Napoleon
Early life: Napoleon was born in 1769 in Corsica, an island in the Mediterranean. His father was from nobility in Italy. In 1796, he was made the commander of the French armies in Italy.
Napoleon controlled most of Europe, and he wanted to control Great Britain. Napoleon took Egypt, and it lay on the route to India, one of the Britain's most important colonies. By 1799, Napoleon and his armies were defeated by the British, and they turned back to Paris.
Consul and Emperor
In 1799, Napoleon took part in the coup d'état (a sudden overthrew of a government) that overthrew the Directory. Napoleon set up a new government, the consulate. It was a republic, in theory, but in fact Napoleon had absolute power. Napoleon was called first consul (a title that was borrowed from ancient Rome). In 1802, he became the consul for the life. In 1804, he crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I.
In 1801, Napoleon made an agreement with the Catholic Church. Catholicism became the religion of the majority of the people, in France.
Codification of Laws
Seven law codes were created in the time of Napoleon, but the most important was the Civil Code, or Napoleonic Code. It included: equality of all citizens before the law; the right of the individual to choose a profession; religious toleration; and the abolition of serfdom and feudal obligations.
Napoleon was not able to conquer Britain, because it is surrounded by water, and they had sea power. He gathered his ships and navy, and tried to invade Britain. However, he was defeated at the Trafalgar battle, in 1805. Napoleon's next move was to cut the British trade, that they will not be able to wage a war, and to make them weaker. He called that the Continental System, however, this system failed.
The Fall of Napoleon
Napoleon's Empire started to collapse, and there were two reasons for that: 1. nationalism, and 2. British resisted Napoleon.
In June of 1812, Napoleon's army of more than 600,000 men crossed into Russia. As the Russian retreated, they burnt their own villages to keep Napoleon’s army from finding food. Only 40,000 of the 600,000 came back.
In 1814, Napoleon was exile to Elba, off the northwest coast of Italy. people restores monarchy to France. The brother of the Louis XVI king became the king, which is Louis XVIII.
The Final Defeat
Napoleon left Elba, and went back to France. Louis XVIII troops captured him, and Napoleon said:“I am your Emperor… If there is a man among you who would kill his emperor, here I am.” However, no one fired, and they said “Vive l’ Emperor! Vive l’ Emperor!” __ “long live the emperor! long live the emperor!”
Napoleon raised an another army to defeat the allies in Belgium. At Waterloo in Belgium, Napoleon fought a combined British and Prussian armies on June 18, 1815. Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena, a small island in South Atlantic. Napoleon was there until his death in 1821.
Napoleon controlled most of Europe, and he wanted to control Great Britain. Napoleon took Egypt, and it lay on the route to India, one of the Britain's most important colonies. By 1799, Napoleon and his armies were defeated by the British, and they turned back to Paris.
Consul and Emperor
In 1799, Napoleon took part in the coup d'état (a sudden overthrew of a government) that overthrew the Directory. Napoleon set up a new government, the consulate. It was a republic, in theory, but in fact Napoleon had absolute power. Napoleon was called first consul (a title that was borrowed from ancient Rome). In 1802, he became the consul for the life. In 1804, he crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I.
In 1801, Napoleon made an agreement with the Catholic Church. Catholicism became the religion of the majority of the people, in France.
Codification of Laws
Seven law codes were created in the time of Napoleon, but the most important was the Civil Code, or Napoleonic Code. It included: equality of all citizens before the law; the right of the individual to choose a profession; religious toleration; and the abolition of serfdom and feudal obligations.
Napoleon was not able to conquer Britain, because it is surrounded by water, and they had sea power. He gathered his ships and navy, and tried to invade Britain. However, he was defeated at the Trafalgar battle, in 1805. Napoleon's next move was to cut the British trade, that they will not be able to wage a war, and to make them weaker. He called that the Continental System, however, this system failed.
The Fall of Napoleon
Napoleon's Empire started to collapse, and there were two reasons for that: 1. nationalism, and 2. British resisted Napoleon.
In June of 1812, Napoleon's army of more than 600,000 men crossed into Russia. As the Russian retreated, they burnt their own villages to keep Napoleon’s army from finding food. Only 40,000 of the 600,000 came back.
In 1814, Napoleon was exile to Elba, off the northwest coast of Italy. people restores monarchy to France. The brother of the Louis XVI king became the king, which is Louis XVIII.
The Final Defeat
Napoleon left Elba, and went back to France. Louis XVIII troops captured him, and Napoleon said:“I am your Emperor… If there is a man among you who would kill his emperor, here I am.” However, no one fired, and they said “Vive l’ Emperor! Vive l’ Emperor!” __ “long live the emperor! long live the emperor!”
Napoleon raised an another army to defeat the allies in Belgium. At Waterloo in Belgium, Napoleon fought a combined British and Prussian armies on June 18, 1815. Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena, a small island in South Atlantic. Napoleon was there until his death in 1821.