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Founded in 1800, Banque De France began as a private institution for issuing notes and managing state debts. It is also responsible for some accounts French Government's faculty and staff, as well as payments for the Treasury and some public companies. Napoleon created the bank as a reward for the fifteen banking houses because they were so deeply involved with the agitations leading up to The French Revolution and helping orchestrating the rise of Napoleon who they considered balanced.
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The French Army in St. Domingue was being decimated by the yellow fever, and the war between France and Great Britain was still threatening them. France was also struggling economically because of The British Naval blockade at the time, blocking all access to the center of The Industrial Revolution. In a desperate attempt to fix all of this, Napoleon decided to sell Louisiana to The United States Of America for $15 Million Dollars.
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After 4 years of planning and debating, Napoleon decided to create a new legal structure for France called The Napoleonic Code, which included a consistent set of laws sensitive to property, colonial affairs, and family and individual rights. He started with the idea in 1800, when he had the difficult task to revise France's outdated legal system. He commissioned lawyer J.J. Cambaceres to meet with him more than 80 times to discuss the new legal revisions that Napoleon presided.
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After seizing political power in France of 1799 (coup d'état), he declared himself emperor in 1804 due to his ambitious and skilled military tactics during the French Revolution. Bringing down the French government was very impactful because the people did not like it at the time. The government ignored the middle class's needs. Sharp and ambitious, Napoleon successfully waged war against various European factions and nations that expanded his empire after receiving the title of emperor.
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A ceremony called the Coronation took place in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. Many people were surprised that he did refused The Pope to crown emperor, and instead, Napoleon crowned himself, showing that he was higher than The Pope. The ceremony also marked a new modern empire because of the battles and new strategies he will have in the future.
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A crisis in finances in 1805 led Napoleon to reorganize the Bank of France, which he had created in 1800. Having difficulty, they requested the bank give them a loan to raise this money with The Treasury overseeing, issuing its own notes as legal currency. Failing to win the offering in financial transactions, the company faced bankruptcy. Returning to Paris Napoleon rescued the bank with indemnities received from Austria, but insisted that it would be “under control of the state.”
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The Battle Of Ulm was a series of small fights between the French and the Austrian armies. Winning this battle allowed Napoleon to back the entire Austrian army into a corner with minimal losses, forcing the army to surrender Ulm, gaining control over Bavaria. The Ulm Campaign is considered one of the best examples of a strategic victory in history because the campaign was won in just 15 days, had no major struggle, and how The Austrians fell into the same trap in the Battle Of Marengo.
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Napoleon was frustrated with his numerous failed attempts to conquer Great Britain, all naval attacks failed causing defeats of large groups in the French Navy. He did not waste time improving his Naval strategies however, considering his defeat in the Battle Of Trafalgar. So Napoleon decided to head into economic warfare by imposing a naval blockade of the French coasts. Napoleon hoped to cause great inflation in Britain since he knew it was the business center of the Industrial Revolution.
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Napoleon built many new schools for boys for ages 10-16 called lycees, a new elite secondary school. He found importance in building schools so that citizens would be able to fill in spots to be in his bureaucracy and military. Although he did not create a massive system of education, education was more available to the middle class than it ever was before. He thought of this as indoctrinating citizens at a young age so that they may be ready and prepared for the future.
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The Battle O Smolensk was considered to be the first major battle of the French invasion of Russia, attacking Prince Pyotr Bagration's Second Army and capturing two of the suburbs, burning the city to the ground. Out of the 2,250 building, only 350 were left standing, and only 1,00 citizens were left out of the 15,000, considering it to be on of the bloodiest battles of the French invasion. Although it was technically a victory for Napoleon, the burned city left him nothing of interest.
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After losing the fight against Russia, Napoleon is exiled off to the Mediterranean island of Elba (Southeast of France) as punishment. After escaping off of the island and back to France in early 1815, the new ruler, Louis the 18th (Louis the 16th's brother) had heard of Napoleon's return and sent his men out to go retrieve him. Although when his men got there, they decided to join Napoleon's New Grand Army in attempts to regain control by starting multiple campians, known as the 100 Days War.
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After returning from his exile from Elba, Napoleon has established a New Grand Army to regain territory and expand his army through the numerous campaigns that he had, coming out of exile. He regains control of France and starts several minor campaigns in attempt to take over Europe once more.
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Napoleon should be remembered as one of the greatest military leaders of all time because he led France throughout the Napoleonic wars, by defeating countries such as Russia, Prussia, and Austria. He retained the biggest empire of the modern age throughout his military conquest, winning a numerous amount of battles and gaining more territory with each battle. Although he was driven by his ego, it was what motivated and determined him to strive for his successes and build his empire furthermore.
