Napoleon An Enlightened Despot - 1597 Words

Kevin McKenzie Mrs. Drogos AP European History November 15 2014 Napoleon: An Enlightened Despot Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) was undeniably profound in helping to restore order to France following the revolution, the chaotic Jacobin reign of terror, and the weak directory. Through his leadership, France was able to achieve a much more balanced and powerful state, resemblant of the France of previous great rulers, such as Louis XIV. Napoleon used his absolute authority to align France with his his vision, which was one of glory and greatness for both himself and his country. Through many consider him to be a militaristic megalomaniac, Napoleon had a deep interest in Voltairean enlightened despotism and a desire to make France great, combining to result in equality under the law and natural rights for men, as well as an improvement of the economy as a result of tax reform and banking. Inevitably, it must be conceded that Napoleon was a militaristic dictator in some regard, but his work as an enlightened despot outshines this detractor. Undou btedly, Napoleon was ambitious and power hungry. He is quoted as saying, Power is my mistress. I have worked too hard in conquering her to allow anyone to take her from me, or even to covet her (Herold). This describes his attitude toward power well. Immediately after successfully completing a coup d’etat on November 10th, 1799, Napoleon created the Consulate, a system of government wherein he had absolute authority,Show MoreRelatedNapoleon And The Enlightenment1214 Words   |  3 PagesNapoleon And The Enlightenment The enlightenment was a time of great learning throughout Europe during the eighteenth century. Although the period is significant for scientific and other scholastic advancements, it is most important because it allowed for the opening of great minds--such as that of Napoleon Bonaparte. Shortly after this enlightenment made its way through Europe, revolution and civil war ripped through France between 1879 and 1899. The unrest of the time called for a strong rulerRead MoreNapoleon and the Enlightenment Essay examples974 Words   |  4 PagesNapoleon and the Enlightenment The enlightenment was a time of great learning throughout Europe during the eighteenth century. Although the period is significant for scientific and other scholastic advancements, it is most important because it allowed for the opening of great minds#8212;such as that of Napoleon Bonaparte. Shortly after this enlightenment made its way through Europe, revolution and civil war ripped through France between 1879 and 1899. The unrest of the time called forRead More Napoleon Was NOT a Son of the Revolution Essay example770 Words   |  4 PagesReign of Terror. France had dissolved into anarchy, with internal and international turmoil. It was out of the foreign wars that Napoleon came to power. Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power, victory by victory, eventually making himself Emperor of France, creating a strong central government while continuing the foreign wars, creating a mass French Empire. Although Napoleon was a product of the French Revolution and maintained the image as a à ¢â‚¬Å"son of the Revolution,† idealism always fell to pragmatismRead Moredomestic and foreign policies of Napoleon Bonaparte1431 Words   |  6 Pagesthe kings orders. They ended up killing the king and queen, and that is when Napoleon Bonaparte eventually came into the picture as a new leader after assassinating Maximilien Robespierre. In 1797, by the help of Pope Pius VII, Napoleon Bonaparte became first consul after overthrowing the Directory and establishing the Consulate. 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Was he a tortured genius or a blunderer with luck on his side? These discussions are unlikely to be resolved, thanks partlyRead MoreEssay Reveiw4144 Words   |  17 PagesPress: This increased the availability of books which helped to improve the literacy of Europeans. More Europeans could read. Newer ideas were spread which increased desire for education and increased the impact of those ideas. New scientific and enlightened thinkers could spread their ideas. To understand those ideas you needed to understand how to read. 2. Humanism: Focused on the new study of the classical texts and the knowledge that could be gained from it like philosophy. There was a greater