After the battle of Waterloo,
Napoleon retreated and reached France from where he abdicated the throne
in favour of his son. He also made a fruitless attempt to sneak
(escape) to America. The British could not allow him to do so. He was
instead forced to surrender himself to the British in the harbor of
Roche fort.
He was eventually exiled to a deserted, hilly and rocky island of St. Hellena in the Atlantic Ocean.
Napoleon
spent his six years exile life writing his memories. However, on 5th
May 1821 he died of stomach cancer. His last will was that he should be
buried on the banks of the Siena in the midst of the French people whom
he said he loved dearly. Nevertheless, this was ignored and he was
buried at St. Hellena. However, in 1846 the Louis Philippe brought his
remains to Paris and he was accorded a heroic burial with an erected
memorial. This was a fulfillment of Napoleon's last will.
THE IMPACT OF NAPOLEON 1 ON EUROPE
Napoleon
Bonaparte I made a classical contribution to the history of Europe. As a
child of the French Revolution, Napoleon consolidated and perfected the
changes that the revolution had caused in Europe. In his reign, he
pursued an aggressive foreign policy (Napoleonic war) that destroyed and
shaped the political, social and economic structures of Europe. The
impact of Napoleonic activities and wars on Europe were positive and
negative as analyzed below.
Positive impact/changes
1)
Napoleon laid foundation for the unifications of Italy and Germany. He
conquered the Italians and Germans and inspired them with revolutionary
doctrines of liberty, equality, fraternity and nationalism. He reduced
the number of Italian states from over 300 to 39 states. He also created
the Cisalphine republic and the Rhine confederation in Italian and
German states respectively. These measures brought the Italians and
Germans closer to each other and strengthened their quest for
unification. This was later used by Cavour and Bismarck to complete the
Italian and German unifications respectively.
2)
Napoleon contributed to the abolition of feudalism and serfdom in
Europe. He abolished feudalism and serfdom in states that were under
French influence like Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Hungary.
Land
was nationalized and monopolization of land by the clergy and nobles
were ended. The rights of peasants to own land was protected by law.
This ended exploitation of peasants, increased their productivity and
reduced the problems of famine and starvation in Europe.
3) Napoleonic influence consolidated the new forces of liberalism, nationalism, egalitarianism and socialism.
These were indirectly strengthened in conservative states like Austria, Hungary, Italian and German states.
These
new political order became a formidable challenge to the old order of
Europe and was responsible for the outbreak of the 1820's, 1830 and 1848
revolutions in Europe. This challenge undermined the influence of
conservative personalities like Mettemich and caused their downfall.
4)
Napoleon also contributed to the spread of constitutionalism and
republicanism in Europe. He granted liberal constitutions to states like
the kingdom of Westphalia that was ruled by his brother Jerome
Bonaparte. In other German and Italian states, he strengthened
constitutional system of government that had been initiated during the
French revolutionary period. He also established republics such as
Cisalpine, Helevetic and Rhine republics. All these consolidated the
influence of constitutionalism and republicanism in Europe.
5)
Napoleon established a mighty French empire in Europe by 1815. He
accomplished this through conquest, annexation and diplomacy. The empire
included Poland, Belgium, Denmark, Italian and German states. It
stretched from Adriatic Sea to Baltic Sea.
6)
Through the concordat, Napoleon reconciled the Catholic Church and the
state of France. Before Napoleon rose to power there was a hostile
relationship between the Catholic Church/pope and the French government
as a result of negative policies against the church by the revolutionary
government. This was brought to an end in 1801when he signed the
concordat with the Pope in which the church was brought under state
control with the consent of the Pope. The concordat also brought
reconciliation with the Pope and other catholic states that were hostile
to France.
7) Napoleon's military reforms in
Europe were amazing. He had a heterogeneous army that was constituted by
recruits and conscripts from conquered states like Italy, Belgium,
Germany and France herself. The army was given the best military
training that it became the-best infantry troops in Europe during his
reign.
Napoleon used the army to conquer other
states, collect war indemnity and tributes, suppress resistance in the
conquered states and maintain law and order. His military innovation
explains why France defeated the second coalition of Britain, Austria
and Prussia by 1802.
8) Napoleon initiated legal
reforms that became the most convenient and enlightened sets of laws in
Europe and beyond. He worked with a committee of lawyers to codify the
French laws into criminal, civil, commercial, military and penal codes.
This was a clear and systematic set of law that promoted equality of all
by nature. It was used in France and the conquered states to preserve
law, order, peace and ensure justices. It guaranteed fundamental
freedoms and rights. These codes were also adopted by other states of
Europe to guarantee peoples' freedom, rights, peace and justice.
9)
Through career open to talents, Napoleon promoted equality in Europe.
In France and the conquered states like Belgium, Italy and Germany,
Napoleon used ability and talents as a basis of appointment and
promotion to public service. It created a new nobility of ability unlike
the previous nobility that was based on birth. This made the empire to
be manned/governed by men and women of talents, which ensured more
efficiency in service delivery. The policy was equally adopted in other
parts of Europe.
10) The legion of honour promoted
patriotism and nationalism in Europe. It was a policy of rewarding those
who rendered distinguished services to the state such as the civil
service, army and trade. It encouraged people to offer selfless service
to their nation most especially in the army. The policy was so
successful that Napoleon remarked “men are led by toys”.
11)
Napoleon temporarily promoted European diplomacy through short lived
treaties that he signed with other powers. In 1801 he formed a temporary
alliance with Sweden, Denmark and Spain against Britain because of her
monopolization of the med and black sea. In March 1802, he signed the
Amiens treaty with Britain that brought temporary reconciliation between
her and France. In July 1807, Napoleon signed the Tilsit treaty with
Russia where Tsar Alexander I recognized him as emperor of the west and
he recognized the Tsar as a "possible" emperor of the east and ports of
the Turkish Empire. All these preserved the spirit of diplomacy that
other powers like Britain, France, Austria and Russia later used to
defeat Napoleon due to his aggressive foreign policy.
12)
Napoleon laid foundation for modem education in Europe. In France and
the conquered states, Napoleon promoted primary, secondary, university
and military education under the management of government or communes.
Admission and promotion was based on merit. Church influence over
education system was brought to an end and the curriculum was redesigned
to promote patriotism and nationalism. His education system was
maintained even after his defeat and adopted by other states in Europe.
13)
Napoleon’s socio-economic and political reforms were very significant
to Europe. In France and the conquered states, Napoleon
enhanced/promoted agriculture, industrialization, trade, transport and
communication. Co-operative societies, better farming techniques and
soft loans helped to boost agriculture and industrialization. The
chamber of commerce, commercial exchanges and trade exhibitions were
organized to promote trade between France and other states in Europe.
Roads, railways, canals, bridges and sea ports were improved to
facilitate transport and communication within the French empire.
All
these became the basis for modernization, trade and industrialization
in Europe. It also reduced the problems of famine, poverty and
starvation that had rocked Europe before Napoleon rose to power.
14)
Napoleonic threats and aggressions led to the creation of coalitions
against France. The success of Napoleon against the second coalition and
the way he consolidated his influence in Italian and German states,
dragged Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia etc to form the coalitions
that defeated him and led to his downfall.
15) Napoleonic wars led to the calling of the Vienna congress and signing of the Vienna settlement of Sept
1814
- June 1815. The need to collectively find a lasting solution to
Napoleonic aggression and war led to the signing of several treaties
such as that of Chaumont, and 2°*^ Paris treaties and Vienna treaty. All
these consolidated and formalized the spirit of unity in European
politics.
16) Persistent Napoleonic activities and
aggressions led to the creation of the congress system. Although
Napoleon I was defeated and exiled at the Island of Elba in 1813, he was
able to mobilize and bounce back to the French throne for 100 days.
This taught European powers i.e. Britain, Russia, Austria and Prussia
that there was need for a system of meeting to preserve European peace
in, view of Napoleonic aggression.
It's this
feeling that was adopted in article 6 of the 2nd Paris peace treaty (of
20th November 1815) through which the congress system was initiated. The
congress system was largely initiated out of the threat of reemergence
of Napoleonic aggression. It should be stressed that this idea was
adopted at the end of World War I and World War 11 in the formation of
the League of Nations and U.N.O. respectively.
Negative impact/changes
1)
Napoleonic wars led to massive loss of lives and destruction of
property. The series of war fought by Napoleon against other powers of
Europe were very expensive in terms of life and physical infrastructure.
For instance, over 300,000 French and European nationals were estimated
to have lost their lives in the peninsular war while over 600,000 were
expected to have perished in the Moscow campaign. Physical
infrastructures like roads, bridges, railways and ships were dismantled.
This disorganized Europe and left the problem of reconstruction to be
pursued after the, downfall of Napoleon.
2)
Napoleon’s arrest and imprisonment of the Pope (Pope Pius vii) in 1808
uprooted his earlier achievement in the concordat. Napoleon did this
because of the Pope's refusal to enforce the continental system and
resistance to his anti-catholic policies. The imprisonment of the Pope
revived hostility between France and other catholic states of Europe
e.g. Russia, Austria and Spain. It also subjected Napoleon to
condemnation from diehard Catholics all over Europe. This is because the
imprisonment was seen as sacrilege, humiliation and a sin against the
person of the "holy" Pope.
3) Napoleon changed the
balance of power and distorted the map of Europe; He did this through
military conquests and annexations. By1814, he had expanded French
boundaries to include Belgian, Spanish, Italian and German territories
amongst others. Consequently, he created the Rhine republic in German
states, the Cisaphine republic in Italian states and the kingdom of
Westphalia in Prussia. All these changed the balance of power in Europe
in favour of France and led to territorial conflicts that the Vienna
peace makers had to contend with.
4) Napoleon is
blamed for his exploitative, oppressive and tyrannical rule in the
conquered states such as in Italian and German states. He restricted
political liberties such as freedom of the press, oppressed women and
children using the civil code, embarked on conscription in the army and
over taxation amongst others. These denied such states political
freedom, their rights and undermined their socio economic standard of
living. It explains why there was rise of nationalism and resistance to
Napoleon's domination in Spain, Russia, Portugal, Austria, Prussia and
Britain.
5) Napoleon is also accused of
overthrowing legitimate rulers and imposing a Bonaparte family oligarchy
in Europe. In 1808, he conquered the Papal States, imprisoned the Pope
and annexed the Papal States to France in 1809. He conquered and
overthrew legitimate rulers in Naples, Holland, Tuscany, Piedmont,
German states and imposed his close relatives and friends to rule in
their place.
Consequently, his brothers were imposed kings to replace legitimate rulers. For instance, Joseph
Bonaparte
in Naples and Sicily, Jerome Bonaparte in Holland and Louis Bonaparte
in the kingdom of Westphalia. All these portray Napoleon's sense of
Nepotism, favouritism and attempt to "resurrect" monarchism and Devine
rights to rule that the French revolution of 1789 had challenged in
Europe.
6) The continental system of Napoleon
disorganized European economies. The system blocked the superior and
cheap manufactured British goods from free circulation in Europe yet the
French substitutes were of poor quality and very expensive. This forced
the French and European businessmen and investors who could not do
without the British goods to close their businesses, factories and
industries. The system also undermined international trade leading to
the collapse of interstate economic co-operation. It eventually led to
acute / serious economic crisis characterized by unemployment,
inflation, poverty, famine and starvation in Europe.
7)
Lastly, Napoleon's negative influence on Europe and aggression kept
European powers United who fought him in a series of coalitions. He was
eventually defeated and exiled to the island of Elba in 1813. However,
Napoleon reorganized and came back to rule for 100 days until he was
disastrously defeated at the battle of Waterloo in 1815. He was finally
exiled to the island of St. Hellena from where he died in 1821; His body
was returned by Louis Philippe in 1846 and reburied in France.
9)
Through career open to talents, Napoleon promoted equality in Europe.
In France and the conquered states like Belgium, Italy and Germany,
Napoleon used ability and talents as a basis of appointment and
promotion to public service. It created a new nobility of ability unlike
the previous nobility that was based on birth. This made the empire to
be manned/governed by men and women of talents, which ensured more
efficiency in service delivery. The policy was equally adopted in other
parts of Europe.
10) The legion of honour promoted
patriotism and nationalism in Europe. It was a policy of rewarding those
who rendered distinguished services to the state such as the civil
service, army and trade. It encouraged people to offer selfless service
to their nation most especially in the army. The policy was so
successful that Napoleon remarked “men are led by toys”.
11)
Napoleon temporarily promoted European diplomacy through short lived
treaties that he signed with other powers. In 1801 he formed a temporary
alliance with Sweden, Denmark and Spain against Britain because of her
monopolization of the med and black sea. In March 1802, he signed the
Amiens treaty with Britain that brought temporary reconciliation between
her and France. In July 1807, Napoleon signed the Tilsit treaty with
Russia where Tsar Alexander I recognized him as emperor of the west and
he recognized the Tsar as a "possible" emperor of the east and ports of
the Turkish Empire. All these preserved the spirit of diplomacy that
other powers like Britain, France, Austria and Russia later used to
defeat Napoleon due to his aggressive foreign policy.
12)
Napoleon laid foundation for modem education in Europe. In France and
the conquered states, Napoleon promoted primary, secondary, university
and military education under the management of government or communes.
Admission and promotion was based on merit. Church influence over
education system was brought to an end and the curriculum was redesigned
to promote patriotism and nationalism. His education system was
maintained even after his defeat and adopted by other states in Europe.
13)
Napoleon’s socio-economic and political reforms were very significant
to Europe. In France and the conquered states, Napoleon
enhanced/promoted agriculture, industrialization, trade, transport and
communication. Co-operative societies, better farming techniques and
soft loans helped to boost agriculture and industrialization. The
chamber of commerce, commercial exchanges and trade exhibitions were
organized to promote trade between France and other states in Europe.
Roads, railways, canals, bridges and sea ports were improved to
facilitate transport and communication within the French empire.
All
these became the basis for modernization, trade and industrialization
in Europe. It also reduced the problems of famine, poverty and
starvation that had rocked Europe before Napoleon rose to power.
14)
Napoleonic threats and aggressions led to the creation of coalitions
against France. The success of Napoleon against the second coalition and
the way he consolidated his influence in Italian and German states,
dragged Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia etc to form the coalitions
that defeated him and led to his downfall.
15) Napoleonic wars led to the calling of the Vienna congress and signing of the Vienna settlement of Sept
1814
- June 1815. The need to collectively find a lasting solution to
Napoleonic aggression and war led to the signing of several treaties
such as that of Chaumont, and 2°*^ Paris treaties and Vienna treaty. All
these consolidated and formalized the spirit of unity in European
politics.
16) Persistent Napoleonic activities and
aggressions led to the creation of the congress system. Although
Napoleon I was defeated and exiled at the Island of Elba in 1813, he was
able to mobilize and bounce back to the French throne for 100 days.
This taught European powers i.e. Britain, Russia, Austria and Prussia
that there was need for a system of meeting to preserve European peace
in, view of Napoleonic aggression.
It's this
feeling that was adopted in article 6 of the 2nd Paris peace treaty (of
20th November 1815) through which the congress system was initiated. The
congress system was largely initiated out of the threat of reemergence
of Napoleonic aggression. It should be stressed that this idea was
adopted at the end of World War I and World War 11 in the formation of
the League of Nations and U.N.O. respectively.
Negative impact/changes
1)
Napoleonic wars led to massive loss of lives and destruction of
property. The series of war fought by Napoleon against other powers of
Europe were very expensive in terms of life and physical infrastructure.
For instance, over 300,000 French and European nationals were estimated
to have lost their lives in the peninsular war while over 600,000 were
expected to have perished in the Moscow campaign. Physical
infrastructures like roads, bridges, railways and ships were dismantled.
This disorganized Europe and left the problem of reconstruction to be
pursued after the, downfall of Napoleon.
2)
Napoleon’s arrest and imprisonment of the Pope (Pope Pius vii) in 1808
uprooted his earlier achievement in the concordat. Napoleon did this
because of the Pope's refusal to enforce the continental system and
resistance to his anti-catholic policies. The imprisonment of the Pope
revived hostility between France and other catholic states of Europe
e.g. Russia, Austria and Spain. It also subjected Napoleon to
condemnation from diehard Catholics all over Europe. This is because the
imprisonment was seen as sacrilege, humiliation and a sin against the
person of the "holy" Pope.
3) Napoleon changed the
balance of power and distorted the map of Europe; He did this through
military conquests and annexations. By1814, he had expanded French
boundaries to include Belgian, Spanish, Italian and German territories
amongst others. Consequently, he created the Rhine republic in German
states, the Cisaphine republic in Italian states and the kingdom of
Westphalia in Prussia. All these changed the balance of power in Europe
in favour of France and led to territorial conflicts that the Vienna
peace makers had to contend with.
4) Napoleon is
blamed for his exploitative, oppressive and tyrannical rule in the
conquered states such as in Italian and German states. He restricted
political liberties such as freedom of the press, oppressed women and
children using the civil code, embarked on conscription in the army and
over taxation amongst others. These denied such states political
freedom, their rights and undermined their socio economic standard of
living. It explains why there was rise of nationalism and resistance to
Napoleon's domination in Spain, Russia, Portugal, Austria, Prussia and
Britain.
5) Napoleon is also accused of
overthrowing legitimate rulers and imposing a Bonaparte family oligarchy
in Europe. In 1808, he conquered the Papal States, imprisoned the Pope
and annexed the Papal States to France in 1809. He conquered and
overthrew legitimate rulers in Naples, Holland, Tuscany, Piedmont,
German states and imposed his close relatives and friends to rule in
their place.
Consequently, his brothers were imposed kings to replace legitimate rulers. For instance, Joseph
Bonaparte
in Naples and Sicily, Jerome Bonaparte in Holland and Louis Bonaparte
in the kingdom of Westphalia. All these portray Napoleon's sense of
Nepotism, favouritism and attempt to "resurrect" monarchism and Devine
rights to rule that the French revolution of 1789 had challenged in
Europe.
6) The continental system of Napoleon
disorganized European economies. The system blocked the superior and
cheap manufactured British goods from free circulation in Europe yet the
French substitutes were of poor quality and very expensive. This forced
the French and European businessmen and investors who could not do
without the British goods to close their businesses, factories and
industries. The system also undermined international trade leading to
the collapse of interstate economic co-operation. It eventually led to
acute / serious economic crisis characterized by unemployment,
inflation, poverty, famine and starvation in Europe.
7)
Lastly, Napoleon's negative influence on Europe and aggression kept
European powers United who fought him in a series of coalitions. He was
eventually defeated and exiled to the island of Elba in 1813. However,
Napoleon reorganized and came back to rule for 100 days until he was
disastrously defeated at the battle of Waterloo in 1815. He was finally
exiled to the island of St. Hellena from where he died in 1821; His body
was returned by Louis Philippe in 1846 and reburied in France.
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