Download Sara Lemmonds Portfolio Part IV 23 avril 2015 Napoleon Bonaparte

Sara Lemmonds
Portfolio Part IV
23 avril 2015
Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15 1769 in Corsica France. He was the fourth
and second surviving son of Carlo Buonaparte and his wife Letizia Ramolino. Napoleon attended
the military college of Brienne until transferred five years later to the military academy of Paris.
Napoleon returned to Corsica in 1786 after the death of his father. He had obtained second
lieutenant of artillery when he graduated from the academy. Upon his return home Napoleon
sided with the Corsican resistance against the French occupation. In April of 1793 a civil war in
Corsica began and Napoleon relocated his family to France where he assumed the French
spelling of his name; Bonaparte.
Napoleon’s return to France meant his return to the military. In 1795 Napoleon saved the
French government from revolutionary forces for which he was rewarded with the honor of
commander of the Army of the interior. He also became a trusted advisor to the Directory, the
country’s ruling power, on military matters. In 1796 Napoleon became commander of the Army
of Italy. He quickly rebuilt the disgruntled and underfed army of 30,000 winning numerous
victories against the Austrians and expanding the French empire. His advantageous marriage to
Josephine de Beauharnais increased his reputation. They were married on March 9, 1796.
Napoleon then went on to occupy Egypt to disrupt the English trade routes leading to India. His
occupation in Egypt led to great loss. On August 1, 1798 Admiral Horatio Nelson’s fleet
destroyed Napoleon’s forces during the battle of the Nile. Napoleon’s military prowess was
harmed by the loss leading to a combined force of Austrian, Russian, British, and Turkish power
forming an alliance against France. In 1799 French forces were defeated in Italy forcing France
to relinquish much of the Italian peninsula.
In June of 1799 a coup in France resulted in the Directory being taken over by the
Jacobins. Napoleon constructed a second coup to place him and two other men into power with a
new government called the consulate. Napoleon’s political takeover resulted in a new
constitution creating the position of first consul which was nothing less than a dictatorship.
Napoleon became the first consul in 1800. The new constitution and government proved popular
with the French people and in 1802 Napoleon was named consul for life and in 1804 he was
named Emperor of France. Under his reign he reformed the country’s economy, legal system,
and educational system. He reinstated Roman Catholicism as the state religion and also founded
the Napoleonic code. The Napoleonic code allowed freedom of religion, forbade privileges based
on birth right, and stated that government jobs only be given to those most qualified. He also
negotiated peace for Europe which only lasted three years leading to war between France and
Britain, Russia, and Austria. Napoleon obtained many victories during these wars expanding the
French empire.
In 1810 he had his marriage to Josephine annulled and married Marie-Louise, the
daughter of the emperor of Austria, in 1811. Napoleon’s military success did not last and large
defeats ensued in 1810. The losses encouraged his enemies which eventually led to Napoleon’s
surrender in 1814 and his exile to the Island of Elba. Napoleon escaped Elba and returned to
power only to relinquish his powers in June 22 of 1815 after a series of several military losses.
The British government sent him into exile once again onto the island of St. Helena. Napoleon
died on May 5, 1821.
Citation
Napoleon. (2015). The Biography.com website. Retrieved 11:29, Apr 23, 2015,
fromhttp://www.biography.com/people/napoleon-9420291.