The Napoleonic Era
A very intelligent and strategic military commander, Napoleon Bonaparte took control of the French army in 1796 following his flawless defeat of a mob of royalist rebels on the National Convention. His reign of power lasted from 1799 to 1815, his loss at the Battle of Waterloo marking the end of his era. After the end of his rule, he was exiled twice; first to the island of Elba, then to Saint Helena, where he later died.
Napoleon's Reign
Using his new-found popularity to his advantage, Napoleon began to take control of all of France. Napoleon was first established as one of a group of three consuls of France, following the removal of the Directory. Napoleon quickly seized power from the other two consuls through intimidation and military power, his "coup d'état." To ensure that the French citizens approved of his lone rule, he set up a plebiscite for the French people to vote for a new constitution that would allow him sole power; even though they only had one choice, the citizens approved of the fact they could vote, and it only served to increase Napoleon's popularity. He worked to improve the tax system and education in France; his true goal as a military commander though was to gain power over the entirety of Europe and beyond. Napoleon was crowned emperor on December 2, 1804, and proceeded to expand his new empire.
Napoleon's Mistakes During War
Despite his genius military strategy, Napoleon made several fatal mistakes that eventually led towards his defeat, surrender, and subsequent exile.
Napoleon had tried often to take down the powerful British government, considering them a threat to his continuing expansion of power over Europe. In an attempt to cripple the British government, Napoleon set up the Continental System; he had hoped that the blockade on Great Britain would bring it down, but he hadn't counted on countries smuggling goods. Napoleon's own allies even ignored the blockade and continued to trade with Britain. Napoleon then tried to enforce the blockade by sending in the French navy. Unfortunately for Napoleon, the British had a much more powerful naval force that the French stood no match against. As Napoleon continued to try and enforce his economic attack on Britain, the people of Spain started to retaliate. The Peninsular War erupted, as the Spanish used guerrilla warfare against Napoleon's troops; it lasted from 1808 to 1813 and dealt a large blow to Napoleon.
Napoleon's final great mistake was in his poor decision-making to invade Russia in the year of 1812. When Alexander refused to enforce the Continental System, Napoleon made to attack the country's capital of Moscow. The Russians had other plans, however, and through use of scorched-earth tactics, they left behind nothing for Napoleon's advancing army of over 400,000 troops as they advanced into both Russian territory, and the Russian winter. Since the invasion began in September, the harsh cold stifled Napoleon's men. They returned, defeated by cold and picked off by the Russians during retreat, with only 10,000 men left standing.
Napoleon had tried often to take down the powerful British government, considering them a threat to his continuing expansion of power over Europe. In an attempt to cripple the British government, Napoleon set up the Continental System; he had hoped that the blockade on Great Britain would bring it down, but he hadn't counted on countries smuggling goods. Napoleon's own allies even ignored the blockade and continued to trade with Britain. Napoleon then tried to enforce the blockade by sending in the French navy. Unfortunately for Napoleon, the British had a much more powerful naval force that the French stood no match against. As Napoleon continued to try and enforce his economic attack on Britain, the people of Spain started to retaliate. The Peninsular War erupted, as the Spanish used guerrilla warfare against Napoleon's troops; it lasted from 1808 to 1813 and dealt a large blow to Napoleon.
Napoleon's final great mistake was in his poor decision-making to invade Russia in the year of 1812. When Alexander refused to enforce the Continental System, Napoleon made to attack the country's capital of Moscow. The Russians had other plans, however, and through use of scorched-earth tactics, they left behind nothing for Napoleon's advancing army of over 400,000 troops as they advanced into both Russian territory, and the Russian winter. Since the invasion began in September, the harsh cold stifled Napoleon's men. They returned, defeated by cold and picked off by the Russians during retreat, with only 10,000 men left standing.