Who was Napoleon? The rise to power
France had a great revolution in 1789 and then years of trouble. Napoleon Bonaparte, a clever army officer, became famous for his wins. In 1799 he took power and became First Consul. In 1804 he made himself Emperor of the French.
He built a strong state: a national bank, new schools and one system of tax collection.
The Civil Code and the empire
The Civil Code of 1804 (Napoleonic Code) said that all men are equal before the law, that property is protected and that old feudal rights are gone. Many countries copied parts of it.
His empire had three layers:
- France itself, with the lands joined to it.
- Allied states that had to obey and send soldiers.
- Kingdoms ruled by his relatives, such as Spain, Holland and Westphalia.
The Continental System (1806) tried to stop all European trade with Britain, his strongest enemy at sea.
The Napoleonic wars
From 1803 to 1815 Europe was in almost constant war. Britain, Austria, Russia and Prussia formed several coalitions (groups of countries fighting together).
- 1805 Austerlitz: a great French win over Austria and Russia.
- 1807 Tilsit: peace with Russia and Prussia.
- 1812: Napoleon invades Russia. The army marches to Moscow, then freezes and starves on the long way back.
- 1813 Leipzig: the "Battle of the Nations". Many countries fight together and win.
- 1814: he gives up the throne and is sent to the island of Elba.
- 1815 Waterloo: he returns for the "Hundred Days" but is beaten and sent to St Helena.
The wars also woke up national feeling: people in the conquered lands began to ask for their own states.
Why did Napoleon fall?
Three reasons: the Russian campaign cost him most of his army; Britain never gave up and the Continental System hurt his own allies too; and national feeling grew in Spain, Germany and Russia, so people fought back.
The Congress of Vienna (1814โ1815)
Leaders and diplomats met in Vienna. The main ones were Austria (Metternich), Russia (Tsar Alexander I), Prussia, Britain and, soon, France.
Their three aims:
- Balance of power: no single country should be strong enough to rule all Europe.
- Legitimacy: bring back the old royal families.
- Security: put strong states around France.
It kept the peace among the great powers for many years. But it ignored many people's wishes for freedom and national states, which led to later revolutions. More about the settlement: see our lesson on the Congress of Vienna.
Try it
Draw the tower. On paper draw a line from 1799 to 1815. Mark 1804, 1805, 1807, 1812, 1813, 1815 and draw a bar above each: tall at 1807 and 1812, short at 1815. Predict first: in which year was his reach biggest? Then check with the slider in the 3D.
Key formulas and definitions
- 1799 First Consul โ 1804 Emperor โ 1805 Austerlitz โ 1807 Tilsit โ 1812 Russia โ 1813 Leipzig โ 1814 Elba โ 1815 Waterloo
- Congress of Vienna (1814โ15): balance of power + legitimacy + security
- Key terms: coalition, Civil Code, Continental System, balance of power
Worked examples
1. How many years did Napoleon rule as Emperor, from 1804 to 1814?
1814 โ 1804 = 10 years (he came back for about 100 days in 1815).
2. Why is the Civil Code important?
It gave equal laws, protected property and ended feudal rights. Many countries copied it, so it spread new ideas even after his fall.
3. Why did the great powers want a "balance of power"?
They had just fought 12 years of wars with one very strong ruler. If power is shared in a balance, no one country can easily start a war to rule everyone.
Common mistakes
- Thinking Napoleon was a king by birth. He was an army officer who took power and crowned himself.
- Mixing Waterloo (1815, final defeat) with Leipzig (1813) and Russia (1812).
- Saying the Congress of Vienna was a battle. It was a peace meeting of diplomats.
- Thinking France was wiped out at Vienna. France was made smaller but stayed a great power.