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Napoleon’s Cabinet
BruinMUN 2016
Napoleon’s Cabinet
Letter from the Chair
Greetings Delegates,
My name is Adarsh Balaji and I will be serving as your Crisis Director for this year’s
BruinMUN 2016’s Napoleon 1812 committee. I am a sophomore pursuing a biochemistry
major, and I aspire to go to graduate school to gain a PhD. Model United Nations has been a
part of my life since my sixth grade, and I have had the pleasure of extending my experience
with MUN at UCLA. I’m part of UCLA’s MUN Travel Team and I hope to staff our
conferences in the future also.
The topic of Napoleon’s Empire is very dear to my heart due to my passionate interest in the
rise of such influential historical figures. To this day, we are still experiencing the effects of
the French Revolution as well as Napoleon’s Empire. Not only was he effective as a military
ruler, but he was also influential in his cultural revolution of his empire and by extent the
world. We can see his effects in various contemporary cultural references - the famous novel
turned musical turned movie “Les Miserables” deals with the situation in the Empire after
Napoleon’s defeat and exile at Waterloo. Similarly, he is referenced in many games such as
Napoleon: Total War, and Assassin’s Creed: Unity. Our committee deals with the effects of Napoleon’s failed conquest of Russia on his vastreaching empire. Historically, this failure led to his downfall due to the strengthening of his
enemies working together as a coalition - the Sixth Coalition. It also stimulated backstabbing
and political intrigue between his ministers and his various satellite states, and finally
affected his image as a undefeatable conqueror in the hearts of minds of the common people. We shall hopefully discuss all this in our committee to have a very fruitful and successful
debate. Our crisis team will do its best to keep you delegates on your toes with the creation of
new and exciting updates, forcing you to react to the external events of the world. The fate of
Napoleon’s Empire lies in your hands, delegates. Uphold the principles upon which it was
found, and steer your empire towards glory and success!
Regards,
Adarsh Balaji
Letter from the CD
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to BruinMUN 2016 and this year’s Napoleon 1812 committee! My name is
Prannoiy Chandran and I am excited to be your Chair for the weekend. To begin with, a bit
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about myself; I was born in India and grew up in Singapore. I am a sophomore pursuing a
major in Business Economics and look forward to attending either business or law school in
the near future. I fell in love with Model UN after my first conference in ninth grade, and
continued with it throughout the rest of my high school days, both as a chair and as a
delegate. Even before arriving on campus, I had already made up my mind to join UCLA’s
reputed Model UN club, and it has turned out be an incredible decision. In addition to
staffing BruinMUN and LAMUN during my freshman year, I have also had the honour of
being on the Travel Team. My parents inculcated in me a love for reading when I was very young, and this, coupled
with my fascination for the stories and lessons we can find in the past, led me to developing
an interest in history. I enjoy learning about influential nations, movements and people who
have shaped the course of human history and thinking about how the repercussions of their
actions can be seen even today. I hope to give all you a chance to do the same during the
conference. Set right after Napoleon’s unsuccessful invasion of Russia in 1812, this committee includes
both members of his cabinet and the rulers of some of his numerous client states. Your task
as delegates is to explore the effects of this failure on his rule while negotiating a host of
other factors, including the Sixth Coalition, the Peninsular Wars and civil unrest. Of course,
this being a crisis committee, discussion will be dynamic and there will be political intrigue
aplenty. I find Napoleon to be one of the most profoundly interesting historical figures and if
you do not already, I am sure you will feel the same by the end of the weekend. Also, his
empire was the dominant power in most of continental Europe during the early 19th century,
and managing that while using your portfolio powers should present a fascinating challenge. With a topic as rich in potential as this one, I am confident that the debate will be intense and
multifaceted. I am eager to see how you respond to rapidly changing circumstances, canvass
support and anticipate problems and other delegates’ actions. I really look forward to meeting
all of you and please feel free to reach out to me or Adarsh if you have any questions or
concerns. As the people of the First French Empire would have said, veillons au salut de
l’Empire!
Best of Luck, Prannoiy Chandran
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Historical Background
Early French Revolution - National Assembly, Rise of Napoleon
Before the existence of the First French Empire, France was run in accordance with the
feudal Ancien Régime, an aristocratic and monarchic-focused socio-political model that had
existed since the fifteenth century. The country was largely run by the influential House of
Bourbon, but despite the concept of an absolute monarchy and attempts at centralisation, the
administration and society at the time were fraught with systematic irregularities and historic
differences. There were three factions of the French Estates-General (the name given to the regional
assembly at the time): the clergy, the nobles and the peasants (the First, Second and Third
Estates respectively). Summoned by King Louis XVI (part of the Bourbon dynasty), the
Estates-General gathered on June 2th 1789 to discuss the country’s fiscal and agricultural
problems. The working class members in attendance felt that their voice was not being heard,
and that the upper class was controlling the voice of the population and the legislative actions
taken by the king. They decided to meet in a nearby tennis court to forge what was later
known as The Oath of the Tennis Court. It mentioned that this faction of the Estates-General
would be known as the “National Assembly”, and took a vow “not to separate, and to
reassemble wherever circumstances require, until a constitution or a kingdom was
established”.
This decision was seen as a crucial event during the early period of the French Revolution as
it was one of the first revolutionary acts undertaken by the population. It indicated that the
people of France were willing to consolidate power for themselves in order to bring about
more liberal changes within the absolute monarchy of France. This posed a problem to Louis
XVI, who, for the interests of keeping his public image, ordered the First and Second Estates
to join the Third Estate in the so-called “National Assembly” to hopefully create an illusion
that he was still the indisputable ruler of France. However, this did not sit well with the other
two Estates, further exacerbating socio-political tensions. 4
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Figure 1: The Tennis Court Oath and the subsequent creation of the National Assembly
The Oath was soon followed by the Decree
of the National Assembly in August 1789.
This declared that the feudal system had
been abolished, along with the old rules,
taxes and privileges that were left over from
that age. This had the effect of negating the
titles accumulated by the clergy. It also
meant that the peasants did not have to pay a
taille (land tax) on the land they held,
resulting in a major gain in productivity.
It is vital to note that the Revolution did not begin on a single day - it instead developed
slowly with various actions and events adding fuel to the fire. Eventually, understanding that
popular discontent was heading to a climax, King Louis attempted to flee with his family.
However, they were caught and arrested at the town of Varennes. While he had initially
attempted to implement reforms based on Enlightenment ideals, he soon became viewed as a
symbol of the Ancien Régime’s tyranny and his capture destroyed his credibility, with
popular hostility towards the French monarchy becoming much more pronounced afterwards.
Other monarchs pleaded with the French public to not harm the King, which only served to
further antagonise the revolutionary masses.
As discontent among the public became more apparent, a single-chamber assembly called the
National Convention was formed and held from 1792 to 1795. In 1793, the Convention
created the Committee of Public Safety (CPS), which acted as the de facto executive
government in France. The CPS was led by Maximilien Robespierre, a French lawyer and
politician who ruled France with an iron fist. The time period from the formation of the CPS
to the end of the Revolution is known as the Reign of Terror, since many people were caught
and tried under the name of the state for harboring negative thoughts towards the ruling
committee, with the death toll ranging in the tens of thousands. There were numerous
summary executions, and many of these “traitors” were executed by guillotine. This caused
the guillotine (called the “National Razor”) to become symbolic of the revolutionary cause.
King Louis XVI himself was executed by guillotine on January 1793 (as a desacralized
French citizen and not as a royal, no less), as was his wife Marie Antoinette. The committee
also implemented various changes to distance themselves from the trappings of the Ancien
Régime. For example, the calendar was changed to the new French Republican Calendar to
remove royalist and religious influences and the clock was changed to 10 hours (as part of a
larger attempt at decimalisation). 5
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Figure 2: The execution of Marie Antoinette, the Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of
France in October 1973
This was a tumultuous time period marked
by conflict on various fronts. The
Revolution itself had a lot of support from
many different groups within France, while
the resistors to the revolution (many of
whom were royalists who wanted to
reinstate the monarchy) received a lot of
support from rulers in nearby nations.
However, a lot of the support for the
Revolution died down as Robespierre himself was deemed a traitor in 1793 and executed.
With his death, the CPS was dissolved. While a temporary government, the Directory, was
formed, the nation had undergone a long period of political and military tension and was in
chaos due to the creation of a power vacuum.
It was during such a time period that a young French army lieutenant named Napoleon
Bonaparte began to make a name for himself. He was born in the Mediterranean island of
Corsica on August 15th 1769 and was initially a fervent Corsican nationalist. He was very
committed to his family, which could be seen in his trust in his family members as he later
seized control of France. He rose quickly through the ranks and was widely regarded as a
“son” of the French Revolution as he supported its ideals from the beginning and tried to
spread them to Corsica. After becoming the commander of the Army of Italy by age 26 and
becoming a national hero, he coordinated a mission to attack Egypt to establish a French
presence in the Middle East in 1798. This was an attempt at a proxy war since Egypt was a
colony under Britain, which meant that attacking Egypt would be an indirect attack against
Britain. Additionally, Egypt was seen as the gateway to India since it provided access to the
Red Sea, which was a viable route to invade Britain’s main colony. Napoleon’s method of
conquering was to not only take over regions but to also indoctrinate them into the French
way of life. This included building educational institutes in the areas he controlled. An
example would be the Institute of Egypt, the country’s oldest scientific institute. Therefore,
he actively tried to reform the government to emulate the French ideals that he himself had
supported. This created an image of him both as a conqueror and as a liberator. This image
would be key for his conquests during his reign as the first French Emperor. His campaign in
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Egypt turned out to be a disaster as he lost thousands of his men and many of his ships were
sunk, causing him to eventually retreat back to France. Despite his failure, he returned to a
hero’s welcome. Meanwhile, the ineffective Directory was unpopular and the Republic was
bankrupt. This spurred Napoleon into arranging a coup to overthrow the regime and install
himself as leader. Eventually, on the 18th of Brumaire (a month in the Revolutionary
calendar corresponding to November 1799), Napoleon seized power with a coup d’etat. Later
on, he installed himself as the Emperor of the First French Empire in 1804. Figure 3: Napoleon Bonaparte is crowned as the Emperor of the First French Empire in
1804
He consolidated his power with a
constitution that preserved the
appearance of a republic while
establishing something akin to a
dictatorship and was actually passed by
popular vote. Napoleonic Wars - Coalition Wars, Peninsular War, Russian Campaign
While there was an uneasy period of peace thanks to the Treaty of Amiens of 1802 (signed
with the United Kingdom), it was short-lived due to anger against Napoleon’s reordering of
the system in Western Europe. From 1803 onwards, France was engaged in one of the most
pivotal series of conflicts in European history; the Napoleonic Wars. In these battles, the
French faced off against various coalitions of European nations. While a continuation of the
Revolutionary Wars, they occurred at a scale that had never been seen before due to the
advent of mass conscription (including the French Levée en masse), which led to a drastic
revamping of European militaries.
From 1803 onwards, France defeated three consecutive coalitions under Napoleon’s
leadership. The War of the Third Coalition in 1803 saw France and its client states fighting
an alliance that included the Holy Roman Empire, Russia, the United Kingdom, the
Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, Sweden and French royalists (who sought to overthrow the
Revolution). After major land battles, a decisive French victory at the Battle of Austerlitz
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(one of the Napoleonic Wars’ most decisive conflicts) ended the Third Coalition. Austria
(part of the Holy Roman Empire) signed the Treaty of Pressburg with France which called
for Austria to cede land to France and its allies and also imposed a sizeable indemnity on the
Habsburg monarchy. This defeat is credited with having dissolved the Holy Roman Empire,
as Francis II abdicated his throne on 6 August 1806. In addition, the Treaty led to the
creation of the Confederation of the Rhine, a group of client states meant to be a buffer
zone between France and central Europe. Initially formed with German princes from the
Holy Roman Empire, it incorporated several other leaders and eventually included over 15
million subjects, providing an important strategic asset to Napoleon on the east of his empire.
This coalition excluded Prussia and Austria. These nations would later became focal points
for German nationalism, which arose in response to Napoleon’s ceaseless conquest and the
high taxes he levied outside of France. Similar nationalist movements also came to the fore in
other European nations such as Italy due to the ever-growing resentment against Napoleon’s
rule. Furthermore, Napoleon’s older brother Joseph Bonaparte was installed as the King of
Naples. Figure 4: The Confederation of the Rhine
Even after the Treaty, there was no
definite period of peace as Prussia’s
insecurity over the significant shift
in the balance of European power
led to the Fourth Coalition in 1806,
which also included Russia and the
United Kingdom among others. This
alliance, too, was soundly defeated,
with the French occupying Prussia
after the Battle of Jena-Auerstadt
and in 1807, crushing the Russian
forces who eventually asked for a truce. Russia agreed to join the Continental System, while
acquisitions from Prussian territory were incorporated into Jérôme Bonaparte’s Kingdom of
Westphalia and also established the Duchy of Warsaw. By the end, Napoleon controlled
nearly all of western and central continental Europe. He also sent Joseph to Spain, where he
was made the King in 1808. 8
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Following that, French troops headed to Portugal for an invasion, sparking the Peninsular
War in which France fought for the control of the Iberian peninsula. This conflict sapped
much of the French Empire’s strength. They also had to contend against a new offensive in
1809 mounted by the Fifth Coalition, which was led by Austria and the United Kingdom and
also included Spain and Sicily among others. Despite Austrian reforms, the conflict battle
ended in France’s favour and led to harsh terms being imposed on Austria in the Treaty of
Schönbrunn. While these victories lent Napoleon’s Grande Armée a veneer of invulnerability and
cemented Napoleon’s reputation as a dominant military commander, this would prove to be
the last time that his French Empire emerged as the clear victor in a military campaign. In
1812, the Grande Armée attempted to engage Russian troops under the pretext of liberating
Poland but actually due to Napoleon’s hope that he could pressure Tsar Alexander I into
ceasing trade with British merchants (which would incentivise the United Kingdom to initiate
a peacemaking process). While Napoleon’s massive force won a number of minor battles
during its long march through Western Russia, the invasion ended up backfiring. A victory at
Smolensk did not end the march as Napoleon had hoped due to the Russians retreating
inward and leaving the city to burn. The Russians also tasked Cossacks with employing
scorched-earth tactics as the main troops retreated, catching the French off guard and
throwing a wrench in Napoleon’s initial plans. Faced with dwindling resources, many
starving French soldiers either deserted or were captured by Cossacks when they wandered
off in search of food. Even when the French caught up with the Russians, the resulting Battle of Borodino (the
deadliest day of the Napoleonic Wars) was devastating to the point where the French gained
a shaky tactical victory at the expense of several officers and thousands of men. A week later,
Napoleon entered Moscow, only to find that the city had been evacuated. Count Rostopchin,
the governor, had strategic points in the city set ablaze, further disrupting Napoleon’s plans.
Napoleon stayed on for a month in an attempt to negotiate a peace, but eventually had to
leave, his position having been eroded greatly. When he ran into the encamped Russian
army, he tried once more to engage them in the Battle of Maloyaroslavets, but the Russians
retreated again this o avoid a pitched battle. Forced to retreat, Napoleon and his exhausted troops suffered greatly due to the Russian
winter, which caused a loss of discipline and morale. The invasion ended in a resounding
defeat for the French, with thousands captured and hundreds of thousands dead. In December
1812, barely six months from the onset, the campaign came to a close. This failure proved to
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be a major turning point, as Napoleon’s fearsome reputation was called into question and his
hegemony in Europe was significantly weakened. Relevant Contemporary Issues
Interactions with the Pope and the Catholic Church
During the Revolution, the feudal system was abolished by the National Assembly, meaning
that the clergy no longer had a say in the ruling of the government. After Napoleon rose to
dominance, he established that the clergy should be loyal to the state, which was a marked
acknowledgement of secularism - the separation of the church from the state. In fact, even though the Concordat of 1801 (signed by Napoleon when he was the Emperor
of France) stated that the Roman Catholic Church would still be the primary religious
institution, Napoleon had the power to select the bishops and maintain the finances of the
Church. This was a markedly reduced degree of autonomy for the Church as compared to the
privileged position it had enjoyed under the Ancien Régime. The Concordat contained the
“Organic Articles”, a group of clauses pertaining to public worship in France and a source of
controversy during the negotiations. After instances of religious strife in various French
cities, the Articles were Napoleon’s way of monitoring politically harmful movements
associated with religious groups and maintaining a balance between Catholicism and
Protestantism in the country. They also partially allowed other religious freedoms, such as by
prescribing rules for Catholic worship in cities with temples dedicated to different religions.
Breaching the rules laid out by the Articles was treated as a criminal offense. Unsurprisingly, they were perceived by the Church as as an underhanded method being used
by the State to gain control of the Church. Pope Pius VII fiercely protested them when they
were presented to him for approval, but that was in vain as Napoleon had them published as a
unilateral addition. Therefore, while the Concordat restored some of the Church’s civil status,
Napoleon emerged as the clear winner in terms of church-state relations. The Italian Pope
was involved almost entirely in French religious affairs from the beginning of his papacy,
and he was in constant conflict with Napoleon. Eventually, Pius VII excommunicated Napoleon. An ambitious officer, Lieutenant Radet,
saw this as an opportunity to gain favour and, despite having no explicit instructions,
kidnapped the Pope in 1809. Once the Pope was a prisoner, however, Napoleon did not offer
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him a chance to be released. From then onwards, the Pope has been moved around
Napoleon’s territories, but he has primarily been kept in the Italian port city of Savona.
Napoleon has sent various delegates to pressure him on issues such as yielding power to the
state and signing a new agreement to replace the Concordat. Figure 5: Pope Pius VII is arrested and deported in 1809
In response, the Catholic Church has called on
its followers to denounce the French Empire
and its excommunicated ruler. While many
French citizens are still disillusioned from the
repressive rule of the First Estate prior to the
Revolution, there is potential for great
upheaval in Napoleon’s numerous client states,
particularly in the Pope’s native Italy. There
are rumours of zealots who are planning to
break the Pope out of prison and restore him to
power. There are also fears that civil unrest could spread to much of the territories in Italy
surrounding Rome, and indeed to the other client states as well. The spreading of mass
discontent could spark the formation of religious militia groups who may go beyond
attempting to break the Pope out of prison and also try to seize territory instead. The 6th Coalition
The 6th coalition was one of numerous coalitions formed as a direct response to Napoleon’s
rise and the dominance of the French Empire. The formation began in January 1812 itself,
when French troops entered Sweden to enforce the Continental System’s trade rules. After
Swedish land was confiscated and soldiers were taken as prisoners, Sweden declared
neutrality while secretly signing the Treaty of St Petersburg with Russia against France.
Also, in July, the Treaty of Örebro formally ended the Anglo-Russian and Anglo-Swedish
wars. This created an alliance between Russia, the United Kingdom and Sweden. However,
Russia was left on its own when Napoleon marched on Moscow. 11
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Prussia entered the alliance a few months later. The Convention of Tauroggen, signed in
December 1812, was an armistice between Prussian and Russian troops. The Prussians had
been compelled to support the Grande Armée during its Russian invasion by one of treaties
signed after the War of the Fourth Coalition, but some Prussian officers and soldiers left the
army to avoid fighting under the French. The coalition’s members are still looking to enlist
more members. Prussia has already begun attempting to strengthen its forces in Germanoccupied territories.
There are two main parties within the coalition. One believes that Napoleon should be
overthrown immediately. The other side believes that Napoleon should not be removed since
doing so would completely destabilize the region and create a massive power struggle.
While Napoleon soundly defeated the Third, Fourth and Fifth Coalitions, he is at a great
disadvantage this time due to his depleted troops and his newly-shaken reputation. The
Grande Armée suffered 370,000 casualties in Russia (from fighting, starvation and weather
conditions) and also lost an additional 200,000 men to capture. Only about 80,000 fit soldiers
returned from the Russian campaign. Although the Russian Army also lost hundreds of
thousands of men, shorter supply lines have allowed Russians to quickly replenish its army.
In addition, the Grande Armée’s losses of several units of cavalry and wagons were
irreplaceable. He also has to contend with no longer being regarded as an unbeatable military
genius. There may well be conflicts erupting all over the continent, with the Sixth Coalition
attempting to engage Napoleon in direct combat and seize territory from his Empire. The
client states might become centerpoints of military action and political intrigue. Due to this,
the Confederation of the Rhine may soon be in danger of collapse, a problem which the
Cabinet should anticipate. Negotiations, agreements and betrayal can also be expected from
all sides, as the Coalition members attempt to rally more leaders and troops to their cause.
Napoleon and his Cabinet will have to deal with this by rapidly consolidating his existing
power and influence and also rebuilding his military to prepare to defend his Empire from a
potential onslaught. The Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was fought between Napoleon and the alliance of Spain, the United
Kingdom and Portugal over control of the Iberian peninsula. It is regarded as one of the first
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wars of national liberation. It is also known for the emergence of guerilla warfare of a large
scale. The War began in 1807 (before the War of the Fifth Coalition) when France and Spain
invaded and occupied Portugal. The following year, Napoleon turned on his Spanish allies,
installing his brother Joseph Bonaparte as the King of Spain. This angered the Spanish and
escalated the conflict, causing guerilla warfare to break out and quickly spread across the
peninsula. Under Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, the British Army guarded Portugal and
fought the French in Spain. They were soon accompanied by a reformed Portuguese Army.
Together, they formed a combined Anglo-Portuguese Army under Wellesley’s command.
When Napoleon was in Russia in 1812, Wellesley led the allied forces into Spain, defeating
the French troops stationed there and taking Madrid. Figure 6: A Spanish division pledging to turn against France and side with the British in
1808
The conflict has been a heavy burden on the
Grande Armée. Despite the victories gained by
the French troops, their communication and
supply lines have seen heavy usage. Guerilla
warfare has also posed a serious problem, with
many French units finding themselves isolated
and hounded by partisans making use of
ambushes and raids. The Spanish troops have
also shown a tendency to constantly regroup
even after being beaten in various battles. Napoleon did not intend to provoke a total war, but
the conflict in the peninsula has been draining French resources, to the point where Napoleon
has called it the “Spanish Ulcer”. The Cabinet will have to discuss how to restore territories in Spain and reclaim them for the
Empire, while beating back the Spanish nationalist forces as well as the British and
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British Involvement and Colonial Warfare
The United Kingdom was a leading member of each coalition formed against France since
the First Coalition. After clashing with Revolutionary France, it has been in near constant
conflict with Napoleon’s French Empire ever since the Treaty of Amiens broke down. In
fact, it was the United Kingdom that officially ended the truce arranged by the Treaty when it
declared war on France in 1803 and sparked the War of the Second Coalition. Napoleon’s actions in Western Europe angered and worried the other European powers,
especially the United Kingdom. He even asserted that the United Kingdom did not deserve to
have a voice in European affairs, causing many Britons to feel greatly insulted. The United
Kingdom had already been reeling from a loss of control of its colonies and the markets it
had once freely exploited, and Napoleon’s comments and actions only added to what has
been called its “national neuroses - an irrational anxiety about Napoleon’s motives and
intentions”. For his part, Napoleon seemed determined to exclude the United Kingdom from
the continent and subjugate it entirely one day under his own Empire. The United Kingdom, in addition to its involvement in the Coalitions and the Peninsular
War, may attempt to use its numerous colonies to its advantage in its efforts to bring down
Napoleon and France. It has control over India, in particular, via the East India Company.
Napoleon had always been interested in India - in fact his failed campaign in Egypt was
because he was trying to create a forward base to India and hence indirectly attack the
British. Even after seizing control of the French government, Napoleon still entertained ideas
to attack India and this was brought forth in a plan to King Paul I (the Russian King at that
time) who was assassinated before the plan could be implemented. The United Kingdom may
also attempt to destabilise Napoleon’s Empire via the Confederation of the Rhine and the
other French client states. The Cabinet may have to contend with a British assault on various
fronts and the possibility of colonial warfare.
Character Biographies
Hugues-Bernard Maret, Minister of Foreign Affairs
A lawyer by profession, he was inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution. As part of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he often handled negotiations with the United Kingdom,
although his efforts were sometimes thwarted by the actions of his own government. He
joined Napoleon’s party in 1799 when he returned from Egypt and proved very capable as a
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secretary of state. He was also very devoted to Napoleon and even followed him on most of
his campaigns, receiving the title of Duc de Bassano as a reward. He became Minister of
Foreign Affairs in 1811 and continued to display extraordinary ability and devotion. After the
Russian defeat, he is helping Napoleon prepare his remaining forces.
Pierre Daru, Secretary of State
A renowned scholar as well as a soldier, his stint as a commissary to the French
Revolutionary Army earned him a reputation as a hard worker and an efficient organizer.
After Napoleon’s ascension, he played a similar role and the Emperor was said to admire his
ability and frankness. While he was given the title of Count Daru, he was known for
defending the cause of democracy against royalist supporters. He succeeded Maret as
Secretary of State in 1811 and efficiently handled his complex administrative duties.
Martin Michel Charles Gaudin, Minister of Finance
The son of a former lawyer at the Parlement of Paris, he became a key player in financial
affairs and was appointed by King Louis XVI as the national treasury’s commissioner.
However, he faced constant accusations and denunciations. After Napoleon’s coup, he was
appointed as his Finance Minister and carried out financial reorganization, creating a body of
officials to work under him. He also implemented various reforms in the financial
administration, restored direct taxes, established a fair land tax and created the Bank of
France. He was known for always remaining faithful to Napoleon, and was rewarded with the
title of Duc de Gaete.
René Savary, Minister of Police
Initially a member of the French royal army, he served in the Egyptian campaign and caught
the attention of Napoleon with his ability and loyalty. He was thus appointed to command the
gendarmes who guarded the then-First Consul. Due to his gifts for intrigue, Napoleon often
made use of him in Spanish affairs, in which he skilfully exploited the schisms in the Spanish
royal family. He became Minister of Police in 1810, and displayed great skill and devotion in
that capacity, carrying out his orders with brutal efficiency. He was honoured with the title of
Duc de Rovigo.
Jean-Pierre de Montalivet, Minister of the Interior
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Born into a noble family, he was nevertheless supportive of the Revolution and befriended a
young Napoleon when he was still an army officer. He enlisted in the Army of Italy and was
elected as Mayor of Valence upon his return. He joined Napoleon after his coup and became
a member of the new national government. After becoming the Interior Minister in 1809,
during the peak of France’s territorial expansion, he played a key role in developing
infrastructure within the French Empire, such as by overseeing large-scale urban projects and
the construction of bridges and ports.
Armand-Augustin-Louis de Caulaincourt, Grand Marshal of the Palace
The son of a nobleman and army officer, he began serving in the army at the age of 15 as an
aide to his father. He quickly became a captain and even regained his rank after being
denounced as an aristocrat by the revolutionaries. Due to his fluency in multiple languages,
he was sent to the Russian court by Napoleon more than once. In 1804, he was used without
his knowledge as a means to deliver a fellow aristocrat to his execution and wept openly over
the incident, which he considered a point of shame. He continued serving as a personal aide
to Napoleon and diplomat, and was given the title of Duc de Vicenza. He strongly advised
the Emperor against his proposed Russian campaign and was at his side during the campaign
itself. He also warned Napoleon of the dangers of the Russian winter during their occupation
of Moscow and eventually convinced him to return directly to France, with Napoleon
choosing him to travel alongside him back to Paris. Félix-Julien-Jean Bigot de Préameneu, Minister of Religious Affairs
The son of a lawyer in his hometown’s High Court, he began his studies at a seminary before
pursuing a career in law and eventually ended up in the capital, where he was in the
Parlement de Paris and was elected to the Legislative Assembly. While he was initially
supportive of some of the Revolution’s reforms, he continued to champion the cause of the
royal family among others and had to hide himself during the Reign of Terror, nearly facing
public execution before the timely fall of Robespierre. He helped to plan Napoleon’s coup,
and was given many responsibilities in the new government, including drafting the new
French civil code and other such judicial duties. He eventually became the Religious Affairs
Minister. Claude Ambroise Regnier, Minister of Justice
Born to a family of tax collectors and merchants, he was still enthusiastic about the
Revolution, and was on the Estates General’s legislative and constitutional committees due to
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his legal training and experience. After going underground during the Reign of Terror, he
supported Napoleon’s coup and was later involved in crafting the civil code along with Bigot
de Préameneu. He was given the title of Duc de Massa and was also in charge of the Ministry
of Police for a period of time. From 1802 onwards, he held the positions of Minister of
Justice and Chief Judge. Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte, King of Spain
The elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, he was initially the French ambassador to Rome.
He was also a member of the Directory and used his position to help his brother overthrow
them in 1799. After being given military command of Naples 1806, where he attained some
popularity, he was eventually named the King of Spain in 1808. He was rather unpopular
there, and faced immediate attempts by his opponents to smear his name, such as by
portraying him as an alcoholic. His arrival sparked the revolts that led to the Peninsular War
and he was also firmly opposed by Spain’s Catholic society as his brother had been
excommunicated by the Pope. He never fully established control over the country and had to
constantly deal with guerillas. Joachim Murat, King of Naples
Known for his courage and charisma, he was born to affluent parents who wished him to
pursue a career in the church, but joined the military instead and quickly rose through the
ranks. He wound up fighting overseas under Napoleon, and his skill in leading cavalry
charges helped to build Napoleon’s legendary fame and popularity as a military commander.
He went on to play a pivotal role in Napoleon’s coup and eventually married Caroline
Bonaparte, Napoleon’s youngest sister. He was named as a Marshal of France in recognition
of his military achievements and also given numerous titles. He was the Grand Duke of Berg
until 1808, when he was named the King of Naples as Joseph Bonaparte’s successor. He
proved useful to Napoleon during the Peninsular War and the Russian campaign. Eugéne de Beauharnais, Viceroy of Italy
Born to Joséphine de Beauharnais, he became Napoleon’s stepson and adopted child after his
biological father was killed during the Reign of Terror. He followed Napoleon overseas,
serving as his aide-de-camp, and went on to become a captain in his stepfather’s Consular
Guard when he was First Consul. He achieved a decisive victory during the War of the Fifth
Coalition and also fought in the Russian campaign, leading a contingent in the Battles of
Borodino and Maloyaroslavets. He was made an official member of the imperial family in
1804 as His Imperial Highness and was also named the Viceroy of Italy the following year.
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However, he was excluded from succession to the throne, although he was declared the
presumptive heir to the Kingdom of Italy. Frederick Augustus I, King of Saxony Frederick Augustus I is the ruling king of Saxony and is part of the Confederation of the
Rhine. One of the oldest serving members in the Confederation, he became king of Saxony in
1763 and ruled as the elector. During the early years of Napoleon’s reign, he was initially
fighting against him, but a resounding defeat in 1806 led to his surrender and the inclusion of
Saxony into the Confederation. Regardless of his previous affiliations, he became a staunch
loyal supporter of the Empire even after the failed Russian campaign. Known for his
organization, Frederick Augustus I improved the nation’s administrative efficiency and
brought forth economic prosperity during his time. He was widely regarded for his loyalty to
his people and his nation, putting the interests of Saxony before anything else.
Maximilian I Joseph, King of Bavaria Maximilian I Joseph is the ruling king of Bavaria and is part of the Confederation of the
Rhine. He became the Prince Elector of Bavaria in the Holy Roman Empire in 1795, and
started to sympathise with France in terms of the ideals and values they were expressing
during the French revolution. This faith resulted in his belief in the French Empire to be
solidified, and he was known as one of Napoleon’s staunchest German advisors. As a ruler,
he brought forth liberal ideas in political legislation, and introduced economic and social
policies that would later on improve the nation’s sustainability and standard of living. He was
widely regarded by the Bavarians as a strong and independent ruler who worked for the
betterment of the nation itself.
Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Würzburg Ferdinand III is the ruling Grand Duke of Würzburg and is part of the Confederation of the
Rhine. Originally the Grand Duke of Tuscany until 1801, he then presided over Salzburg
from 1803 to 1805, and then eventually was given the territory of Würzburg in 1805. During
the French Revolution and the early years of Napoleon’s Empire, Ferdinand III never
supported Napoleon outright, instead remaining neutral for as long as possible. During the
French Revolution, there was a period of time where he threw passive support behind the
British forces, but eventually switched sides after the French forces began to win victories
and gain morale. He eventually decided to side with Napoleon and thus joined the
Confederation as a Grand Duke and Prince Elector.
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Louis I, Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt Louis I is the ruling Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt and is part of the Confederation of the
Rhine. As a ruler, Louis was efficient in administering his duchy and brought about a rapid
increase in territory and wealth during the Napoleonic Wars. He opted to join the
Confederation after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, and he was
eventually promoted to the title of Grand Duke due to the increased size of Hesse-Darmstadt,
and this made him very popular with the people of his duchy.
Karl von Dalberg, Grand Duke of Frankfurt Karl von Dalberg is the ruling Grand Duke of Frankfurt and is part of the Confederation of
the Rhine. Initially holding the position of Archbishop of Mainz, when the Confederation
was formed Karl was able to be appointed the ‘prince primate’ of the Confederation, holding
strong political power over the other members. In 1810, he was given the grand duchy of
Frankfurt due to his previous territory being given to the Duke of Bavaria. Being one of the
members seceding from the Holy Roman Empire to join the Confederation, Karl believed in
the idea of German Unification and sought to achieve this through the expansion of
Napoleon’s Empire. It was his vision to unify Germany as a confederation of individual
states presided by himself as the Archchancellor.
Napoleon-Louis Bonaparte, Grand Duke of Berg and Cleves
Napoleon-Louis Bonaparte is the ruling Grand Duke of Berg and Cleves and is part of the
Confederation of the Rhine. As a cousin to the emperor, he was initially the Prince of
Holland but was later given the grand duchy of Berg and Cleves by the emperor. He was the
ruler of Holland for a very short time until the emperor decided to annex it into the empire’s
territories. He was the oldest nephew of Napoleon and was initially rumored to be his
successor, until the emperor’s second wife birthed a son. As a grand duke, he brought about
very little progress or reform to his territories and was regarded as a rather incompetent ruler.
Frederick I, King of Württemberg Frederick I is the ruling King of Württemberg and is part of the Confederation of the Rhine.
Colloquially known as ‘Frederick the Giant’, he was renowned for his massive size at 6’11
and weighing about 400 pounds. In 1806, he officially seceded from the Holy Roman Empire
and joined the Confederation of the Rhine, believing there to be greater potential on that side.
Always a man to maximize opportunity, he strengthened his political alliances by marrying
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his daughter to the King of Westphalia and Napoleon’s brother, Jerome Bonaparte I.
Frederick I had very little interest in military affairs and was more preoccupied with political
power, prestige and money for his kingdom.
Jerome Bonaparte I, King of Westphalia Jerome Bonaparte I is the ruling King of Westphalia and is part of the Confederation of the
Rhine. A younger brother to the emperor, he was often considered as the weakest family
member of the Napoleons due to the lack of successes in his life. While Westphalia
underwent a series of reforms during his time as King, this was more due to the skill of the
cabinet he employed rather than his own ability. During the Russian Campaign, Jerome was
given command of a supporting army numbering around 80,000 men with the instructions to
prevent Russian troop movements to Warsaw and to prevent reinforcements by destroying
supply lines. However his inability as a commander and ineffective communication resulted
in a botched-up operation causing the deaths of thousands of his men.
Karl Ludwig Friedrich, Grand Duke of Baden
Karl Ludwig Friedrich is the ruling Grand Duke of Baden and is part of the Confederation of
the Rhine. Unlike most rulers during this time, Karl had very little experience in military
matters as he had not participated in many wars. As his father had passed away when he was
young, it fell upon Karl to take over the duties of ruling his domain. He was instead regarded
as a very competent administrator and organizer of his territories. In 1806, despite his wished
to marry for love, he was forced to marry Napoleon’s adopted daughter, who would go on to
bear him three daughters and no sons.
Francois Joseph Lefebvre, Duke of Danzig Lefebvre is the ruling Duke of Danzig and is part of the Confederation of the Rhine. Being
made a marshal in 1804 as a thanks for his support in Napoleon’s coup, Lefebvre
commanded many armies during the Napoleonic wars, the most important of which was in
1807, when he won the territory of Danzig and later became its duke. He commanded a
sizable regiment known as the Old Guard during France’s invasion of Russia, comprised of
war veterans and skilled military personnel. Never one to back away from a fight, he was
always seen in the front lines of the war with his soldiers, which caused him to have a good
reputation among his men.
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Louis-Alexandre Berthier, Prince of Neuchatel Louis-Alexandre Berthier is the ruling Prince of Neuchatel and is part of the Confederation
of the Rhine. He is hailed by many as one of the most competent military chief of staff at the
time, employing tactics learned from his studying time abroad in America. He was regarded
by Napoleon as an excellent general for his fantastic organizational skills, and his ability to
incorporate detail from the emperor’s instructions. Along with being the Prince of Neuchatel,
he was also a high-ranking officer in the Grande Armée, acquiring this position due ot his
previous successes as a general.
Johann I Joseph, Regent of Liechtenstein Johann I Joseph is the ruling leader of the Principality of Liechtenstein as the ruler, his third
son Karl Johann, is currently underage. Thus, Joseph can assume the role of the supreme
leader of his duchy. Johann I is a very competent military general, having taken part in
successes in campaigns during the French Revolutionary Wars and in the early stages of the
Napoleonic Wars. He was easily distinguished and renowned for his competency and
efficiency on the battlefield. Off the battlefield, he introduced many political and social
avant-garde reforms for Liechtenstein that would result in a strong improvement in economic
stability and self sustainability over the years.
Friedrich Augustus, Duke of Nassau
Friedrich Augustus is the ruling Duke of Nassau and part of the Confederation of the Rhine.
Like many of the other rulers at the time, he rose to prominence as a field marshal for his
duchy in his youth, succeeding his elder brother as the Prince of Nassau-Usingen in early
1803. He then decided to merge his duchy with his cousin and to officially rename the
newly-formed land as the duchy of Nassau. Following the principles of the enlightenment, he
ruled as an enlightened despot while introducing reforms to improve education and drive
forward liberal values through the duchy.
Bibliography
“Confederation of the Rhine: France-Germany [1806-1813]”. Encyclopedia Britannica.
13/07/2016. https://global.britannica.com/topic/Confederation-of-the-Rhine.
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Greenspan, Jesse. “Napoleon’s disastrous invasion of Russia”. History Channel: History in
the Headlines. 14/07/2016. http://www.history.com/news/napoleons-disastrous-invasion-ofrussia-200-years-ago.
“Napoleonic Wars”. West Point Department of History. 15/07/2016.
http://www.westpoint.edu/history/sitepages/napoleonic%20wars.aspx.
Vigil, Jenner. “Napoleon Bonaparte: The World’s Greatest”. The Napoleon Series.
10/07/2016. http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/napoleon/c_greatest.html. 22
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