Napoleon as Consul Flashcards
Political reforms under Napoleon
4
As First Consul Napoleon exercised centralised control of government
Prefects placed as heads of Frances 83 departments, they chose who worked under them
Napoleon also appointed mayors and nominated council members.
Napoleon used an assassination attempt in 1800 as an excuse to deport 100s of neo-Jacobins. State offered Napoleon Consul for Life. He accepted if the people agreed, and the votes were 3,500,00 to 8,000
Legal reforms under Napoleon - Civil Code
March 1804 - Civil Code
Common law for all of France
System of inheritance was changed. Lands did not have to pass to the eldest son
Privileges of the Catholic Church removed
Less liberal:
Reintroduction of slavery in French colonies
Married women couldn’t own property
Educational reforms under Napoleon
Purpose of education, according to Napoleon, was to provide France with officials and military officers. These were taken from the sons of the property-owning class, the Notables.
45 Lycees (elite schools) established in 1802 300 secondary schools created after 1805
Concordat
3 Agreements
1801
Agreement with the Pope, stating that:
- Catholic Church recognised the revolution and would not try and regain its lands
- Church was state-controlled, the clergy had to swear loyalty to the state
- Toleration of other faiths allowed
With this Napoleon had reduced threat of royalism
Financial Reforms under Napoleon
3
Land registers were drawn up, making land tax more efficiently collected
Bank of France - Set up in 1800. Sole right to issue paper notes. A central bank made government task of raising finance much easier, something the Ancien Regime lacked
Currency - New currency based on silver and gold coins. Strict control of the metal content meant this was a stable currency that provided a strong base for the french economy, something the Assignat failed to do.
Balanced books by 1802
Defeat of the 2nd Coalition
He defeated the Austrians at Marengo in June 1800. Austria negotiated peace after another loss as Hohenlinden. Britain was prepared to negotiate & Treaty of Amiens was agreed in 1802
War of the 3rd Coalition
3rd Coalition formed in 1805. Austria was angry at french expansion in Italy, Russia angry at French actions in Germany.
Loss at the Battle of Trafalgar ended hopes of an invasion of Britain, but Napoleon defeated Austrians at Ulm & Austrians + Russians at Austerlitz. This caused Russian retreat and Austria agreed to give France control of Northern Italy
Battle of Ulm
1805
Rapid march from Boulougne to Ulm took the Austrians by surprise before they could join with the Russians.
Austerlitz
1805
Lured the Russians into an attack of his purposely weak right flank, before exposing their centre. Napoleon then enveloped the Russians and caused heavy casualties as they tried to retreat
War of the 4th Coalition
War with Prussia came about as he tried to enforce his Continental System. Prussia was defeated convincingly at battles of Jena & Auerstadt in Oct. 1806. This was a narrow victory as he unwisely split his forces, leaving a smaller force to deal with the bulk of the Prussian army, but he was saved by Davout’s determination.
Napoleon then defeated Russia at Friedland in 1807, and the Treaty of Tilsit was signed, which effectively split Europe between France & russia
Napoleons failure at sea
His loss to britain at Trafalgar destroyed much of his fleet, but also meant that Britain remained in opposition to him until he was defeated in 1814
Reasons for his Military success - Napoleon
3
Inspired personal devotion from his troops, he took the time to know many by name. Wellington said ‘his presence on the battlefield is worth 40,000 men’
New aggressive tactics such as making units independent so they could live off the land and travel quickly ‘SUSTAINED OFFENSIVE e.g Ulm
Great tactical mind e.g. Austerlitz, drew in Russian troops on weak right flank before enveloping them
Reasons for military success - Enemy weakness
3
Austrians expected napoleon to take 80 days to cross the Alps, he did it in 13 and arrived with 190,000 men instead of the 70,000 they expected (they only allocated 60,000)
Russia & Austria were using different calendars, making co-ordination difficult e.g. Ulm when Austria was defeated before they could join with Russia
Little cooperation between coalition forces
Reasons for military success, saved by others
Marengo in 1800 - He dispersed his forces, leaving a small force to face the bulk of the Austrian army. Almost certainly would have been defeated if Desaix hadn’t returned to the battlefield at the expense of his own life
Jena 1806 - Divided forces so that a small force faced the large Prussian one AGAIN. Was saved through Davout’s leadership and determination
What could Napoleon’s Reforms be describes as?
Liberal Authoritarianism
