1. NAPOLEON THE GRAND MASTER OF EUROPE

2. RISE OF NAPOLEON Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769 on the Mediterranean island of Corsica. Brilliant military leader Used his status as a national hero to seize power  1799 coup d’etat led by General Napoleon brought an end to the Directory

3. In 1800 a plebiscite - vote of the people – was held to approve a new constitution. The people voted for it overwhelmingly, and Napoleon took power as first consul  The French craved the order and stability that Napoleon promised and were willing to give up some freedoms for peace, prosperity, and glory  The pope comes to crown Napoleon as emperor  Napoleon puts the crown on his own head – he took authority for himself - “I am the Revolution”

4. Napoleon’s Rule Wants to end the hostility from the Revolution  Makes peace with the Catholic Church through a Concordat (agreement) with Pope Pius VII Established a network of public schools called Lycées Created the Napoleonic Code - gave the country a uniform set of laws. Limited some individual rights, such as freedom of the press. Prior to the Revolution France had 300 different legal systems

5. Napoleon’s Empire Wants to rule Europe  In 1803 sells the Louisiana Territory to the U.S. to get money to fight his wars and to punish the British the Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars that were an extension of the ones fought between France and other nations during the Revolution In the end the only nations free of his control are Great Britain, Sweden, Portugal, and the Ottoman Empire

6. Great Britain’s survival  Napoleon tries to invade Britain, but his fleet his defeated by the British led by Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar  This battle saves the British from invasion

7. THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM  Napoleon then institutes the Continental system – wants to stop British goods from reaching Europe. It is supposed to make continental Europe more self-sufficient.  Britain depends on overseas trade and if the economy of Britain is weakened, then it would destroy their ability to wage war  Prohibits French or Allied ships from trading with Britain

8.  Sets up a blockade – forcible closing of ports to prevent all trade and communication between Great Britain and other European nations.  The British respond by requiring ships from neutral nations to stop in British ports and not trade with France – leads to the war of 1812 between the British and the U.S.

9. The Peninsular War - 1808  War against Portugal – they refused to comply with the continental system  War in Spain – Napoleon conquers Spain and places his brother, Joseph, on the throne  Spanish revolt, don’t want a foreign ruler and Britain sends military forces to help them  Spanish peasant fighters use guerrilla warfare – small groups that ambushed French troops and then fled into hiding. Napoleon calls it his “Spanish Ulcer”

10. Invasion of Russia – 1812  Russia refuses to remain in the continental system, so Napoleon invades with over 600,000 men – needs a quick win  Russian troops and peasants retreat hundreds of miles east. They burn their own villages, fields, and slaughtered livestock as they leave – scorched earth tactic  Why do you think they did this?

11.  Napoleon finally reaches Moscow and finds it mostly deserted and in flames – lacked supplies and food  Russian raiders attack Napoleon’s army.  Starvation and freezing temperatures kill thousands and only 10,000 make it out in Jan. 1813

12. DOWNFALL First defeat and exile  Napoleon’s army is weakened, so Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia ally against France  They defeat Napoleon’s new army and in March of 1814 they capture Paris  Napoleon surrenders and gives up his throne  Gets to keep the title of emperor  The brother of the beheaded Louis XVI is made the new king of France – Louis XVIII  In April 1814, Napoleon is exiled to the island of Elba off the coast of Italy with 400 guards

13. The Hundred Days – Napoleon’s Return  Napoleon escapes and starts making his way back to Paris in early 1815  Troops sent to capture him join him instead  The new king Louis XVIII flees  Napoleon arrives in Paris to cheering crowds  He raises a new army and starts reconquering Europe and his enemies gather once again

14. Battle of Waterloo – June 18, 1815  Final confrontation of Napoleon’s troops against British troops led by the Duke of Wellington  Napoleon is decisively defeated  Napoleon flees to a port, but is soon captured The second exile  This time the Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena, a volcanic island in the South Atlantic that is 1,200 miles from the nearest mainland  Napoleon dies there six years later