Napoleon

1. Introduction of Napoleon:

➢ Within ten years of the French Revolution, its republican aims began to
unravel.
➢ Napoleon emerged as a central figure, dominating the early 19th century
despite his relatively short life.

2. Napoleon's Early Life:

❖ Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15, 1769, in Corsica, an island

with Italian or Roman influences.
❖ He was the second of eight children of Carlo and Maria Letzia Bonaparte,
from the Corsican Italian gentry.
❖ Carlo had been a lawyer, then a judge and finally a Count after the
French occupied Corsica in 1768.

3. Napoleon's Education and Military Career:

➢ Napoleon was educated at the expense of King Louis XVI and graduated
from the Ecole Militaire in Paris at the age of 16.
➢ Initially, he had interests in art, music, literature, and classical languages,
unusual among his peers.
➢ He said, “From classics I learned to think and not merely to act.”
➢ He joined the artillery as a second lieutenant.
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4. Napoleon's Early Military Successes:

❖ Napoleon's military career started during the French Revolution when he

became a lieutenant colonel in the Corsican National Guard, but Corsica
declared independence from France in the Reign of Terror.
❖ He played a pivotal role in capturing the naval base of Toulon, leading to
his promotion to Brigadier General at 24.
❖ Later in 1793, he became a general of the revolution.
❖ He expanded the war into the Netherlands and Italy in 1794.
❖ In 1795, he dispersed a Parisian mob during the Reign of Terror, saving
the revolutionary government and securing his ascent.

5. Napoleon's Marriage and Command:

➢ In 1796, Napoleon married Josephine, a widow with two children.

➢ He was appointed as the full commander of the French army in Italy,
where he achieved victories over Austrian generals, securing peace and
founding the Cisalpine Republic.

6. The Egyptian Expedition and Scientific Contributions:

❖ Napoleon's plan to invade England led to the expedition to Egypt.

❖ His military genius was complemented by his interests in art, science, and
culture.
❖ The expedition contributed significantly to the fields of Egyptology and
archaeology, unearthing historical treasures (Rosetta Stone, Sphinx &
Ancient Egypt).
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7. Napoleon's Political Ideals:

➢ Napoleon was a political radical with ambitions and ideas aligned with
the Jacobins during the Reign of Terror.
➢ He believed that Rousseau’s ideas about the Noble Savage were
mistaken and ultimately destructive.
➢ He viewed himself as a conservative revolutionary, aiming to stabilize
and rationalize the principles of the French Revolution.
➢ Napoleon used referendums to legitimize his dictatorial powers.

8. Napoleon as a Conspirator and rising to power:

❖ Napoleon engaged in numerous conspiracies and was skilled at

concealing his true intentions.
❖ His ability to outwit his rivals and manipulate political situations allowed
him to rise to power.

9. Conclusion:

➢ Napoleon's rise to power marked a critical period in French and world

history, where radicalism and conservatism intertwined in a rapidly
changing era.