Factors For The Rise Of Napoleon To Power

Factors For The Rise Of Napoleon To Power

1. THE FRENCHREVOLUTION OF1789

There is a common agreement that Napoleon was a product of the French revolution, without which he would have died a common man. This remains a historical fact because Napoleon's rise to power was greatly due to the changes and progressive events of the French revolution. He exploited the opportunities provided by the revolution to rise from a poor Corsican to an Emperor of France. This is why he is called the child of the French revolution. The role of the revolution in Napoleon's rise to power is as follows:

i) The revolution abolished the discriminative social class system and offered equality of opportunities for talented men like Napoleon. Before the revolution, people from poor peasantry origin like Napoleon could not be promoted beyond non-commissioned rank or hold a public office. However, the revolution came with the principle of career open to talents where Napoleon was promoted from rank to rank which gradually increased his popularity, leading to his rise to power in 1799. Therefore it should be stressed that without the French revolution that destroyed the discriminative social class system. Napoleon would have remained a common man because of his poor background.

ii) The revolution led to the exile and  death of senior  army officers  politicians especially during the reign of terror. It created scarcity of senior army officers and that is why Napoleon was recalled in the army in 1792 yet he had earlier on been dismissed. It was also because of this that Napoleon gained quick promotions leading to his rise to power. Besides, the death of senior politicians like Danton, Mira beau and Robespierre left a political vacuum that Napoleon occupied. Had these men survived up to 1799, there would have been no political vacuum and Napoleon's rise to power would have been a different story.

iii) It was the French revolution that gave napoleon the chance to display and advertise his abilities

The revolution created internal uprisings through which Napoleon earned rapid promotions and

elevated his social status. For example, in 1793, he suppressed the royalist uprisings at port Taulon that earned him the rank of Brigadier General. Again in 1795 he suppressed another royalist

uprising in which he was elevated to the rank of a General and commander of the army of the

interior. Had it not been because of the French revolution, these uprisings would not have occurred and Napoleon would not have got the opportunity to utilize his abilities. He would therefore not have got those ranks, which were stepping-stones to his rise to power.

iv) The need to export the French revolution generated foreign wars which gave Napoleon more

opportunities to exploit his abilities. The most famous was the 1796 Italian campaign that increased his popularity amongst the soldiers, Frenchmen and Italians. This was brought about by his success in the war against Austria in Italy. The war increased his self-confidence and ambitions because for the first time he was able to sleep in the palace of kings, make treaties and declare his will to the holy father, the Pope. This is what earned him the loyalty and confidence of the soldiers that he used in the 1799 Coup, which brought him to power. Besides, the Italian campaign earned France looted works of art (which went to the French museums), more territories and revenue in terms of war indemnity. These achievements made Napoleon's name to be a household name to the extent that a street in France was named Napoleon (i.e. Napoleon Street). These were enough popularity that made Napoleon the King of France in 1799.

NB. Although the Egyptian campaign of 1798 was a failure, Napoleon was welcomed as a hero simply because of his earlier military records. The Directory government had totally failed the

Frenchmen and everybody was crying for a liberator. He addressed the anxious and cheerful crowd in the following words; it looks as if everybody had been waiting for me, a little while would have been too soon, tomorrow would have been too late. I have come at the right moment

These cleared way for the 1799 coup that led to his rise to power.

v) Napoleon used revolutionary ideas within and outside France which helped him to build his popularity as a liberator. He studied and learnt revolutionary literature from the writings of Rousseau and being a close associate of Robespierre. In the struggle to liberate the Oppressed people of Europe, France inclusive, he carried the revolutionary flag and sung the beautiful songs of the revolution. He preached, the revolutionary gospel of liberty, fraternity, democracy and equality. This is what made the Italians and Germans to falsely welcome and support him as a

"Political messiah". These revolutionary ideas also made the Frenchmen convinced that Napoleon was the best person who could uphold the principles of the revolution and these gained him internal support that facilitated his rise to power.

vi) The revolutionary army was very useful in the rise of Napoleon 1. The   army was re-organized and re-equipped to handle internal and external wars. It was this army that he used to suppress internal uprising and gain promotions. It was even the same army that he used in Italy and earned popularity amongst the Italians, soldiers and Frenchmen. Most important, the army supported the 1799 coup through which he rose to power.

One should also note that much as the French revolution played a primary role in Napoleon's rise to power, other factors supplemented it without which the revolution alone could not have groomed him to power. The fact that the revolution provided equal opportunities for everybody to rise to power meant that one should have special or unique talents or factors on top of the revolution to rise to power. This therefore gives us the chance to analyze the role of otli6r factors.

2. MARRIAGE TO JOSEPHINE

Napoleon's marriage to Josephine also contributed to his rise to power. In 1796, Napoleon I

married Josephine who was the daughter of one of the  daughters of the  directors of the Directory government called Baras. The marriage gave Napoleon greater privileges and powerful connections with leaders of the Directory government. It should be stressed that it was the influence of Napoleon's father in law i.e. Baras that gave him the privilege to command French troops in the Italian campaign yet there were many senior and experienced politicians than Napoleon. This was because Barras diverted the command of the French troops from any of the senior commanders to Napoleon just because he favoured him as his son in law. Besides, the marriage made Napoleon a fully matured and responsible man that gained him more respect and popularity in France.

NB: Although Napoleon's marriage to Josephine gained him aristocratic connection and thus contributed to his rise to power, it should be emphasized that the marriage was possible only because the revolution had elevated his status from a mere corporal to a general by 1796.

Otherwise, Josephine being a daughter of a principle director could not have lowered herself so down to the extent of marrying a corporal from a peasantry family background. Even Napoleon himself would not have got the courage and wealth to marry her if the revolution had not raised his status in the French Society.

3. CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITHREVOLUTIONARYLEADERS

Napoleon's rise to power was also due to his closer personal relationship With leaders of the French revolution. His involvement  in the French revolution brought him closer to revolutionary leads  and politicians like Robespierre and Directors; Barras. Abbey Sieyes and Duccas. This gave him the chance to exploit their weaknesses and gain experience in French politics that became a cornerstone for his rise to power. His close connection made him attend most revolutionary public rallies from where he got the skills of organizing and addressing public rallies. This helped him to dominate French politics and rise to power after the death of some of such senior revolutionary leaders and politicians most especially Robespierre.

4. THE WEAKNESS OF THE DIRECTORY GOVERNMENT

The directory government was the last government within the revolutionary period (1795-1799).

It's weaknesses and hence unpopularity paved way for Napoleon's rise to power in a number of

ways. In the first place, it had failed to improve on the socio- economic conditions of the Frenchmen There were massive corruption, bribery and embezzlement that led to inflation, unemployment, famine and starvation. These desperate conditions made the Frenchmen to be in a high mood of change. It explains why Napoleon's coup received a blessing rather than opposition from the Frenchmen.

Secondly, the government had failed to maintain  law and order  this alone  led to winning glory for France abroad. Internally, there was insecurity caused by the royalists, Jacobins and high way robbers. Externally, the French forces were being beaten on almost every front. Napoleon's campofomio treaty gains of 1797 had been lost and France had been driven out of Switzerland, Italy and German states by the second coalition. All these created a popular outcry for a strong and capable military officer who would liberate the people from such internal and external threats. This is what made Napoleon to be supported in his rise to power since he was the most successful military Generals of the time.

The Directors of the directory government over relied on Napoleon in suppressing internal uprisings and fighting foreign wars. It gave him Opportunities to utilize his abilities and become popular amongst the French masses and soldiers. Worst of all, it was the directors who promoted Napoleon from rank to rank such that by 1799, he had risen to the rank of a Brigadier. All these made Napoleon to become more ambitious and stage the coup of 1799 since he had noted the weaknesses of the Directory Government.

Worst of all, the directors were disorganized and divided by ideological differences. For instance Abbey Sieyes and Duccus opposed the war against the second coalition and wanted peace. Abbey Sieyes also had the ambition to change the constitution and bring an end to the Directory Government. However, he could not do so without the support of the army. This made him to use

Napoleon to organize the 18th Nov, Brumier Coup from which Napoleon conspired and emerged as the 1st consul in France in 1799.

NB. The weaknesses of the directory government greatly elevated Napoleon and made his rise to power inevitable by 1799. Otherwise, had it to be strong enough to meet the socio-economic, political and military expectations of the Frenchmen, Napoleon's rise to power would have been impossible in 1799 even if he was very abled (strong) and ambitious.

5. NAPOLEON'SABILITIESAND CHARACTERS

a) Military abilities (as a soldier)

Napoleon's abilities were very useful instruments in his rise to power. One school of thought says that; Napoleon was without question a man of extra ordinary force of brain and character, who under all circumstances and in all countries would have won himself a high position (Grant and Temperley P 62). Wellington, the British commander equated Napoleon's presence in the battlefield to be worth 40,000 troops. This claim cannot be disputed because Napoleon was a courageous professional soldier with a powerful sense of Judgment and insights. He planned and won his battles in the mind before winning them in the field.

Napoleon's abilities made him to succeed in suppressing internal revolts and fighting external wars out of which he gained popularity, promotions and power. These were the 1793 uprising, the 1795 revolt and the Italian campaign of 1796. If Napoleon was not a man of exceptional abilities, he would have lost his life while suppressing such uprisings or fighting the second coalition of 1798 and this would be the end of the road for him. Even his tactful escape from Egypt in 1798 was due to his extra-ordinary Judgment and skills. This is because he had realized the strength of the British forces under Wellington and therefore decided to quit Egypt before he would be crushed to death.

Napoleon's skills and organizational abilities explain why Abbey Sieyes picked him to execute the 1799 coup out of which he rose to power. Had somebody else (other than Napoleon) proved more able. Abbey Sieyes would have used that person and not Napoleon. That Napoleon was used and not any one else was precisely because he was the most capable army officer.

b) Napoleon's political abilities.

Besides being a distinguished soldier. Napoleon was a great politician. He preached the revolutionary gospel of equality, liberty and fraternity to the Frenchmen and the conquered states, which made him very popular at the expense of the Directory Government. He also promised a number of reforms in the socio-economic and political structures of France and the conquered states. In all these, he spoke with calmness, dignity and tolerance that convinced everybody who heard him that he was a "political messiah." For example, he is reported to have politicized the demoralized soldiers that he used in the Italian campaign in his address when he said; My army, follow me, here you are badly fed and almost naked, I am going to feed you, cloth and lead you to the most fertile plains of the world, where you will find glory, honour and wealth. This was a political statement that made the soldiers to have more loyalty and trust in Napoleon than the Directory Government. It was these politicized soldiers that he used to destroy the Directory Government in 1799 and gain power. This was not opposed because he had politicized the masses through his reform programs.

c) Napoleon's power of foresight

Napoleon had the abilities to assess situations and know how he could manipulate them to his advantage. After the French revolution, he abandoned his ambition to liberate Corsica Island and became a loyal French citizen. He did this because he had rightfully foreseen that the revolution had come with opportunities that he would use to rise to power. He also refused to command the

Paris forces when he was commissioned by Robespierre during the reign of terror. He refused the offer because he was aware that Paris was not secured and anybody could be guillotined anytime.

He ventured in the Italian campaign after realizing that it could gain him glory and popularity, which is what exactly he earned. Lastly, he executed the 1799 coup at a time when the directory government was weakest and he himself most popular. All these were successful because he was a foresighted man with a powerful sense of judgment and imagination.

6. EDUCATION

Napoleon's rise to power can also be attributed to his education. He was educated at the military

Academies of Brienne and Paris at a time when 60% of the population of Europe was illiterate. He read and studied history, mathematics, the writings of philosophers, the campaigns of Fredrick the great and the constitutions of England, Switzerland, Turkey etc. These widened his reasoning capacity and leadership skills. He also graduated as a second lieutenant, which meant that he was actually rising to power. Napoleon came out with a theory of speed, diplomacy and force as a solution to human problems. It is this theory that made him successful in suppressing internal revolts and fighting foreign wars that gained him popularity, promotions and power by 1799. Besides, he used the skills he learned from the military academy to plan and organize the successful Coup of 1799 through which he became the master of France.

7. OVERWHELMINGAMBITIONS

Napoleon was by nature and orientation an ambitious man. He revealed this to a friend when he said; my ambition is so natural like the blood that flows in my veins and a cat's claws, which are designed to climb upwards not downwards. Napoleon's ambitions were witnessed right from infant stage. He was fond of listening to stories about wars from soldiers. He used to wear military uniforms and carried mock battles with his fellow kids. He would tell them that he would become a soldier and win all battles. It's this ambition that made him to risk the Italian and Egyptian campaigns yet he was a young and junior military officer. It's the same ambition that drove him to the 1799coup, which became a stepping-stone for his rise to power. It was even because of ambition that he violated the constitution and declared an empire with himself as the "life emperor of Europe".

NB. i) Ambition made Napoleon so keen and skillful in whatever he did such as in the royalist uprisings of 1793 and 1795, the Italian and Egyptian campaigns and the 1799 coup that brought him to power.

ii) Although overwhelming ambition contributed to his rise to power, it eventually contributed to his downfall by 1815. It made him to conquer and control a number of European states like Italy, Germany and Belgium. This attracted the hostility and hence intervention of other powers who finally ousted him from power in 1815.

8. ANNEXATION OF CORSICA ISLAND FROM GENOA (ITALY) TO FRANCE (1768)

The annexation of Corsica Island to France ml768 was a blessing disguise for Napoleon I. In 1768, Corsica the Mediterranean Island from Genoa republic was annexed to France. It made Napoleon to be born a Frenchman rather than an Italian and thus eligible to hold any public office in France. The annexation partly enabled him to benefit from the military academies of Brienne and Paris from which he graduated as a second lieutenant. It also entitled him to join the French army from which he was promoted up to the rank of General and made the commander of the army of the interior. He also freely participated in the 1789 revolution and associated with revolutionary leaders since the annexation made him to be born a Frenchman. One can therefore say that without the annexation of Corsica Island, Napoleon would have

Been born an Italian who perhaps would have not risen to power in France.

9. ROLE OFHIS FATHER, CHARLES BONAPARTE

The role of Napoleon's father, Charles Bonaparte was also influential in his rise to power. His father inspired him to work hard and like his career as a professional soldier. He forged that he was a noble and fluked for Napoleon admission in the military academies of Brienne and Paris. This made Napoleon to fluke education that gave him the necessary political, military and administrative skills, which he used to maneuver his way (rise) to power. He would perhaps have died an illiterate and ignorant common Corsican peasant had it not been for the fluked education.

THE ROLE OF HIS BROTHER LUCIENBONAPARTE

Napoleon's brother Lucien Bonaparte who was the president of the council of 500 played a very instrumental role in his rise to power. It should be noted that Napoleon's coup flopped when he approached the council, which rejected the coup and shouted at him saying; "Down with the tyrant" They arrested and flogged (beat him severely) him to a near death point. It was Lucien Bonaparte who saved him by openly threatening to kill him while at the same time he ordered the army to disperse hostile members of the council. Afterwards, he officially introduced Napoleon to the few members who favoured him and remained behind, saying;

Here is the man you have been waiting for. He will respect you. He will respect the revolutionary gains. He is my brother. If he fails, I will stab him in the chest.

This made them to accept the coup and vote for a revision of the constitution that made Napoleon the first consul with full powers over France. One can therefore conclude that if it was not because of the timely intervention of Lucien Bonaparte, the coup of 1799 would have boomeranged/ misfired and caused Napoleon's death as a fugitive.

11. HIS FAMILYBACKGROUND

Napoleon's humble family back ground was a blessing in disguise that propelled him to power by 1799. Napoleon originated from a discriminated poverty stricken peasant family background. At school, he was segregated and abused as a commoner and foreigner (because of his Italian accent) by the wealthy sons of the nobles. This experience made him to develop a burning hatred against segregation in France and a desire to work hard to liberate not only him but the whole country from such injustice. Consequently, he became a professional battle- hardened soldier who enjoyed walking and fighting over long distances without much food, water, rest etc. It's this that made Napoleon I a hero and the most successful military officer in France by 1799,

12. SCIENTIFICAND MILITARYINNOVATIONS.

The role of scientific and military advancements was crucial in the rise to power of Napoleon 1. Scientific and technological innovations brought in better maps, roads, weapons and more mobile artillery. It made it easy to organize swifter campaigns, rapid concentration of troops and surprise attacks. Such innovations were utilized by Napoleon in his military campaigns and the 1799 coup through which he rose to power. These made Napoleon's "whiff of grape shot" and surprise attacks to easily succeed, which earned him promotion, popularity and power.

13.LUCK

Special opportunities and favours greatly contributed to the rise of Napoleon to prominence by 1799. There were a number of events and opportunities which Napoleon did not plan but favoured his rise to power. He was lucky that Corsica Island was annexed to France a year before he was born, which gave him the chance to exploit the opportunities provided by the French revolution. His other luck was that his father forged a noble status and fluked to educate him in the military academies of Brienne and Paris. The outbreak of the French revolution and revolutionary changes was an element of luck for it even occurred at

a time when he was a soldier specialized in artillery. In 1792, Napoleon was dismissed for overstaying his leave but he was lucky that there was shortage of artillery officers and that is why he was reinstated to active service. Napoleon's survival of the reign of terror can be attributed more to luck than, his abilities.

He was arrested in 1794 with Robespierre plus other 92 of Robespierre's followers. However, he was lucky that he spent only 1 week in prison and was released while the rest of his colleagues were guillotined. Napoleon was also lucky that he was a son in law to Barras and this explains why he was favoured to command the Italian campaign.

Even in Napoleon's military campaigns, there were elements of luck besides his abilities. For example, the Egyptian campaign was a complete disaster for him yet the Frenchmen welcomed him as a hero. Had it not been because of luck, he would have died in the battle, hanged or even imprisoned in Egypt. As to why he succeeded in leaving his troops and reaching France safely was more due to luck than anything else. Napoleon was also lucky that the failures and weaknesses of the Directory Government had created the mood for change in France, which made his coup not to be opposed. The divisions and mistrusts amongst the directors that made Abbey Sieyes and Duccus to support him in the 1799 coup were precisely due to luck. He was also blessed that his brother Lucian Bonaparte was the president of the council of 500 and used his position to save him from death after the initial failure of the coup. This was when he was arrested and was being beaten for having organized the coup. His brother indirectly enabled the Coup to succeed by aiding him clandestinely/secretly. Lastly, Napoleon was lucky that the French king granted him and his father a general amnesty that made him and his father to return to France as free citizens.

14. THEBRUMAIRECOUPD'TAT, 18th NOV1799

The Brumaire coup d'tat of 18^ Novl799 was the most immediate event that marked the rise of Napoleon to power. Napoleon conspired with other Directors i.e. Barras and Abbey Sieyes to organize the coup and overthrow the directory government. The coup succeeded and the Directory government was overthrow. This created a political vacuum/space through which Napoleon rose to power. He accomplished his great ambition by manipulating the constitutional making committee to enact laws that gave him a lot of power over France.

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