In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte ended the rule of the Directory in France and assumed supreme military command. He provided a stable political system based on personal dictatorship. He reign lasted for fifteen years, from 1799 to 1814.
Early life of Napoleon: Napoleon was born at Ajaccio in the island of Corsica on 15th August 1769. At sixteen, he joined the French army as an Artillery Officer. He was unquestionably a man of extraordinary force of mind and character. He believed that he was a man of destiny. The outbreak of the French Revolution gave him an opportunity to fulfill his ambitions and also channelize his energy.
The Italian campaigns which he led in 1796 made him the most brilliant General of the French Republic. In 1799, he overthrew the corrupt and inefficient Directory Government and established a three member Consulate Government and became the first Consul. He was the man who presided over the destiny of France for the next 15 years. He was virtually a Sovereign.
Napoleon as Emperor of France (1804 – 1814): In 1802, Napoleon’* control over France was total. He aspired to become Consul for life. On December 2nd 1804, Napoleon was coronated as the Emperor of France. He had invited the Pope to give his blessings and also to crown him. But at the last moment he himself placed the crown on his head and later remarked “I found the crown of France lying on the ground and I picked it up with my sword”.
Wars of Napoleon: The Napoleonic Empire lasted for ten years from 1804 to 1814. It was a ** of uninterrupted warfare. He had become all powerful in France. Now he desired to become all-powerful in Europe. He had overthrown the three great military states of Europe are Austria, Russia and Prussia. Only Great Britain and Sweden remained to be defeated.
Continental system: Britain was the chief commercial and industrial nation of the world. But invading Britain was impossible as it was the strongest naval power. So Napoleon planned that its commerce and industry must be attacked, by preventing the import of British goods into the continent, which was its chief market. Such a move would ruin British commerce and industry and compel Britain to sue for peace. Towards this end, Napoleon fought an economic war with Great Britain from 1806 to 1814, this economic warfare was known as the “Continental System”.
In 1806, Napoleon proclaimed a decree which provided for closure of all ports on the continent to the British manufactured goods. In retaliation the British Government issued ‘Orders in Council’. The result of this confrontation was that Napoleon would not allow import of British goods into the continent and Britain, in turn, would prevent the sea trade of France and its allies.
For Napoleon it proved physically impossible to enforce the “Continental system” thoroughly. It was difficult to prevent the bribery of customs officials and smuggling. In the course of enforcing the ‘Continental System’, Napoleon was involved in a series of disastrous wars in Europe.
Abdication of Napoleon: In March 1814, Napoleon’ chief enemies – Great Britain, Russia, Austria and Prussia concluded a treaty with the sole aim of overthrowing their arch **** and they declared war against France. The French resistance was broken within a month and Paris was surrounded on March 31,1814. Napoleon at last abdicated his throne.
In return, the allies offered him Elba, an Island in the Mediterranean. Amid the tears of his soldiers, Napoleon left for Elba. The allies decided to restore the Bourbon dynasty on the throne of France, Louis XVIII, brother of Louis XVI, was offered the crown.
The Hundred Days: For ten months Napoleon was in Elba. On March 1, 1815 he escaped from Elba, and landed with 1,100 men on the South Coast of France. Then he advanced towards Paris. Hearing this news, Louis XVIII fled to Belgium. Napoleon occupied the throne of France and ruled as Emperor from March to June 1815. This episode is known as “The Hundred Days”.
The allies once again pledged to **** against Napoleon to the finish. They declared war on France and finally defeated Napoleon in the battle of Waterloo (1815) in Belgium. This was Napoleon’ sixteenth and final battle. The battle destroyed once for all the last army of the French Emperor. Napoleon abdicated for the second time and was exiled to St. Helena.
