Napoleon's military leadership and reasons for military success Flashcards
When was the Siege of Toulon?
1793
SOT: What was Napoleon put in charge of?
Artillery by the Convention, Augustin Robespierre demanded he was given the chance.
SOT: What did Napoleon get?
100 guns from surrounding, Marseilles.
SOT: What were the officers serving with him like?
Incompetent.
SOT: What did the British command?
The port and little fortresses above it, nicknamed the ‘Little Gibraltar’.
SOT: What did the French force amount to?
Around 32,000
SOT: How did Napoleon gain the French an advantage?
On 16th December, attacked at night and got heigh advantage.
Rain shot onto British ships and town of Toulon.
British withdrew within one day.
SOT: What was the impact of the SOT for Napoleon?
During the terror he was promoted to brigadier general in the army.
By 1795 what was Napoleon?
Frances youngest general at age 25.
When was the ‘Whiff of grapeshot’?
1795
Why was Napoleon called in 1795?
To protect parliament.
How large were the royalist forces?
Outnumbered the republicans by to 6 to 1 on 5th October.
How did the republicans remain victorious?
They held perimeter, canons fired grapeshot into royalist forces.
What was Napoleon viewed as after 1795?
A national hero - given command of French army in Italy.
What did royalists label Napoleon to be?
General Vendémiaire to portray it as massacre.
When was the Italian Campaign?
1796-1797
IC: What was Napoleon appointed to?
Commander-in-chief on 2nd March 1796.
IC: How many men was Napoleon given control of?
41,000 men but increased to 50,000 men by summer of 1796.
IC: What did Napoleon pay his men with?
Gold and silver over paper assignats for the first time in months.
IC: Who was the enemy in the IC?
Piedmont and Austrian Empire.
IC: When was Piedmont knocked out the war?
28th April - forced to accept the Armistice of Chersaco, knocking them out of First Coalition.
IC: Why did the Austrians sue for peace?
French advanced 100 miles of Vienna.
IC: What was signed with Austria?
The Treaty of Campo-Formio
IC: How was Napoleon viewed after the IC?
‘Little Corporal’
E: When was Egypt campaign?
1798-1801
E: Who fought in the Egyptian campaign?
France versus Britain and Ottoman Turkish empire.
E: How big were each countries armies?
F: 40,000 O: 220,000 B: 30,000
E: What was the cause of the war?
The French had upset the British land route to India.
E: What was a success of the campaign?
Battle of the Pyramids - only 29 French deaths but 20,000 Mameluke casualties (Napoleons own record).
E: What was a failure of the campaign?
Battle of the Nile - Napoleon absent but 4 ships destroyed and 9 captured.
How can History be criticised?
‘History is a set of lies agreed upon’ - Napoleon
What is the myth of the Battle of Lodi?
A victorious capture of a bridge protected by Austrians in 1796.
What is the reality of the Battle of Lodi?
- Austrians already prepping to withdraw at Lodi
- Head on charge was suicidal for many
-Napoleon fell into water at Arcola trying to rally troops. - Peace treaty with Austria gave them Venice so not total triumph.
What external revolutionary factors ensured his success?
The Levee en Masse - meant he had more men than his opponents.
Could play on unity of revolution.
