Napoleon Bonaparte should be considered a “benevolent despot” to a near-full extent because while some may argue that Napoleon’s political actions were solely based on self-empowerment due to him limiting the voice of the people, it is important to note that Napoleon’s regime was designed for the purpose of benefiting French society as a whole by implementing various French Revolutionary ideals such as the promise of equal rights amongst all citizens. Hence, through incorporating such ideals, Napoleon was able to gain the support of his subjects, and therefore was able to further expand his empire.
Lyons, Martin. Napoleon Bonaparte and the Legacy of the French Revolution. London: Macmillen, 1994. Print. Women and the Napoleonic code written
…show more content…
Changing Lives: Women in European History Since 1700. Lexington, M.A: D.C. Heath, 1989. Print.
Napoleon Bonaparte and the Legacy of the French Revolution written by Martyn Lyons in the year 1989. Lyons purpose for writing this article was to inform the audience of the significance of Napoleon’s rule. The article argues that Napoleon’s regime was the fulfillment of the “bourgeois” of the French Revolution.
This source supports the argument of my big thesis because it depicts Napoleon as upholding the French Revolutionary ideals of the “bourgeoise”. Such ideals included the abolition of aristocratic privilege, which subsequently aided in providing equality amongst all citizens of France. The article also goes on to illustrate Napoleon’s strict codes against corruption and favouritism within the French Government. In addition, it is also stated in the article that Napoleon’s policies placed great importance of public affairs being dealt through strict regulations, as opposed to being at the mercy of a Monarch's whim. Therefore, this reflects the French Revolutionary ideal of Liberty as the French citizens were no longer under the clemency of the Monarch. Thus, this supports the argument of my big thesis by showing the French Revolutionary of liberty and equality being incorporated within Napoleon’s
…show more content…
The articles goes to express the importance of civil rights for every Frenchman, regardless of their social status of condition. Napoleon’s installments of these articles also incorporates the virtues of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, which places public equality as an utmost necessity. Thus, Napoleon’s action of preserving the French revolutionary ideal of equality through the Napoleonic code, supports the argument of my big thesis.
Bonaparte, Napoleon. Soldiers of My Old Guard. Fontainebleau: Napoleon Bonaparte, 1814. Speech. Soldiers of My Old Guard was a speech given delivered by Napoleon in the year 1814. The speech which was directed to the soldiers of Napoleons guard, in order to thank them for their devotion and services which started from the very moment he stepped into power, and ended with his exile. This source supports the argument of my big thesis by revealing the compassionate side of Napoleon. Moreover, the document also glorifies napoleons reign as the Emperor of france, by indicating his various victories, which helped expand the French Empire. The speech reveals the joyous emotions of Napoleon as he reflects upon his time as emperor. Thus, through the portrayal of Napoleon as being a compassionate leader, my argument of Napoleon being a Benevolent leader is further
He said that the citizens will recognize him as a soldier of liberty who is devoted to the Republic. He is saying that he is going to improve the nation under his power. Some people saw Napoleon as a terrible leader.
Napoleon Bonaparte’s attitude towards the French Revolution is one that has often raised questions. That the revolution had an influence on Bonaparte’s regime cannot be denied – but to what extent? When one looks at France after Napoleon’s reign it is clear that he had brought much longed for order and stability. He had also established institutions that embodied the main principles of the revolution. However, it is also evident that many of his policies directly contradict those same principles. Was Napoleon betraying the same revolution that gave him power, or was he merely a pragmatist, who recognised that to consolidate the achievements of the revolution he needed to sacrifice some of those principles?
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
Napoleon was able to grant French citizens natural rights, which was the main purpose of the Revolution, and use this to better society as a whole. For example, he used a plebiscite, vote of the people, to approve a new constitution that gave him power to rule. By getting the consent of the people to rule and to create and pursue certain actions in government, Napoleon used the governed as a ruling mechanism; he didn't ignore them. He created a system of meritocracy (what the people wanted): granting positions to those that deserved them based on qualifications, not just handing out jobs to people of higher social status giving “careers open to talent (Coffin and Stacey, 494).” Finally through his supremacy as French ruler,...
Napoleon supported the system of hereditary power. This was very contradicting to the ideal of the French Revolution which discourages hereditary privilege. “ It was clearly seen that for a great nation the only salvation lies in hereditary power, which can alone assure a continuous political life which may endure for generations, even for centuries.”
(the writer could not help herself) Napoleon is a timeless example of an enlightened despot. The Bible still has not fully recovered from the rationality of his church. His codified law system is still active in France and the great state of Louisiana. Mankind today clutches desperately at his social ideologies.
Napoleon to the French Nation, 15 Dec 1799, Howard, John Letters and Documents of Napoleon (London, 1961) p.428.
Napoleon saw that there was not only a want for unification but a need as social unrest was commonplace upon the lower classes with the vast economic inequality and even the bourgeoisie who believed that their gains during the revolution such as freedom of ownership of land would mean them losing out as the ineffective ruler Louis XVI allowed wide-spread hunger. The reaction of revolution to this shows the public outcry for the need of change in a corrupt system of poor constitutions and a lack of concern for the lower-classes that napoleon appeared to want to put a stop to and later did when any opposition would be seen as anti- revolutionary and either exiled from France or killed. This was one of the aims of the civil code, a unified France that would be efficient under his rule and focused onto change; it was the main problem concerning the implication of the code and with it come the cost of his dogmatic ambition of not only a unified France, but
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...
With all the glory and the splendour that some countries may have experienced, never has history seen how only only one man, Napoleon, brought up his country, France, from its most tormented status, to the very pinnacle of its height in just a few years time. He was a military hero who won splendid land-based battles, which allowed him to dominate most of the European continent. He was a man with ambition, great self-control and calculation, a great strategist, a genius; whatever it was, he was simply the best. But, even though how great this person was, something about how he governed France still floats among people's minds. Did he abuse his power? Did Napoleon defeat the purpose of the ideals of the French Revolution? After all of his success in his military campaigns, did he gratify the people's needs regarding their ideals on the French Revolution? This is one of the many controversies that we have to deal with when studying Napoleon and the French Revolution. In this essay, I will discuss my opinion on whether or not was he a destroyer of the ideals of the French Revolution.
... changes and as President of the Legislative Body his political skills were crucial” (Robert Gildea, Barricades and Borders: Europe 1800-1914, pg 169). However with de Mornys untimely death, the Emperor’s failing health and his difficulty with foreign policies it became more difficult for Napolèon to continue his work at liberalizing his empire. Napolèon began his reign as an authoritarian ruler however during his control he became more liberal by making even more and more concessions to liberalize the French Empire.
Napoleon Bonaparte was an interesting ruler in that he was compromised of attributes of both a tyrant and a hero. Napoleon had a strong following throughout his reign and even during his two exiles. He was the emperor of France between 1799 and 1815, following the fall of the Directory. Despite the efforts of the French Revolution to rid the country of an autocratic ruler, Bonaparte came to power as Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte I in 1804. He claimed that he preserved the goals of the Revolution, which can be easily argued as his rule became more dictatorial as it progressed. Despite his departure from some of the gains of the Revolution, he overall was a hero for the French people. Through his military ventures, political changes and social reform, Napoleon proved himself as a hero. This is not to say that there were aspects of his reign that were tyrannical, but he was overall beneficial for France.
When we think of Napoleon, we think of massive military conquest comparable to the Roman Empire. However, there are also the numerous reforms he made to domestic policy during his reign of 1799 to 1815. There are three main viewpoints relating to his domestic policy. The first is by Godechot who believed Napoleon "changed the history of France and the world". He thought that Napoleon's policies truly benefited France. However, a contrary viewpoint is made by Seward who thought Napoleon was a demagogue who had an "obsession with power". A third median of the two extremes was proposed by Soboul. Soboul thought that Napoleon advantaged France in some ways but hindered in others.
Nardo, Don. A. The French Revolution. San Diego, California: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1999. Print.
After years of distrust in the government and hatred towards the nobility, the French people rose up and started a revolution (The French Revolution). The Declaration of the Rights of Man, made in 1789, put the ideas of the French Revolution onto paper. They stated that all men are born equal and that they have the right to liberty and property, and security (Rogers, 2011). After the removal of the monarchy and the beheading of Louis XVI, the French entered the Reign of Terror. Being that there was no peace and the demands of the Declaration were still unmet, the French people at a very vulnerable state. Comtesse de Remusat proposed the very plausible theory that the French people only allowed Napoleon to rise to power because of their weakness. The idea of a republic caused fear in the people and they needed some sort of leader to take control and help France (Rogers, 2011). The sole reason for a revolution was to bring equality to all and the French still had not found that