 35 000 soldiers to sail to Egypt.  Napoleon took those professionals who he believed would be useful (engineers, farming experts, scientists, archaeologists, town planners, architects doctors etc.)  By the time Napoleon reached the Egyptian coast, the British were already aware of what Napoleon was planning to do.  They immediately sent a fleet of ships to follow Napoleon.  This fleet was under the command of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson.

            Napoleon’s fleet made it safely to the Port of Alexandria.  This port city was easily taken and the soldiers were able to reach shore safely, and were able to unload most of their ships before Nelson caught up to the docked fleet.  Nelson then proceeded to destroy the French fleet while it was docked in the harbour.  Nelson proceeds to the port of Acre, delivering supplies to this British outpost.  While in Egypt, Napoleon tried to establish a French colony, but Britain and Turkey formed an alliance, weakening Napoleon’s plan.  Napoleon was ill prepared for the new tactics presented to him – guerilla warfare.  To counter this approach, Napoleon decided to go on the offensive against the Turks.  Since he had no ships, Napoleon was forced to march his troops all the way from Egypt to Syria.  By the time Napoleon’s troops reached Acre, they were exhausted and out of supplies.  Relying on the loyalty of his troops, Napoleon began the Siege of Acre.

            For approximately nine weeks the siege of the fort at Acre continued with the British and Turks controlling the situation.  Lt. Sydney Smith, British commander at Acre, used some of Napoleon’s cannons to fire on French troops.  By this time, Napoleon’s troops were ready to return to Egypt.  The arrival of a French newspaper changes Napoleon’s focus.  He quickly realizes that he must return to France to prepare his armies against the developing coalition of British, Austria, Prussia, Portugal, Naples and Turkey.  Returning to France, Napoleon pretends that the Egypt campaign went well and continues to prepare his army for further action.

 

Seizure of the Directory

 

            When Napoleon returned to France, he made certain to keep the failure of the Egyptian campaign from the people of France.  Maintaining his reputation was vital to his success.  Napoleon now introduces censorship to French newspapers to make certain that all publications are edited to point to his success and not his failures.   Napoleon learned upon his return to France that the people were upset with the lack pf progress of the Directory (new government).  Napoleon had brought the people of France victory in Italy and had expanded France’s borders.  He also discovers a plot designed to take over the Directory.  He of course uses this to his advantage.  Using members of his army as pawns, Napoleon plays with the conspirators.  The plot turns into the “coup-d’ etat”.  Napoleon is easily able to over throw the government, including the Directory.  He intends to replace the Directory by offering himself as the new executive; which has supreme power – Napoleon for Emperor!  Napoleon is even able to convince the people of France that this was their idea.  By holding the first public vote, Napoleon was declared Emperor with overwhelming support from the people (December 2, 1802)

            One of Napoleon’s first acts as Emperor was to create his own bloodline by placing relatives in royal positions:

1.      Louis Bonaparte – King of Holland (brother)

2.      Joseph Bonaparte – King of Sicily

3.      Jerome Bonaparte – King of Westphilia

4.      Step son, Eugene – Vice-Roy of Italy

 

Napoleon continues to involve his armies in battle after battle.  Thousands of French soldiers die as Napoleon continues to fight against countries such as Britain, Russia, Prussia, Spain etc.  Napoleon manages to completely destroy the French Navy, to the point that France has never again been a naval threat.  Napoleon’s need for power began al obsessive – he even abdicated as Emperor of France in order to continue fighting.  Eventually, Napoleon was exiled to the island of St. Helen’s, where he died a broken man.  British troops were the ultimate cause of the demise of the great warrior, Napoleon Bonaparte.

 

Contributions of Napoleon

 

  1. He introduced industry to France, improving trade and commerce.
  2. He made peace with the Catholic Church and corruption with the clergy ended.
  3. He introduced the Napoleonic legal code, which was very strict and places the father in charge of the family and demeaning women in general.
  4. He centralized government, making politicians responsible for their own actions.
  5. He revised the education system, building new schools, colleges etc.
  6. He introduced as new type of government – A Republic led by a Governor.
  7. He was responsible for ending feudalism in France, although he neglected to promote culture, dance, painting and the arts.
  8. He was responsible for spreading seeds of Nationalism all across Europe, which would result in conflicts on other countries.