The downfall of Napoleon

Bonaparte
Theresa Shamiso Sibanda
Email add:shamisoblessing@gmail.com
Cell:0774658065
Mount Pleasant high school
Introduction

Napoleon Bonaparte’s power was at its peak up to around 1806.

From 1807 his power began to decline marking his downfall.
His foreign policies were largely responsible for his downfall.
Most of the reasons for Napoleon Bonaparte’s downfall are self inflicted.
The formation of the 4th coalition and other factors also led to his decline.
Introduction cont’

Napoleon was defeated by the fourth coalition in 1814 at the battle of Leipzig or
nations .
He was exiled to island of St Elba close to Italy.
He tried to regain his power in 1815 and ruled France for 100 days.
He was defeated by the fourth coalition again at the battle of Waterloo.(in Belgium)
Napoleon Bonaparte was sentenced in exile at the island of St Helena, marking the
final defeat Napoleon Bonaparte.
Self inflicted factors/ reasons

Napoleon’s Dynastic policy.

Napoleons ceaseless wars.
Napoleon’s continental system.
His empire became too vast.
He continued to use old methods of fighting.
Napoleon had weak and inexperienced army.
He never possessed adequate navy.
He fought his enemies too many times.
Other reasons

Formation of the fourth coalition.

Former allies turned against him and joined the fourth coalition.
Spirit of nationalism in Europe.
Napoleon allies had studied his methods revolutionized their armies.
Opponent had a large army which was well trained well equipped.
Dynastic policy

Napoleon appointed his brothers, sisters and relatives to rule his dominions or his
conquest.
For example, Louis Bonaparte was king of Holland, Jerome of Westphalia, Joseph
Bonaparte of Spain.
His dynastic policy was rejected in Spain.
The Spaniards waged a guerilla warfare against Joseph Bonaparte.
The Spaniards hated the idea of being under foreign domination.
Napoleon Bonaparte even confessed that “it is this Spanish ulcer that destroyed me”.
Dynastic policy was self inflicting.
It caused his downfall as he admitted in his memoirs that it was an ulcer from 1808.
Continental system

The continental system was an economic policy introduced by Napoleon Bonaparte that
forbid European countries from trading with Britain.
The purpose of the continental system was to cripple British trade.
Instead of crippling British trade the continental system affected European states that agreed
to sign Milan and Berlin decrees.
These countries suffered stinging effects of the continental system such as decline in trade,
mass unemployment, closure of industries , shortages, inflation and hike in prices of goods.

Napoleon continental system led him to antagonize with continental states,

Countries started quitting his continental system and smuggled goods into the continent.
Napoleon responded by waging punitive wars that drained his military resources. rendering
him ineffective at the battle of Leipzig and Waterloo.
Ceaseless wars

Napoleon engaged himself in many wars ranging from battle of Trafalgar,

Peninsular war, Moscow campaign, battle Bautzen, Lutzen, Wagram Leipzig,
Waterloo
Napoleon fought too many wars.
This costed him his military resources.
After Moscow campaign Napoleon returned home with 20 000 soldiers of which
1000 were still militarily fit.
He had to quickly raised a new army which did not perform well at battle of Leipzig
because of lack of experience.
Fought his enemies to many times

“if you fight your enemies too many times they will learn all your tactics”(Napoleon
Bonaparte)
Napoleon had fought his enemies too many times and this gave them the
opportunity to study his methods.
Napoleon continued to use old method of outmarching and outmanouvring
attacking the enemy at its weakest point.
His opponents had devised new methods of fighting and revolutionized their armies .
This made Napoleon to be defeated by members of the fourth coalition both at
Waterloo and Leipzig.
Napoleon never possessed adequate navy

Napoleon never possessed adequate navy.

He relied on navy borrowed from his dominions
To fight Britain, Napoleon Bonaparte had to use Danish navy.
He used Spanish navy to fight Portugal in the peninsular war.
That made the British to be the shark or master of the seas whilst Napoleon
remained the tiger or master of the land.
Many countries resisted abuse of their military resources such as navy.
This aroused the spirit of nationalism and resistance against Napoleon
Bonapartes’policies .
Formation of fourth coalition

Fourth coalition of Russia, Prussia, Austria and Britain was formed.

They were joined by Napoleon former allies such as confederation of Rhine states.
They had a larger army as opposed to Napoleon Bonaparte.

The fourth coalition had a formidable army which was well equipped and most of the
countries had revolutionized their armies.
They defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at the battle of Leipzig and Waterloo.
The formation of 4th coalition was initiated by Russian after the Moscow campaign and
decided to fight Napoleon whilst he was still weak.
After Moscow campaign Napoleon had a weak army which was inexperienced.(most of
his experienced soldiers died in Moscow)
Former allies turned against him

Napoleon former allies turned against him.

Napoleon allies such as the confederation of Rhine states, Switzerland joined
members of the fourth coalition.
This time around these allies refused to fight alongside Napoleon Bonaparte.
They had experienced devastating effects of Napoleon continental system and felt
Napoleon was exploiting them.
They hated Napoleon for being a trickster and an exploiter
Spirit of nationalism

Nationalism is struggle for self determination.

It is the desire for people of same nationality to rule themselves.
Conquered states saw Napoleon as an exploiter of conquered states
He granted his dominions a constitution which embodied three ideals of the French
revolution, liberty equality and fraternity.
People began to question these principles.
At last his weapon had turned against him.
It aroused the spirit of nationalism.
Conquered stated resisted foreign domination such as confederation of Rhine states
Switzerland
They joined fourth coalition instead of fighting along side with Napoleon Bonaparte at
the battle of Leipzig and waterloo, thus marking Napoleon’s downfall.
Conclusion

Napoleon’s demise was caused by self inflicting reasons and foreigners.

His fall started after 1807 and by 1815 he lost his throne .
He tried to regain his throne after the battle of leipzig.
He escaped from island of St Elba where he was under lax supervision.
He ruled France for 100 days.
The fourth coalition sentenced Napoleon Bonaparte to St Helena.
Practice Questions

1.“Napoleon Bonaparte’s downfall was self inflicted” how accurate is this verdict ?
(25 marks)
2. Examine the reasons that led to Napoleon Bonaparte’s downfall.(25)
3.To what extent was Napoleon Bonaparte’s downfall caused by his continental
system. (25)
4.’Napoleon Bonaparte,s demise was caused by foreigners” .Discuss (25)
The end

Theresa Shamiso Sibanda

CELL: 0774 658 065
Email:shamisoblessing@gmail.com
Mount Pleasant high school