After bringing the revolutionary turmoil under control, Napoleon conquered much of Europe while spreading the ideals of the Revolution. His failure gave rise to revolutionary movements in the next era.
Basic Knowledge
Napoleon Bonaparte(1769-1821) was an artillery officer from Corsica. He rose to prominence during the Revolutionary Wars and established the Consulate through the coup of November 9, 1799(18 Brumaire), becoming First Consul. In 1804, he became Emperor(Napoleon I) through a popular referendum. In the same year, he promulgated the Napoleonic Code(French Civil Code), establishing principles such as equality before the law, inviolability of property rights, freedom of contract, and emphasis on the family; it became the model for modern civil law. In 1805, he lost the Battle of Trafalgar(against Britain, Admiral Nelson) but won a great victory at the Battle of Austerlitz(against Russia and Austria). In 1806, he attempted to isolate Britain economically through the Continental System. At its height, he controlled most of continental Europe.
1799 Coup of 18 Brumaire
1804 Became emperor; Napoleonic Code
1805 Battle of Trafalgar(defeat against Britain); Battle of Austerlitz(great victory against Russia and Austria)
1806 Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire; Continental System
1812 Invasion of Russia(Moscow)→great defeat
1813 Battle of Leipzig(War of the Nations; defeat)
1814 Exiled to Elba; Congress of Vienna begins
1815 Hundred Days→Battle of Waterloo→exile to Saint Helena
In Depth (Background and Impact)
In the 1812 invasion of Russia, Napoleon led an army of 600,000 to Moscow, but suffered a great defeat because of Russia's scorched-earth tactics and the harsh winter. Only tens of thousands returned. He was defeated by the allied forces at the Battle of Leipzig(the War of the Nations) in 1813, abdicated in 1814, and was sent to Elba. In 1814-15, the Congress of Vienna, hosted by Austrian Chancellor Metternich, discussed reorganizing Europe based on legitimacy and the balance of power that had existed before Napoleon. Napoleon returned to power in 1815(the Hundred Days), but was defeated by the British under Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo and died on Saint Helena in 1821. The ideals of the Revolution spread through conquest and also had the paradoxical effect of awakening nationalism.
- 18 Brumaire = 1799 coup d'état
- Became emperor = 1804(Napoleon I)
- Napoleonic Code = 1804, model for modern civil law
- Trafalgar = Nelson(Britain), victory against France
- Failure of the Russian invasion = 1812, harsh winter
- Waterloo = 1815, Wellington(Britain)
- Congress of Vienna = hosted by Metternich, legitimacy
Points to Note (Easy to Confuse)
① Napoleon I(1804-15, emperor) and his nephew Napoleon III(1852-70, Second Empire) were different people. ② Distinguish Trafalgar(1805, naval battle against Britain, defeat) from Austerlitz(1805, against Russia and Austria, great victory). ③ The Continental System(1806) prohibited continental European countries, not Britain, from trading with Britain. ④ The Concert of Europe(1815-) was a conservative reactionary system led by Metternich that suppressed liberalism and nationalism.
Practice
- What was the name of the French military leader who became emperor in 1804?
- What was the name of the battle in which Napoleon was finally defeated in 1815?
- Who hosted the conference that discussed the reorganization of Europe after the Napoleonic Wars?