Napoleon: Leader, General, Tyrant, Reformer

After taking control of Europe, Napoleon consolidated his power in an effort to spread French philosophy and Enlightenment thought throughout his territorial gains.

I. Leader and General

a. Gained control of French army in 1796

b. Uses strong, inspirational rhetoric, inspires soldiers

c. Knows the value of good morale in war

d. Understands that a general has to dictate a large part of the organization of his troops

II. Tyrant

a. Demands love, respect, obedience, fidelity, military service, and tributes for emperor

b. Emperor deserves this because he is ordained to rule by God, and because Jesus himself paid tribute to Augustus

c. Napoleon himself has preserved public order

d. Resistance will be met with eternal damnation

e. People must also treat the successors of the emperor in this manner

III. Reformer

a. Put in place constitution of rights

b. Napoleonic code accounts for natural rights of men

c. Establishes constitutions in conquered territories as well

d. Spreads values of equality and liberalism