Napoleon Bonaparte as a Military Leader

612 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: napoleon bonaparte and the legacy of the french revolution

Napoleon Bonaparte as a Military Leader There have been many successful military leaders throughout history, but no leader has ever conquered the entire world. Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the best leaders of all time, nearly achieved this goal. Although his conquest for power and territory were beneficial to France, it did not have the same effect on Europe. As a self-appointed emperor, Napoleon was known as an extraordinary military field general and an effective reformer. His political policy furthered several reforms of the revolution. Through his wars he expanded the influence of Europe. In 1802 Napoleon, was vote First Consul of France, then in 1804 he declared himself Emperor. Immediately Napoleon obtained absolute power. His politically backed several reforms that the revolution had started. He presented the idea of splitting France up into sections which helped to end Feudalism. This took away the special privileges and power that nobles and clergy previously had. Napoleon also allowed large amounts if immigrants to repopulate France under strict conditions. Napoleon introdu...

Show More
Related

  • Napoleon Bonaparte and His Military Tactics

    467 Words  | 1 Pages

    Bonaparte was born in 1769 on the island of Corsica just as France conquered it. At age ten, Napoleon was sent to military school outside Paris. At sixteen, he graduated and became a lieutenant in the artillery. When the French revolution broke out, Napoleon sided with the new government. Along with the help of his army, he dissolved the revolutionary government and made himself emperor. Saying he was saving the Revolution, Napoleon established a new government that stressed equality. Through his prowess, Napoleon greatly enlarged the French Empire. Though he ran...

    Read More

  • DBQ On Napoleon Bonaparte's Rule In France

    673 Words  | 2 Pages

    Napoleon Bonaparte ruled in France from 1789 to 1815. Napoleon came to power in 1789 and immediately became a powerful figure in the French government. However, some thought Napoleon was such a great leader. The Napoleonic Empire started to grow France’s territories. Some might have believed that Napoleon was too eager with his rule, while losing and failing to succeed against the power of England, in an attempt to blockade their trade, and of Russia, where he led his army to a defeat and retreat back to France. Even in his success over Spain, the battle still costed Napoleon and his army in men and resources. Napoleon was mostly viewed as a powerful and militaristic leader in some aspects, but others saw him as a coward and terrible leader in other ways.

    Read More

  • Mid term exam

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    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,...

    Read More

  • Napoleon: Hero or Tyrant?

    1475 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Napoleon - an enlightened despot

    1003 Words  | 3 Pages

    Enlightened despotism is when there is an absolute ruler, in some cases a tyrant, who follows the principles of the Enlightenment through reforms. Permitting religious toleration, allowing freedom of the press and speech, and expanding education are a few main guidelines to being and enlightened despot. Napoleon I is often referred to as one of the greatest enlightened despots. Although, he did not follow the ideas of the enlightenment entirely, he managed his country in a way that he maintained complete authority as well as many of the gains of the French Revolution. Yes, Napoleon did want to do a few things for himself, but he also ruled for the majority in most cases, promote government-funded education, and supported many other enlightened ideas. But, most importantly, Napoleon did what he thought would make his country stronger.

    Read More

  • French Revolution Dbq Analysis

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first reason why Napoleon upheld the goals/ideals of the French Revolution was due to his pPolitical benefits for France. According to Source A “Napoleon reduced government

    Read More

  • Biography of Napoleon Bonaparte

    1063 Words  | 3 Pages

    Napoleon was a graduate from military school and was immediately given command of a French Regiment. After leading his men in several pivotal battles in the French Revolution, he was considered a hero by a majority of the French. Along with several high-ranking French officials, he successfully completes a coup d'état, or overthrow, of the Directory. 
Napoleon named himself "First Consul" for ten years; but after rewriting the Constitution, he established his power indefinitely.
Napoleon devised a series of wars to overthrow European governments. When the French overthrew a government, they quickly established a new one; the locals were treated fairly, and the objective was to have one unified government in Europe.

    Read More

  • Napoleon Bonaparte Dbq

    830 Words  | 2 Pages

    Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military leader who rose to power during the time of the French Revolution. He eventually crowned himself emperor of France in 1804 after gaining political power. He showed many traits of Enlightenment ideals such as religious tolerance and rational government. When Napoleon rose to power many people supported his ideas and beliefs such as the Napoleonic Code and increased religious freedom throughout his empire, however as time went on and Napoleon’s empire grew, people including women and leaders of other countries began to realize the effect of Napoleon’s actions, causing them to perceive him differently.

    Read More

  • Napoleon

    321 Words  | 1 Pages

    Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “Nothing has been simpler than my elevation…It is owing to the peculiarities of the time.” Coming to power at a time of instability and disorder in France immediately following the French Revolution, Napoleon quickly established himself as the political leader and military power behind France. Easily and efficiently overthrowing the poorly managed Directory, Napoleon established a three man governing body referred to as the Consulate. Naming himself Consul for Life in 1802, and crowning himself emperor in 1804, Napoleon made it clear that is was a time of dramatic change in France. Although establishing himself as an absolute ruler, Napoleon did it all with the support of the people, through the use of a plebiscite. Obviously a man that held immense power, Napoleon has been credited with many great successes. To the people of France, Napoleon was a savior, a man who could, despite being an autocrat, implement the ideals of the French Revolution. Establishing order, giving the French people a sense of security, and running his government smoothly became Napoleon’s priorities. Through a variety of reforms including, centralizing the government, establishing public education, instituting religious tolerance specifically signing the Concordat of 1801, and stimulating the economy, Napoleon won the support of French people across the classes, including the peasantry who in years previous had suffered greatly under absolute rulers. One of Napoleon’s most lasting reforms was his installment of the Napoleonic Code, a set of laws that reflected the idea of equality so evidently bannered throughout the French Revolution. Napoleon was able to capture the attention of the French people through every facet except absolutism.

    Read More

  • Napoleon Bonaparte as One of the Greatest Military Leaders of all Time

    1263 Words  | 3 Pages

    Napoleon Bonaparte as One of the Greatest Military Leaders of all Time Napoleon Bonaparte is considered one of the greatest military leaders of all time. His victories were decisive, powerful and brought greatness to a suffering France. His military power reigned supreme for over fifteen years until the drive that got him to where he was brought him to ruin. The question that I am plagued by is; How was Napoleon able to win almost every battle so decisively? His forces were often out numbered and out supplied but some how Napoleon was still able to defeat the opposing forces.

    Read More

  • French Revolution Dbq

    1477 Words  | 3 Pages

    Napoleon is credited with the way he reformed France for the better because he was a lot more lenient and intelligent with how he led the people of France unlike Louis XVI. He rose through military ranks quickly and was loved dearly by the people of France. His tactics were perfectly timed when he waged wars with countries for dominion over their lands. Some of his strategies for how he became ruler of France and almost all of Europe included: letting the peasants of France receive their properties that were taken from them by the First and Second Estates, driving British Forces out of France, and making friends and relatives in charge of ruling the lands he conquered. However, every emperor has a downfall and Napoleon’s came in the form of his soldiers dying due to the harsh and terribly Russian winter of 1812 when he led them against Tsar Alexander I for his decision to leave the Continental

    Read More

  • France

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    Peace and tranquillity in France came with Napoleon's strong, autocratic rule. After making himself a consul for life, he re-established the French monarchy, naming himself Emperor Napoleon I in 1804. He centralized France's government by appointing new officials, made tax collections more systematic and efficient, and created a National Bank. He believed that it was by God's will that he was brought to power and persuaded others into believing it through the Napoleon Catechism. It taught the French people that Napoleon was due their respect and loyalty because it was "he whom God had raised up under difficult circumstances to re-establish the public worship of the holy religion of our fathers and to be the protector of it." In other words, his coming to the French throne was a blessing.

    Read More

  • Napoleon Bonaparte

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    Napoleon Bonaparte is considered to be one of the greatest conquers and captains of modern times. In history perhaps no one person has ever aroused so many intense opposite emotions. Perhaps no one had ever claimed as much of the admiration, fear, and hatred of all men as did Napoleon. Napoleon was a man with many sides. He started many of his challenging voyages and defeats as a young child and they continued throughout his life. He had many accomplishments and many defeats that affect the world in which we live. Napoleon plays a very big part in history.

    Read More

  • Napoleon Bonaparte

    1416 Words  | 3 Pages

    To some, he was an extraordinary military commander who led an army to victory. To others, he was a distinguished civil administrator, and yet others thought of him as a great man that was tossed complicated twists in his short life. He is both a historical figure and a legend and it is sometimes difficult to separate the two. There have been many successful military leaders through out time but no leader has ever taken over the whole world. This task was nearly accomplished by the greatest military leader in history better known as Napoleon Bonaparte was. In his lifetime, he took over most of Europe before conquering Moscow. History Place the publishers of the internet site napoleon Emperor of France had this to say about the way napoleon acted, "Having that much power can sometimes makes a man lose control and do bizarre things but in his short lifetime he was so puzzling to his opponents it drove them mad." All of these things help explain why Napoleon was a very complex person.

    Read More

  • Napoleon's Rise to Power

    400 Words  | 1 Pages

    Napoleon's entire reign started with the constitution. After all the economic trouble in France there was a need for a new constitution, so Abbe Sieyes asked Napoleon to secure the success of the new constitution that was based on a principle of "confidence from below, power from above." Bonaparte was a very decisive individual, so he did not pay much attention to Sieyes and established his own Constitution of the Year VIII. This constitution made him the First Consul and had an overwhelming success. After convincing his subjects that the establishment of the dynasty was unavoidable, Bonaparte created another constitution, which made him an Emperor of the French. During the French Revolution, constitution was an important idea. In fact, all the revolutionary ideas were summarized in the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. Napoleon pursued this concept.

    Read More

More about Napoleon Bonaparte as a Military Leader

Open Document