Was Napoleon an Enlightened Absolutist? - RELIGION

Question 1

Absolutist?

Answer 1

• 1st Consul can appoint archbishops and bishops
• God supports Napoleon as Emperor
• God ‘gives empires not only to one person in particular, but also to his family’
• Forbidden by 4th commandment to disobey

Question 2

Enlightened; Concordat

Answer 2

• Concordat with the Catholic Church July 1801, published April 1802
• Religious toleration of around 700k Protestants and 40k Jews in France

Question 3

Unenlightened

Answer 3

• General leniency for the Church but enlightenment thinking strongly criticised corruption and divine right
• December 1799, Napoleon decreed that churches could be open any day of the week and in July 1800 authorised Sunday should be a day of rest
• God supports Napoleon as Emperor
• God ‘gives empires not only to one person in particular, but also to his family’
• Forbidden by 4th commandment to disobey

Question 4

How did the Concordat show Napoleon to be UNenlightened?

Answer 4

• Pope recognized as head of the Catholic Church
• Catholicism recognised as religion of the majority
• Catholic worship was to become freely available