Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon was a small man, he was only 5 ft 6in, but what he did echoed throughout time. (5 ft6 was actually very average at that time, and average today is 5 ft8ish) In only four years, this military genius rose from a nobody, to the Master of France with military powers that rivaled that of Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, and Hannibal of Carthage. Napoleon Homework Napoleon Bonaparte His story He was born on the island of Corsica, (he was not a native Frenchmen) At the age of 10 he was sent to military school where he was teased for being a foreigner, and for being short. He didn t let them stop him, he studied furiously and graduated as a Lieutenant at the age of 16. 1
Napoleon Bonaparte His story On his first appointment he proved himself a military genius winning several battles. He essentially conquered Northern Italy. His men respected and admired him, They also did what he told them to do. In 1799 the people of France were fed up with the Directory (the current government power) Napoleon used this as his time to seize power. Napoleon becomes Emperor When he first seized power he pretended to be a constitutionally chosen leader of France. He was in all sense of the word however, a Dictator. He wrote his own constitution (the people voted to approve it) appointed himself consul for life, then appointed himself Emperor. 2
Napoleon s Leadership With Napoleon becoming Emperor the French Republic was dead, and it became the French Empire. He conquered many lands throughout Europe. Creating the largest most powerful empire since Roman times. The only countries in Europe not under Napoleons power were Britain, Russia, Sweden. 3 Types of Control Napoleon controlled 3 different types of territories. 1. Those directly controlled by France, basically any lands which were Annexed into France. 2. Lands that remained independent in name, but were controlled by Napoleon (Spain, Several German State. He even ended the Holy Roman Empire) 3. Powerful countries who were not 100% under his control but were his to command through a series of treaties and truces. (Russia, Prussia, Austria) 3
The Beginning of the End Napoleons thirst for power was his undoing. Russia would not stop selling Grain to Great Britain so Napoleon decided he would invade Russia. He sent 400,000 men into Russia. The Russians however were not eager to fight and followed a Scorched-Earth Policy. They would retreat back to the capital and burn all of the Supplies they could not bring with them. This left little in the amount of Supplies the French Army could utilize. Moscow Destroyed As Napoleon finally reached the Russian capital he was shocked that Rather than being taken or capture the Russians burnt down their own Capital. Napoleon baffled as to what to do ordered his army to return home, however it was now winter in Russia and his army was starving. Temperatures were down to -35 degrees. As they walked home, they were also routinely attacked by well fed, and well rested Russian troops. Napoleon s Army was essentially 100% destroyed. 4
Opportunity Arises Seeing the French Empire in a weak state Britain, Russia, Prussia, Austria, Sweden all united and fought the French. Napoleon suffered a CRUSHING defeat at the battle of Leizpig. This was the end for Napoleon. Napoleon s Exile In April 1814, Napoleon admitted defeat, surrendered to his conquerors and gave up his throne. They gave Napoleon enough money to survive for the rest of his life and exiled him to an Island called Elba. This was the end of Napoleon or was it? 5
Really the end this time Napoleon returned to France in 1815, people welcomed him back with open arms. He chased out the Current King Louis XVIII (Brother of Louis XVI) He remained in power for 100 days until another army coalition united and defeated him again. This time they exiled him to a far away island St. Helena. Six years later Napoleon died, they think from stomach cancer. Such work as mine is not done twice in a century. I have saved the Revolution as it lay dying. I have cleansed it of its crimes, and have held it up the people shining with fame. I have inspirited France and Europe with new ideas that will never be forgotten. Napoleon Bonaparte 1821 (year he died) 6