Napoleon Flashcards
What was napoleons occupation
He was emperor of france
When was he born
August 15, 1769 at Ajaccio, Corsica, France
When did he die
May 5, 1821 at St. Helena, United Kingdom
What was he best known for
A brilliant military commander, conquered much of Europe
What was his nickname
Little corporal
Where did Napoleon grow up
He was born on the island Corsica. His father, Carlo, was an important attorney who represented Corsica at the court of the French King.
How many siblings did he have
He had four brothers and three sisters including an older named Joseph
Why was napoleon able to attend school and get a good education
They were fairly wealthy.
Where did Napoleon go after he school
He went to a military academy in France and trained to become an officer in the army
What did napoleon do when his father died
He returned to Corsica to help handle the famiy’s affairs.
What did Napoleon become involved with when he returned to Corsica
With a local revolutionary named Pasquale Paola. For a while napoleon helped him in fighting against the French occupation of Corsica. However, later he changed sides and returned to france.
What was happening in france when napoleon returned to Corsica
The French Revolution occurred in Paris. The people revolted against the king of france and took control of the country.
What did napoleon do when he returned to france
He joined the jacobins. He received a position as the artillary commander at the Seige of Toulon
What was the Siege of Toulon
Toulon was occupied by British troops and the British navy had control over the port. Napoleon thought of a strategy to defeat the British and force them out of the port.
What did he receive after the Siege of Toulon
His military leadership was recognized by the leaders of france. At the age of 24 he was promoted to the position of brigadier general
What was he given control of in 1796
He was given command of the French army in Italy.
What did he find when he arrived in Italy
He found the army to be poorly organized and they lost to the Austrians. He used superior organization to move troops rapidly around the battlefield so they would always outnumber the enemy. He soon drove the Austrians out Italy and became a national hero
What was happening in france when napoleon returned from leading a military expiation in Egypt.
The political climate was changing. The directory was loosing power. Napoleon, his brother and other allies formed a new government called the consulate
What was the consulate made up
Initially, it was supposed to be three consuls at the head of the government, but napoleon gave himself the title of first consul.
What essentially made him a dictator
His powers as first consul
What three reforms did napoleon make as the director of france
- The Napoleonic Code
- Improved French economy
- re-established the captain church as the official state religion, but still allowed for freedom of religion
- Set up non religious schools
What was the napoleonic code
It said that government positions wouldn’t be based on birth or religion, but rather on qualifications and ability.
What was it like before the napoleonic code
High positions were given to aristocrats by the king in return for favors. This often led to incompetent people in important positions
How did napoleon improve the french economy
He built new roads and encouraged business.
Why did napoleon set up non-religious schools
So that anyone could get an education
What was different about napoleon’s coronation
He was crowned the first Emperor of France. He took the crown from the Pope and crowned himself. This showed everyone that no one was above him.
Initially, napoleon maintained peace in Europe. What did he do soon after that
France was soon at war with Britain, Austria and Russia
What did napoleon decide to do after loosing the navel battle of Trafalgar against Britain
He decided to attack Austria. He defeated both the Austrian and Russian armies at the Battle of Austerlitz.
At France’s greatest extent, how much land was controlled by France
It controlled much of Europe from Spain to the borders of Russia (not including Britain)
What was napoleon’s first major mistake
When he decided to invade Russia.
Why was invading Russia such a big mistake
Many of the men of the army starved to death along the way. After a fierce battle with the Russian army, they entered Moscow, only to find most of it burning and deserted. This meant that the french army couldn’t stay in Moscow (or use its supplies) and had to retreat. Napoleon hadn’t planned for this, so they did not have warm winter clothes, or enough supplies to get them through the harsh Russian winter.
How many people were in the Grand army
Around 500 000 men
Who were in the grand army
Men of all ages. French men and men from other countries that he had conquered.
What was the problem with using men from other countries in the grand army
There was a language barrier and there was lack of unity and loyalty to the french army. They lacked passion.
Where did the french and Russian army clash
100 miles from Moscow at Borodino
What did the Russian army decide to do as the french army came closer.
They decided to retreat and use the scorched earth policy so that the french army couldn’t live off of the land.
What was Moscow like when napoleon’s army reached it
It was deserted (people had gone to the countryside)
What was napoleon’s plan when he reached Moscow
Take over and rule Russia from the Kremlin
What is the Kremlin
The head quarters of Russia. It is a palace.
What were the Russian Cossacks
They are Russian military warriors on horseback.
Why did so many french army men die
They ran out of supplies, it was cold, they has to fight Russian Cossacks, they had to cross Beresina river
Roughly how many men returned to france
20 00 (4%-6%)
Who saved napoleon and made sure he was returned safely to france
Marshall Nay
What did napoleon’s attempted invasion of Russia show france
That napoleon could be beaten
What did the rest of Europe do in response to napoleon’s defeats
They turned on france
Who was in the 6th coalition
Britain
Austria
Prussia
Sweden
What was the next battle that napoleon was bereaved at
He was defeated at the battle of the nations
What do the British do after they defeat him at the battle of the nations
They exile him to the island of Elba.
What did the British allow napoleon to keep when he was exiled to Elba
The allowed him to remain emperor and to have some of the french arm men.
Who came into power in France when napoleon was exiled
King Louis 18
What was king Louis’ rule like
It was aa constitutional monarchy, not an absolute one
What things did king Louis 18 do that made people not like him
- He abolished the tricolor, which was a symbol of democracy and the French Revolution
- causes many of the soldiers do retire
- he cut the pay of the soldiers that he did keep ( by about a half )
- he takes away the land that had been given to the peasants, and returns it to the nobles and the chrich
What does returning the land cause
It cause the nobles that had left france to return
what is the Hundred Days
It is a period of about 100 days in which napoleon returns to Paris with his army. He is met with the rest of the french army, who have been instructed to capture or kill napoleon. They remember that it was better when napoleon was in power, and they join forces with him. The hundred days is when napoleon retook control over Paris.
What did the rest of Europe do when they saw that napoleon had returned
They gathered their armies and met him Waterloo. Napoleon was defeated and was forced into exile
Where was he exiled to the second time
He was exiled to Saint Helena
Where is Waterloo
In Belgium
What privileges did napoleon get when he was exiled to Saint Helena
None. Saint Helena was deliberately far away from Paris, so they napoleon couldn’t easily return. He did not keep the title of emperor
What age did napoleon die and how
He died after 6 years of exile on Saint Helena. He died at age 51 and most probably from arsenic poisoning or stomach cancer
Where are his remains
In France, Les Invelides in Paris
What was another thing that napoleon was famous for
Being short (5-6 inches tall). This is short for now, but then, he probably would have been average height
What is a napoleon complex
It is something you say to someone who is overcompensating for being short
What was napoleon’s birth name
Napoleone di Buonaparte. He changed his name to be more french Synge moved to mainland France
Who was napoleons first wife, and why did he divorce her
His first wife was Josephine. He divorced her because she didn’t give give him an heir to the throne
What was Josephine;s past
She was previously married and had children. She loved flowers
Who did napoleon marry after he divorced Josephine
Marie Louise of Austria.
What was Beethoven going to do
He was going to dedicate his third symphony to napoleon, but changed his mind when napoleon crowned himself emperor.
What was napoleon good at
He was good at writing and he wrote a romance novel called Clisson et Eugenie
What were three of napoleon’s military achievements
- The commanded the french troops that ousted the British at Toulon
- Italian campaign
- Egyptian campaign
Where else was napoleon defeated
At the battle of the Nile by Haratio Nelson
Why did napoleon decide to invade Egypt
Because he wanted to harm the British
