Napoleon: Leader, General, Tyrant, Reformer

Adam Hawiger

Thesis: Napoleon I, possessed many characteristics, which when put to use combined to create an almost unstoppable army and nation, utilizing three characteristics of leadership, force of tyranny, and stabilizing reform.
Leader and General
1. As a leader Napoleon sought to win the hearts of those who could aid him, and stirring their sentiment of adoration.
a. During the Italian Campaign, he beckons to his men by praising their courage in battle, in order to stir them into battle and ultimately victory.
b. In a second account of the same campaign he similarly stirs his men, but at the same time, tells the Italians of the breaking of their chains, by his army, thus appealing to them in a promising manner.
c. In other treatises from 1800, Napoleon describes the army as a momentous object. In another account he recalls that men who do not even know him would die in his name. Most notably, he reveals that he adapts to those of differing “sects”
d. In his later accounts between 1804-1809, he attributes success to his reputation, basking in his own glory, and finally that the moral of his men is the most important aspect of the army.
Tyrant
2. Napoleon controlled not only the hearts of his men, with stirring words, but also their opinion securing a position in their religious sentiments, and censuring dissent.
a. In one account the Emperor is owed sacred dues as a man anointed by God.
b. In his account to Joseph Fouché, his minister of police Napoleon clearly seeing the newspapers as contrary to his interest and suppression as a remedy.
Reformer
3. Napoleon desired reform of previously feudal societies in order to garner their support and to extend his influence.
a. In a correspondence to his brother Jerome, Napoleon desired to see men of talent rise, as he believed would satisfy the German residents of the Kingdom of Westphalia
b. Finally Napoleon desired to see his various reforms implemented in the Kingdom such as liberty, equality, and other “novelties”
c. In the beginning of his correspondence he claims that these reforms will better the attitude of the Westphalia’s attitude toward the emperor and enable him to extend his influence there.