Was Napoleon an Enlightened Absolutist? - SOCIAL

Question 1

How did Napoleon’s education reforms show him to be an absolutist?

Answer 1

• Ensured patriotism and loyalty to the state and Emperor
• Tightly controlled system demanded total obedience, had to take oath of loyalty and subject to petty restrictions (e.g. going to Paris w/out permission = prison time)
• Lessons standardised and curriculum centralised: no room for freedom of choice, thought or expression for pupils or staff

Question 2

How was Napoleon somewhat enlightened?

Answer 2

• Napoleon liked hierarchies and consequently developed a system of rewards and honours for loyalty and effective service; meritocratic instead of by money
• However the new nobility was not like the old it was only a seventh of the size of the old nobility of 1789 and primarily linked to service

Question 3

How was Napoleon UNenlightened?

Answer 3

• Limit to how much those in lower ranks pf society could truly advance as Napoleon was only interested in civilians of education and wealth who could serve his empire
• It was the masses de granit – the ‘notables’, on whom the government and administration of the regime relied – who did well in Imperial France
• March 1808: all grand dignitaries became priests, archbishops became counts, mayors of large towns became barons and members of the Legion of Honour allowed to call themselves Chevaliers, and if the recipient of the title had a large enough income, these titles could become hereditary
• 22.5% of those ennobled by Napoleon were from the Ancien Regime nobility