Lecture Notes: Napoleon Bonaparte

Early Life

• Born: 1769 in Corsica
• Family: Minor noble family
• Education: Sent to military school at age 10

Rise to Power

• French Revolution: Enabled social mobility, without which he might not have risen above captain
• Military Career:
  • By age 28, rose to brigadier general
  • Head of the Army of Italy
• Egypt Campaign (1798):
  • Modeled after Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar
  • Abandoned troops when defeat seemed imminent

Political Career

• Coup & Consulate (1799): Returned to France, involved in coup
  • Established a government with himself as one of three consuls, effectively holding power
• First Consul Achievements:
  • Reformed education and law
  • Created the Napoleonic Code
    • Allowed freedom of religion
    • Denied privileges of noble birth

Image and Propaganda

• British Propaganda:
  • Portrayed Napoleon as short, though he was of average height

Emperor of France

• Emperor for Life (1804):
  • Voted into this position
  • Won the Battle of Austerlitz (1805)
    • Solidified reputation as a great commander

Personal and Dynastic Goals

• Marriage and Heir:
  • Divorced Josephine for lack of heir
  • Married Marie-Louise of Austria, who bore him a son

Military Downfall

• Russian Campaign (1812):
  • Disastrous retreat due to cold, hunger, disease, and attacks
  • Lost majority of his army
• Exile to Elba (1814):
  • Briefly returned to power in France

Final Defeat

• Battle of Waterloo (1815):
  • Suffered crushing defeat
  • Exiled to St. Helena

Legacy

• St. Helena Memoirs:
  • Crafted his own legend
  • Published as "Memoirs of St. Helena"
• Death:
  • Died on May 5, 1821, at age 51
• Historical Perspective:
  • Remembered as both a war criminal and a military genius