Ms. Eileen Chubik Kwis
World History 638
5 March 2012
Napoleon: History’s Greatest Enigma
Napoleon Bonaparte is considered one of history 's greatest heroes and also one of its most contemplated leaders. Some people see him as a child of the enlightenment, preserving the accomplishments of the French Revolution, and exporting the ideas of liberty, equality, and nationalism to the rest of Western Europe making him a hero. Others argue that he was a ruthless tyrant who trampled on the very ideals for which the Revolution had been fought. Yet, Napoleon showed more accomplishments in his life to make France a better country. A hero is defined as, "a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities," (www.merriam-webster.com) and these noble qualities are just what Napoleon had. He had audacity and was not afraid of others even though his stature would appear quite contrary. Moreover, he was decisive which gave the citizens of France the sense of national identity and the pride they needed. Finally, he was caring for his people to gain their support and made France a better place for even the poor. Napoleon was a hero to France and its people and should be remembered as so. “Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms,” (Aristotle). Many would say Napoleon is not a hero, but rather a tyrant because his foreign policy killed many people due in part to wars and mistakes made by Napoleon due to his decisiveness. Some would say that he spread propaganda and was someone who beguiled the French public into believing he was the perfect ruler for them. Any person who says these things has been misled. There has never been great change in history without few casualties. His foreign policy helped him expand France and allow the people of his country to gain nationalism to become a united nation. Napoleon used propaganda only to gain the trust of his people so he can contribute for the best of his country. Trust is the first step between a leader and his people to step forward to evoke great change towards a positive direction. Moreover, Napoleon was a brilliant military genius; Napoleon 's audacity won many battles to expand France. His use of cunning warfare and strategy during many battles allowed him to be seen as a hero all over Europe. Although his army was outnumbered by the Austrians and Russians in December 2, 1805, Napoleon 's brilliant strategies resulted in the downfall of the countering armies in the Battle of Austerlitz. After winning many battles, he grew France by signing treaties with other countries with whom he had occupied. Napoleon made his brother Joseph, king of Naples, himself King of Italy, and allowed his other brother Louis to become King of Holland. Napoleon attained these lands through his strength and daringness. The fact that he won so many battles gave France’s Third Estate people something to be proud of. Napoleon 's care for his people was his greatest attribute and legacy to France. His domestic policies had such a colossal impact on the flow of life in France that they are used to this very day in the modern world. Through his domestic policy, Napoleon devised the Bank of France, and by doing so, he stabilized the French economy where as the previous leaders of France such as King Louis XVI had failed. Napoleon insisted that equality must be the first element for education. The reform in education that Napoleon broached in 1802 named Lycées allowed this equality to take place and therefore enhancing the method of learning for all of the citizens. Finally the serious cleft with the Church, created during the French Revolution, was mended when The Concordat of 1801 was suggested by Napoleon. Mending the break between the Church and State allowed for religious freedom and tolerance which breathed life into the beliefs within the people of France. This contribution to France concluded with domestic tranquility, which was ultimately what the Revolution was fought for.
Napoleon Bonaparte should be considered a hero because of all that he has accomplished and done for not only France, but a large part of Europe as well. Using his decisiveness, his domestic policies furthered the advancement of France by giving the people of the country what they longed for, which was equality. Furthermore, Napoleon gave them care in the form of an education system. Lastly, by being a military genius because of his audacity and winning so many key battles for his country, he gained his well-deserved respect around Europe. By giving the French society some nationalism, it made way of living better for all. Giving the nation something to be proud of was Napoleon 's goal. “A hero has faced it all: he need not be undefeated, but he must be undaunted,” (Andrew Bernstein) and what better person to fit this portraiture than Napoleon Bonaparte; ruler and long remembered hero of France.
Works Cited
BBC. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821). BBC, 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/bonaparte_napoleon.shtml>.
Cody, David. “French Revolution.” The Victorian Web. Hartwick Coll., 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.victorianweb.org/history/hist7.html>.
Faculty.ucc.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://faculty.ucc.edu/egh-damerow/french_revolution.htm>.
“France Under Napoleon III Nation Building in Italy.” Historydoctor.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.historydoctor.net/Advanced%20Placement%20European%20History/Notes/france_under_napoleon_iii_and_Unification_of_Italy.htm>.
“Hero Quotes.” Brainy Quotes. BookRags Media Network, 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/hero.html>. www.merriam-webster.com. merriam.webster.com, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2012. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/>.
Cited: BBC. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821). BBC, 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/bonaparte_napoleon.shtml>. Cody, David. “French Revolution.” The Victorian Web. Hartwick Coll., 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.victorianweb.org/history/hist7.html>. Faculty.ucc.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://faculty.ucc.edu/egh-damerow/french_revolution.htm>. “France Under Napoleon III Nation Building in Italy.” Historydoctor.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.historydoctor.net/Advanced%20Placement%20European%20History/Notes/france_under_napoleon_iii_and_Unification_of_Italy.htm>. “Hero Quotes.” Brainy Quotes. BookRags Media Network, 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/hero.html>. www.merriam-webster.com. merriam.webster.com, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2012. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/>.
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