Napoleon Bonaparte: Rise to Power and the Napoleonic Era

The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica, France, in 1769. He studied at académies militaires, where he distinguished himself through his aptitude for mathematics, an inexhaustible capacity for work, a prodigious memory, and extensive reading. He possessed solid knowledge of history and military science, but was primarily motivated by limitless ambition. Upon the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, he gradually became a patriot. His figure rose through successes achieved, and after a recovery at Toulon, he ascended to the rank of general at just 24 years old. One year later, he suppressed an insurrection and was given command of the Italian army. From that moment, Napoleon's star shone brightly, leading him to become the ruler of France for 15 years—five as consul and ten as emperor. Of these 15 years, 14 were spent at war, as conflict was his natural means to extend and expand the domain of France.

Napoleon Bonaparte is the subject of more biographies than any other figure in the world; therefore, opinions regarding him are mixed. However, it is undeniable that he was an exceptional man with a rich personality, innate leadership skills, superior talent, and an indomitable will.

The Three Napoleonic Stages

• First Consul (1799–1802)
• Consul for Life (1802–1803)
• Emperor of the French (1804–1814)

The Consulate

After winning in Italy, Napoleon sought to attack England via Egypt. He intended to expel the British from the Mediterranean and cut off their communications with India. For this purpose, he crossed the Mediterranean and landed in Egypt, but his army was subsequently destroyed by the English Admiral Nelson at the Battle of Aboukir (1798). The so-called Coup of 18 Brumaire (November 10, 1799) resulted in him becoming First Consul. The Consulate was characterized by:

• The centralization of power.
• Curbing inflation and strengthening public debt.
• Consolidation of the gains obtained by the bourgeoisie.
• The suppression of privileges by birth.
• Reconciliation with the Catholic Church through the signing of a concordat.

Lifetime Consulate

Napoleon gradually steered policy toward a dictatorship. Taking advantage of popular euphoria following the signing of the Treaty of Amiens (1802) with England, Napoleon amended the constitution and assumed the title of Consul for Life (1802–1804). During this period, he intervened in the drafting of the Civil Code, which was characterized by:

• Guarantees of legal equality and property rights.
• The establishment of civil registration.
• The legalization of divorce.

The Napoleonic Code had a major influence on 19th-century legislation.

The Empire

Napoleon succeeded when the Senate declared that "the government of the Republic was entrusted to the Emperor Napoleon." He was crowned Emperor on December 2, 1804, in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris by Pope Pius VII.