Mastering Luck
Explain Quote
?I had been nourished by reflecting on liberty, but I thrust it out of my way when it obstructed me path.?
I believe this quote means that Napoleon was a believer in liberty and that he attempted to use it to rule his people justly. The rest of the quote means that liberty and justice can only be used to the point at which it doesn?t challenge his laws and governing power. Napoleon had the aspiration of total domination, and he had no intentions of letting peoples natural freedoms interrupt those dreams. I also believe that the people of those times were fed up with anarchy and lack of control and were willing to give up some of their personal freedoms for the sake of control and a better country.
Question 2
Napoleon actually crossed the Alps on a mule. Why did David paint him riding on a horse? What adjectives best describe David?s portrayal of Napoleon? Why?
The reason Napoleon was painted on a horse was probably to make him look very courageous. Napoleon was a very vain man and we cannot be sure if he had anything to do with the change from the actual event. A mule usually brings to mind pictures of slow advancement and a very weak attacker, but in reality, they were probably better for going over mountains, which I believe is the reason Napoleon didn?t just use a horse.
To describe Napoleon crossing the St. Bernard pass, I think there are many adjectives that could be used. Napoleon looked very daring, because he was pointing onward toward the soon to be conquered lands that he had his mind set on taking for his empire. Napoleon also looked very fierce by the stern face the painter portrayed, and the position the horse was in, which looked like it was about to jump and crush an enemy.
The Summit of Greatness
Question 1
The above engraving was part of a propaganda campaign directed at both English and French audiences. What was the drawing intended to show the French? Why would they be prepared to believe some of the picture?s more fanciful aspects?
The French people had come out of time of oppression by tyrannical monarchs and uncaring, corrupt government officials. They were ready for a new birth as a new nation, which was able to stand on its own and even be an overlord to its neighbors.
To summarize the book into a few paragraphs doesn't due it the justice it deserves. The beginning details of the French and Ind...
I guess you could say that when Napoleon is not on a horse, he’s Napoleoff it! In November 1799, the overthrowing of the French Directory caused its replacement with a three-member Consulate, and Napoleon became first consul, making him France’s leading political figure. Napoleon used his power to restore stability to post-revolutionary France and produced successful results. Two years after the making of the constitutional amendment that made him consul for life, Napoleon crowned himself as emperor of France. This raises the question, “Was Napoleon a Democratic Reformer?” Now, a Democratic Reformer is a person who changes the views and ways of the government for the good of the people. Concerning how he understands equality, how the people
The dissemblance of the First French Empire occurred when Napoleon lost against Great Britain’s navy in the battle of Waterloo in the year of 1815. Napoleon then abdicated his empire, and exiled to the island of Saint Helena, where he died in the year of 1821. When Napoleon abdicated, his “first painter” Jacques-Louis David was exiled too for political reasons, and later died when leaving France. Jacques-Louis David had painted The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries to reflect on the historical period when Napoleon was at the height of his career, and to truly propagandize his image to the world, as the hero of France. The simple background, the allusions to classical Greek and Roman culture, and the historical context of the painting clearly is presented in the style of Neoclassicism, while fashioning Napoleon as a great military leader.
Napoleon and the Enlightenment The enlightenment was a time of great learning throughout Europe during the eighteenth century. Although the period is significant for scientific and other scholastic advancements, it is most important because it allowed for the opening of great minds—such as that of Napoleon Bonaparte. Shortly after this enlightenment made its way through Europe, revolution and civil war ripped through France between 1879 and 1899. The unrest of the time called for a strong ruler.
One of the most controversial figures in European History, Napoleon Bonaparte has never ceased to be a generator of debate and analysis among historians, authors, and students. Napoleon has been closely scrutinized by many in attempts to defend or demote his motives, ambitions, and actions as Emperor of France. Nonetheless, those with true qualities of a ruler are few and far between – and Napoleon possessed the drive and ambition to bring these qualities to their full potential. Napoleon was the hero of nineteenth-century France, restoring the country to its former glory after the violence, instability, and turmoil of the French Revolution. Napoleon was the classic underdog, originally viewed as a “second-class Frenchman” due to his Corsican origins, but rising to success based on his own hard work and determination. He demonstrated the most improbable capacity for resilience; although he faced defeat on multiple occasions, he persevered and continually refused to surrender. As well, Napoleon was a protector and enforcer of “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité” through the promotion of religious freedom and the nationwide application of French laws throughout his rule.
If Napoleon betrayed the revolution, then he betrayed the ideals of Liberty, equality and fraternity. For it is ideals rather than realities that Napoleon allegedly betrayed. The reality of the French revolution is 8 periods of constant change and successions of policies and leaders, with each new leader and party bringing amendments to the revolution. Napoleon’s “coupd’e`tat of 18 brumaire was an insurance against both Jacobin revolution and Royalist restoration.” The French people expected Napoleon to bring back peace, order and to consolidate the political and social conquests of the Revolution. Napoleon considered these conquests to be “the sacred rights of property, equality and liberty.” If Napoleon gained power with the promise of upholding the principals of the French Revolution how did he betray the revolution? Many historians argue that Napoleon was an effective but ambitious leader. This ambition led to a dictatorship, which they consider Napoleons ultimate betrayal. However other Historians such as Tombs and Furet see Napoleon’s regime as “the most convincing though temporary solution to the political and ideological problems bequeathed by the Revolution.” Napoleons dictatorship can also be considered a natural progression from the authoritarian nature of the French revolution. One idea is that is undebatable is - if Napoleon betrayed the French Revolution, this means that his actions, motives and policies were disloyal to the Revolutionary ideals of Liberty, equality and Fraternity.
Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica on August 15th, 1769 (Kishlansky, Geary, and O'Brien). Napoleon was a complex man who served in the revolutionary war working his way up in rank and ultimately using his military successes to gain political popularity and power (Kishlansky, Geary, and O'Brien). In 1799, Napoleon became the First Consul by overthrowing the directory and he would control France, eventually, making himself Emperor (Kishlansky, Geary, and O'Brien). This essay is going to expand on domestic and military accomplishments of Napoleon, as well as his greatest success and failure.
In the early 19th century a man by the name of Napoleon Bonaparte led a Coup D’etat that created a new government in France. This new government started out with a tribunal leadership, which Napoleon was first consul, and later changed to an empire with Napoleon as emperor. Some people believe that he made the revolution better and expanded the revolution but this is not true. The facts, when closely looked at, prove that Napoleon effectively destroyed the revolution by telling the people of his country one thing while he was actually planning on doing something totally different. He deceived people so well that he is still convincing people today that he was a defender of the revolution.
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The painting was not very realistic. Napoleon is much larger then his horse. He was a very short man and only was about Five foot four inches tall. David did this on purpose to make him seem larger than life. Another unrealistic part of this painting was that he did not ride a horse he rode a mule. His point of doing that was to make him seem higher, like a king. Napoleons clothes were in great condition for completing such a hard task to d...
One of Napoleon’s first areas of concern was in the strengthening of the French government. He created a strong centralized government and pretty much got rid of the hundreds of localized law codes that had existed during under the control of the monarchy. He also created an army of government officials. He had the entire country linked under a rational administration. He also was able to get an easy supply of taxes and soldiers under his new and improved French government. Before he could get very far, however, he had to gain public favor and shape the public opinion. To do this he used reforms of propaganda and thus caused people to think that they were getting the better end of the deal, but were actually, subconsciously giving Napoleon their approval for his actions. Among some of the methods he used for propaganda included getting all of the printers and book sellers to swear an oath to Napoleon and all newspapers fell under state control, so Napoleon gained access to almost everything that the citizens of France were able to read. Many of the gains from the French Revolution were kept, such as equality before the law, and careers open to talent. Some anti-revolution actions that Napoleon took included repressing liberty, restoring absolutism, and ending political liberty. He believed that allowing political freedom would end with a state of anarchy. He believed that he could solve these problems by acting in favor of the people’s interests as an enlightened desp...
David developed an image of Napoleon as an authority figure that could still be humble and represent the working class. A different painter composed a representation of Napoleon in splendid royalty. There were many symbols of art used to portray that Napoleon’s rule was divine, purposeful, and somehow “meant by the Gods”, This work was done by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867). Painted at the beginning of his career Napoleon I on His Imperial Throne (1806) is an aggrandized portrait of Napoleon enthroned. It is known that Ingres drew on classical sources, specifically an engraved Roman gem with a depiction of Jupiter for the pose of the piece. Ingres painted Napoleon as royalty in his coronation robes, with the sword and crown of
From 1800 through 1809, Napoleon’s talent was astonishing as he applied his tactics and his genius to...
Grossman, Ira. “Napoleon the Reader: The Early Years.” (1999): n. pag. Online. Internet. 11 April, 1999. Available: http://napoleonic-literature.simplenet.com/Articles/Napoleons_Reader-Early.htm.
Napoleon Bonaparte remains one of the most prominent figures in the history of France, and his impacts on the courses of the history of his nation are so evident and outstanding. Ever since he seized power, there have been many debates and discussions as whether he was the “savoir” and the defender of the French Revolution or was he a tyrant who destroyed the ideals of the revolution in search of his own personal ambitious glory. In this respect, Napoleon is considered as a complex and ambiguous character who is portrayed as an heir to the revolution and at the same time its betrayer.