1. The Age of Napoleon
11-3

2. Early Life Born 1769 in Corsica (small island in Mediterranean)
Father = minor noble in Italy, but not rich
Napoleon won a scholarship to a famous military school
Lieutenant in French army
Spoke w/ Italian accent
Unpopular w/ fellow officers
Read French Enlightenment philosophy
Studied famous military campaigns

3. Military Successes Rose quickly through military
Age 24  Committee of Public Safety
Brigadier general
Won a series of battles
Speed, surprise, decisive action
Defeated armies of Papal States and Austria
France controlled north Italy

4. Military Success (con’t)
During Italian campaigns
Won devotion of troops
W/ intelligence, his ease w/ words, supreme self-confidence
1797—Napoleon is a hero
Given command of an army training to take Britain, but Napoleon knew they couldn’t do that. So, Napoleon decided to attack Egypt

5. Egypt
Egypt—Brit colony on route to India. HUGE source of wealth for the Brits
Brits—SEA POWER
Controlled Mediterranean
1799—Brits defeated French navy trying to take Egypt
Napoleon abandoned and went back to Paris

6. Consul and Emperor 1799—coup d'état overthrew Directory
New gov’t called the consulate
“Republic”
Absolute power
Napoleon called first consul
Appointed officials
Controlled army
Conducted foreign affairs
Influenced legislature

7. Consul and Emperor (con’t)
1802—Named consul for life
1804—Crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I