Napoleonic Foreign Policy

Question 1

When was the War of the First Coalition

Answer 1

1792-1797

Question 2

How did Napoleon win the respect of his officers in the first coalition war

Answer 2

he split the Austrians and Piedmontese and defeated Piedmont decisively in battle with speed

Question 3

What did T.C.W Blanning say about Bonaparte’s role in the Battle of Lodi

Answer 3

‘this battle came to symbolise the triumph of Napoleon’s genius in the face of apparently impossible odds’

Question 4

Why is the battle of Lodi relevant

Answer 4

Napoleon is able to make it seem like a major victory- given massive praise by the directory and is represented as a hero in France- early example of Napoleon’s genius for propaganda

Question 5

What was the nature of the battle of Arcola

Answer 5

close run battle

Napoleon kicks the Austrians back out- only the garrison town of Mantua is left under their control

Question 6

What was the nature of the Battle of Rivoli

Answer 6

• 14 Jan 1797 Austrians made a final attempt to relieve Mantua -lasted 3 days
• Napoleon eventually triumphs

Question 7

When was the treaty of Campo Formio signed

Answer 7

17 October 1797

Question 8

What was the significance of Campo Formio

Answer 8

confirms Napoleon as master of most of Italy, marked a decimation of the pope’s power in Italy and expanded the border of France significantly into the lands of the Holy Roman Empire along the Rhine

Question 9

Why does Napoleon want to go into Egypt

Answer 9

• Napoleon put in charge of England invasion but he knew that any invasion would almost certainly fail so he’s keen to lose this responsibility
• going to Egypt will also keep him out of France during the last days of the directory- doesn’t want to be associated with them

Question 10

Why did the directory want Napoleon to go to Egypt

Answer 10

Saw Napoleon as a threat to its power so wanted him out of the country
Egypt control route to India and is in a strategically important position: whoever controls Egypt can control trade in the Eastern Mediterranean

Question 11

What did the French fleet to Egypt compromise of

Answer 11

280 vessels

55 warships

Question 12

When was the Battle of Aboukir Bay

Answer 12

1-3 August 1798

Question 13

What was the nature of the Battle of Aboukir Bay

Answer 13

British captured/destroyed 11 or the 13 French ships (several were later converted into British vessels)
Nelson wins the victory using skilful tactics and by attacking late in the evening

Question 14

When was the Battle of the Pyramids

Answer 14

21 July 1798

Question 15

What was the outcome of the Battle of the Pyramids

Answer 15

Bonaparte wins a decisive victory

Question 16

Why was Egypt a personal triumph for Bonaparte

Answer 16

• although Egypt was a disaster for France, Bonaparte turned events there to his advantage
• exploitting extremely poor communications B talks up his victories at the Pyramids, Aboukir and Tabor and sells himself as a national hero

Question 17

When was the War of the Second Coalition

Answer 17

1798-1802

Question 18

When was the Battle of Marengo

Answer 18

14 June 1800

Question 19

How did Napoleon boost morale during the Italian Campaign

Answer 19

• on his arrival only about 38,000 of the 63,000 men in the army of Italy were fit and ready for active service and morale was poor
• N improved this through speeches, bulletins, respect for hard work (18-20 hours a day), paid troops in cash (not assignats)

Question 20

Example of Napoleon’s tactical skill in the Italian Campaign

Answer 20

Victories in the Montenotte campaign (flexibility and speed of marching enabled him to divide the Austrian and Piedmontese forces)
Mantua 1796- deliberately made misleading moves to place enemy in weaker position and attacking from the rear

Question 21

Examples of the limits to Napoleon’s skill in the Italian Campaign

Answer 21

exaggerations- propaganda exaggerated his success eg the army was not in such bad condition on his arrival as is sometimes claimed
propaganda- Arcola (Nov 1796) he failed to cross the bridge and fell off and a private letter from his brother showed that the soldiers were not inspired by N’s bravery and fled
Campo Formio only represented temporary peace

Question 22

What was the result of the Italian Campaign for Napoleon

Answer 22

• increased his fame; reputation as military general and bringer of peace; increased his own sense of destiny (‘I have tasted authority and i will not give it up’)
• directory increasingly reliant on the money N sent back from Italy