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Towards the end of the French Revolution and after the Coup d’ etat, the Directory Government was replaced by the Consulate. The Consulate Government consisted of three Consoles, Napoleon Bonaparte, Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès, and Pierre-Roger Ducos. However, Napoleon was the real power holder. The other two consoles were only there as figureheads.
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This is a political accomplishment since the Directory was replaced by the Consulate. That shows a government change indicating a political change as well. The significance of the Consulate taking over the Directory was important because the directory was polluted and corrupt. France needed a new government that would restore peace after the chaotic ten years of the French Revolution. IMAGE: A picture of the three Councils, Jean Régis, Napoleon Bonaparte and Charles Lebrun by Auguste Couder.
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"Napoleon ordered the Banque de France’s establishment, deposited money with the bank, and ordered the state to invest in it. He endowed it with various powers he was earlier skeptical of and used those powers to extend credit to French business." NAPOLEON’S BANK The TCH Blog.
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The Bank of France was very beneficial for France's economy as it boosted trade, simulated industry, and helped create a stable economy. This is an economic success because Naeoplen helped bring the economy back to life after the chaos of the French Revolution. IMAGE: The Bank of France
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Just as Napoleon came into power as the First Console, he wished to restore peace for the people of France. While Napoleon was away fighting in Egypt the Russian, Great Britain, Austria, Portugal, The Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Naples formed allies into a Coalition and went against the French. Napoleon offered peace however the coalition refused. Then came the Battle of Marengo in the southeast of Alessandria. With 28,000 troops Napoleon beat Austria.
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The battle would be considered a military achievement as Napoleon won with his troops. However, this battle really secured Napoleon’s position with the Consoles as people began to favor him even more. His success in this battle with only approximately 28,000 troops versus the Austrian’s with approximately 31,000 troops won him a lot of respect and favor.
IMAGE: The Battle of Marengo, by Louis-François Lejeune. The location of this battle was at Spinetta Marengo, Alessandria, and Piedmont. -
Napoleon laid the foundations for modern French education. There were four grades of school, Primary, secondary, Lycee, and Technical School. Napoleon wanted to build a modern France focusing on science, math, military, and political sciences. This counts as a social reform because he serving the people of France and he was trying to bring a change in society through education. IMAGE: Example of a Lycees
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The Concordat was an agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII defining the status of the Roman Catholic Church. The Concordat stated that most of France was Catholic but that was not the official state religion mandatory for everyone to practice. Which meant that anyone was free to practice any religion they wished.
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This was a social reform as Napoleon tried to make the people of France happy by giving the options to choose. This was a significantly important action for Napoleon. He was gaining people's trust in order to win them over to eventually become an Emperor. With no surprise, people in France were very happy due to this reform and slowly started to shift in Napoleon’s favor.
IMAGE: Leaders of the Catholic Church taking the civil oath required by the Concordat. -
While trying to restore France in 1803 Napoleon was short of money. Then came Thomas Jefferson. He wanted to buy Louisiana from Napoleon to expand the US further. Napoleon had acquired Louisiana from Spain by the secret Treaty of San Ildefonso. Napoleon looking at France’s financial condition was ready to sell the land. Thomas Jefferson paid 15 million dollars to Napoleon.
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This was a social reform as Napoleon is trying to restore France by making reforms. The Purchase was a necessary element for Napoleon because he needed money for his military and the Napoleonic wars. IMAGE: Signing of Louisiana Purchase document.
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The Napoleonic code consisted of laws including equality of all citizens before the law, religious toleration, and the abolition of feudalism. Napoleon wrote these as laws for everyone to follow. This would be counted as a social reform because this set of laws bring the society of France to a better place and improve conditions.
IMAGE: Image of Napoleon writing the Napoleonic Code. -
Coronation of Napoleon. The Coronation was held at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. The event was very meaningful and sent a very strong message out. Pope Pius VII traveled from Rome to crown Napoleon however when the actual ceremony began Napoleon took the crown from the Pope and put it on his own head. Showing that he is the absolute power and that he will not be controlled by anyone. Nor Rome nor the Church. He will not submit his power to anyone but himself.
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The Coronation would be considered a political accomplishment because there is a change in govt. or the type of ruler. Since Napoleon went from being a Consul to an Emperor. The effect of the Coronation had a positive effect on most people in France. While many foreign monarchs were not so happy. Some were invited to attend Napoleon's Coronation however no monarch showed up. IMAGE: Napoleon after being crowned emperor.
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Napoleon eventually won the battle and forced Austria to sign a peace treaty with France called the Treaty of Pressburg. Napoleon also temporarily kept Prussia away from the Anti- French Coalition. However, what really makes this battle real was Napoleon's techniques. This would be a military achievement because Napoleon won the battle and got Austria to sign to peace. He uses great techniques and skills on the battlefield to defeat 90,000 Russians and Austrians.
IMAGE: Battlefeild of Austerlitz -
The Third Coalition was formed originally in 1803 but was inactive until 1805. In 1805 Napoleon was making an effort to build an empire and wanted to conquer Europe. His actions caused foreign monarchs to form the Third Coalition. The Coalition included the countries of Prussia, England, Austria, Russia, and Sweden.
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During the 3rd Coalition, there were many wars fought. One of them was the Battle Of Austerlitz also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors. This battle was one of Napoleon’s greatest victories. He went into war with 68,000 French men to fight against almost 90,000 Russians and Austrians under a general named General M.I. Kutuzov.
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The Battle of Friedland was between the Russian and the French. This battle was similar to a retake since the Battle of Eylau in February 1807 came without a conclusion. In other words, it was a fight without a verdict. So the military general of Russia decided to swipe the French again months later. However, Napoleon swipes an effortless win with the french having 80,000 troops and the Russian having 58,000.
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IMAGE: Napoleon at the Battle of Friedland, giving instructions to General Nicolas Oudinot. Between them is depicted General Etienne de Nansouty and behind the Emperor, on his right is Marshal Michel Ney.
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This battle would be a Military accomplishment beacuse after Napoleon won he made the Russians sign the Treaty of Tilsit. This was signed between Napoleon and Alexander I of Russia.
"Napoleon's overwhelming victory was enough to convince the Russian political establishment that peace was necessary. Friedland effectively ended the War of the Fourth Coalition, as Emperor Alexander, I reluctantly entered peace negotiations with Napoleon." WIKIPEDIA -
Battle of Wagram was fought between the Austrian and the French. Yet again Napoleon swapped in with another win this time with 136,000 troops. This fight ended the 5th Coalition [Austrian Empire, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Spain]. However when Napoleon, he "...forced Austria to sign an armistice and led eventually to the Treaty of Schönbrunn in October, ending Austria's 1809 war against the French control of Germany." WIKIPEDIA.
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This would be considered a military accomplishment since Napoleon won the battle and made Austria sign a treaty. IMAGE: Napoleon at Wagram, painted by Horace Vernet
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This would be a military achievement because Napoleon won the battle acquired the city of SMOLENSK. The most sacred city in Russia. IMAGE: The Grande Armée crosses the Dnieper on 14 August
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The Battle of Smolensk is between the French and the Russian. Napoleon had approx. 50,000 troops whereas the Russian had 35,000 troops. Napoleon attacked the Russians because they inflicted many combats on his army. However, the main reason was that he wanted to gain/ win cities, towns, fortresses, and forward supply depots. In the end, Napoleon ended up winning the battle.
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I think that we should remember Napoleon as someone who was very unique and had a sense of passion. He not only thought about himself but about others as well. He is not like others he was like a "breadth of intellect which was seldom measured". Or you could remember him as that dude who always keeps his hand on his stomach!
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