Napoleon's life is complex and controversial, with the French Empire carefully sculpting it's propaganda to promote the myth of Bonaparte's military genius and adventures. Born in Corsica in 1769, he made his name in a series of military campaigns in Italy and Egypt before returning to France. Despite originally taking power to continue to French Republic as First Consul, Napoleon declared himself Emperor in 1804 (with this betrayal leading Beethoven to rip up the dedication to Bonaparte for his Third "Eroica" Symphony).
The French Empire left a legal legacy through the "Code Napoleon" and spread the ideas of the french revolution throughout Europe, with Napoleon conquests and victories spanning from the coast of Spain and Portugal, to Poland and on the Russian border. The current monarchy of Sweden, the House of Bernadotte, is descended from a Marshall of the French Empire. Though France is now firmly a Republic, Napoleon continues to have living descendants who could make a claim to his throne even today (as happened with Napoleon's Nephew, Napoleon III in the Second French Empire).
Recent history has shaped our opinion of him with comparisons drawn between Napoleon and the revolutionary and military dictators of the twentieth century. Such was the impact of the French Revolution that when it was Russia's turns to have a revolution in 1917, Trotsky criticised Stalin's "betrayal" of the revolution by accusing him of "Bonapartism". Though comparisons between Hitler and Napoleon have been tempting (especially for English historians), it often misses nuances in how Napoleon championed early liberal ideas and overlooks the fact that the First French Empire saw a major liberalisation in the treatment of Europe's Jews. Neither of these could be said of Hitler, who himself was an admirer and visited Napoleon's Tomb after the Nazi's conquered France.
Nevertheless, the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars killed between 5 million to 7 million people, with around 400,000 dying on the French side from the disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. As progressive social movements have gained ground in recent decades, more attention has been paid to Napoleon's reactionary role in re-establishing slavery in the French colonies, efforts to suppress the slave rebellion in Haiti, including controversy over whether Napoleon pioneered the use of gas chambers, and the impact of the Code Napoleon on Women's rights.
Whilst I missed the Bicentenary of Napoleon's Death (he died on the 5th May 1821), here is a thread for you to share your thoughts on whether Napoleon's era and his empire was ultimately a positive or negative influence on French and European history. Enjoy!
The French Empire left a legal legacy through the "Code Napoleon" and spread the ideas of the french revolution throughout Europe, with Napoleon conquests and victories spanning from the coast of Spain and Portugal, to Poland and on the Russian border. The current monarchy of Sweden, the House of Bernadotte, is descended from a Marshall of the French Empire. Though France is now firmly a Republic, Napoleon continues to have living descendants who could make a claim to his throne even today (as happened with Napoleon's Nephew, Napoleon III in the Second French Empire).
Recent history has shaped our opinion of him with comparisons drawn between Napoleon and the revolutionary and military dictators of the twentieth century. Such was the impact of the French Revolution that when it was Russia's turns to have a revolution in 1917, Trotsky criticised Stalin's "betrayal" of the revolution by accusing him of "Bonapartism". Though comparisons between Hitler and Napoleon have been tempting (especially for English historians), it often misses nuances in how Napoleon championed early liberal ideas and overlooks the fact that the First French Empire saw a major liberalisation in the treatment of Europe's Jews. Neither of these could be said of Hitler, who himself was an admirer and visited Napoleon's Tomb after the Nazi's conquered France.
Nevertheless, the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars killed between 5 million to 7 million people, with around 400,000 dying on the French side from the disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. As progressive social movements have gained ground in recent decades, more attention has been paid to Napoleon's reactionary role in re-establishing slavery in the French colonies, efforts to suppress the slave rebellion in Haiti, including controversy over whether Napoleon pioneered the use of gas chambers, and the impact of the Code Napoleon on Women's rights.
Whilst I missed the Bicentenary of Napoleon's Death (he died on the 5th May 1821), here is a thread for you to share your thoughts on whether Napoleon's era and his empire was ultimately a positive or negative influence on French and European history. Enjoy!