France & Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleonic Era Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) conquers & dominates entire Europe Born in the island of Corsica Attends military school (artillery) Serves in the revolutionary army First has success for calming a riot in Paris (1795)

Napoleonic Era Napoleon is chosen to lead army against Austria. Instead of attacking Austria directly, he attacks Italy which was under Austrian rule. Uses new military tactics: - fighting on Sundays - marching at night - fighting in the rain - efficient use of artillery (canons)

III. Napoleonic Era Napoleon is victorious against Austria which signs a peace treaty. He becomes a war hero in France. Next the French leaders ask General Napoleon to invade England. Again, instead of attacking directly, he invades Egypt to cut off England’s trade with the Middle East.

III. Napoleonic Era According to some records, he blows up the nose of the Egyptian Sphinx. British forces led by Lord Nelson who attacks & destroys the French fleet in Alexandria, Egypt. British also cut off supplies to Napoleon & blockade French troops in Egypt. Napoleon slips thru the blockade and returns to Paris.

III. Napoleonic Era Despite loss to the British, Napoleon is still regarded as a hero in France. Using his soldiers & popularity, Napoleon stages a coup d’etat and overthrows the government.

III. Napoleonic Era In 1799, he forms a new government called the Consulate under a new constitution. It was a three-man consulate with Napoleon being the First Consul who had the most power.

Napoleonic Era Napoleon increases his political power and finally becomes Emperor of France. Seizes power (1799) First Consul (1799) First Consul for life (1802) Emperor of France (1804) (n) Just 25 yrs. ago, France had a revolution to overthrow a king, and now it has an emperor!

Napoleonic Era After becoming emperor, Napoleon turns his attention to Europe. He conquers most of Europe including Austria, Spain, Italy, Prussia, and Holy Roman Empire. By 1808, Napoleon is the ruler of Europe.

Napoleonic Era Napoleon wants to conquer Britain, but cannot match British naval power at sea. French army vs. British navy He is defeated by Admiral Lord Nelson at Cape of Trafalgar (southern coast of Spain).

Napoleonic Era Britain, Austria, Russia, Sweden form the “Third Coalition” to defend itself from Napoleon. (1805) Because of Napoleon, Europe is unified under one ruler, one law and one system.

III. Napoleonic Era Russia breaks from Napoleon’s system (1810) Czar Alexandar I is ruler of Russia. Napoleon raises an army of 600,000 soldiers to invade Russia. (1812) Russia knows it cannot match French army. So it employs Scorched-Earth Policy (= slowly retreating into Russia while burning everything and leaving nothing for the enemies) Napoleon wins battles, but can’t destroy Russian army. He finally arrives in Moscow only to find the city burned & abandoned.

Napoleonic Era With winter coming, Napoleon has to retreat back to France. French troops retreat, but they encounter the bitter Russian winter cold. Russians also attack them and even burn the bridge of Berezina River to delay their retreat. Fewer than 100,000 soldiers return from this campaign.

His enemies exile Napoleon to Elba Island (Western coast of Italy). He later escapes Elba and raises another army, but he is defeated one final time at Waterloo, Belgium by British & Prussian armies led by Duke of Wellington.

Napoleonic Era Napoleon is lastly exiled to St. Helena (island in south Atlantic) & dies on May 5, 1821.