Clueless that such an Act had been signed and passed, Napoleon continued trying to fend off attackers with his army. He had even reached Fontainebleu before he found out that Paris had been lost. He ordered his troops to charge towards the capital, but his senior officers mutinied against his wishes. Eventually, he was forced to declare his abdication.
Thus, he was compelled to surrender to the allied forces on March 1814, which led to his exile in Elba. This was an island with over twelve thousand inhabitants. In the Treaty of Fontainebleu, the allied forces had him exiled into Elba. They still gave Napoleon the privilege of being titled as an Emperor and sovereignty over the island itself.
By swallowing a pill that he had secretly brought around with him, Napoleon then attempted to kill himself. He did not expect the pill to be less potent than it was when he acquired it so he survived. His wife Marie Louise and son Napoleon II sought refuge in Austria. During his first two months in Elba, Napoleon managed to accomplish creating a small army and navy, developing the iron mines, overseeing new road works, issuing decrees on concerning agriculture, and reformed the island’s educational and legal systems.
To add another heartbreak to ease his sanity off him slowly, he found out that his former wife Josephine already died in France. Upon hearing this news, Napoleon became visibly overwhelmed with grief. He locked himself in his room and adamantly stayed inside for two simultaneous days.
When you have a task to write about important historical figures, bundled with research, reading, selecting what will be included in the work and what will not, you get a great responsibility and stress because of the very fact that you are writing about a person who has, literally, changed the world. You don’t know how and where to start. All you know is that you need to start writing.
Well, I have started and I won’t tell you just yet who that person is. There is something magical in this intriguing history: we can not always know all, and again, when we have a hint of knowledge, we like to talk about history as a teacher of life. Then let's go and learn something!
The roots
Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Throughout its history due to its strategic position Corsica was target of many invaders, especially France and Genoa. Therefore, the life of this picturesque island was marked by numerous rebellions, and in 1729 was transformed into the first, as Corsicans love to say, “Democratic revolution”. It did not make any major changes, except wars in the following decades, but in 1755 the Corsicans still managed to form a government and elect their leader, Pasquale Paoli, son of the leader of the revolution of 1729.
Within its 13 years of independence, Corsica was implementing some kind of experiment conducted in the field of self-government. Babbu (father on Corsican language), as people called Paoli, wanted to impose a hard regime, but also learn the Corsicans, people prone to conflicts and divisions, to rule by themselves. He opened print office, started newspapers and founded the university in the capital of Corteo. Forming the citizens on the island was started, but already ended in 1768 when the Republic of Genoa gives Corsica to France. Superior French army defeated the Corsican in the battle of Ponte Nuovo. Paoli went into exile in England in 1769.
One of the faithful paolista was Carlo-Maria Buonaparte, his close associate, perhaps secretary. He comes from a family of impoverished provincial patricians in which most of the members worked as attorneys. Before marriage Carlo was in love with another woman, without any importance in society, but his family opposed the marriage, so he got married with Maria Letizia Ramolini, a member of the military family. They were bonded more with discontentment of social position rather than love. The couple worked together on social improvement very diligently.
After Paoli’s defeat Carlo continued to fight for the rise on the social ladders: he worked as a prosecutor and judge in the French administration and thanks to that, he was elected Corsican representative at the court of French King Louis XVI. In 1778 has gained title of count. No wonder, therefore, that their children will share a passion for politics, nation, and equality before the law: public and social activity was considered desirable and necessary in their state of mind.
“I was born when the patrie (homeland) was disappearing.”
If you do not know the owner of this famous sentence, you still do not know who the main subject of these lines is. Let me help you:
For the great historical figures many wonder whether they were heroes or villains. The reformers or opportunistic politicians. Romantic idealists unable to make concrete moves or rational leaders who want a better life for their subjects.
Someone was all that and much more: a soldier, an artillery captain, major, lieutenant colonel, general, commander, consul, a superb tactician, military genius, the emperor of more than 70 million people, a dictator whose wars killed about 4 million people, for some historians the greatest military leader in history.
Yes, this is an article about Napoleon Bonaparte.
The title of this chapter, Napoleon wrote in a letter to Paoli in 1789, and tells us his point of view: “Thirty thousand Frenchmen landed on our shores and the throne of freedom was flooded by the sea ofblood: it was a sickening sight that appeared before my eyes,” he wrote in below. Throne of freedom refers to Paoli’s Republican political experiment which was destroyed by the French. Future emperor reveals to us here that his political and patriotic life originated in the patrie.
Real life of Napoleon started in the town of Ajaccio in Corsica on August 15, 1769 as the second child of eight of them. The original name was Napoleone di Buonaparte, on Corsican Nabolione or Nabulione. Later on he will become Napoleon Bonaparte with French overtones.
As the head of the family was not often at home, mother was upbringing their children. She was decisive and strict, honest and children loved her, but at the same time they were afraid of her. Letizia conducted the strongest influence on the young Napoleon, who is the best of all children reacted to her teaching of self-discipline. As he said, success owes to a character formed by his mother who emphasized hard work and suffering without complaint: “Her tenderness was strict ... It was a man's head on the female body”, Napoleon once said.
Napoleon was extremely lively child. On early age he learned to swim, climb the tree and to - fight. Uncontrollable nature was described by his nickname Rabullione (nosey) which he, of course, despised.
Thanks to the noble origin, good monetary security and his father's connections gave him the opportunity for a better education than other Corsican children. When he was five, he went to a small school, and after that was a scholar at King's College in Autun in eastern France. In 1779 he enrolled in a French military school in Brienne-le-Chateau in northeastern France. Before leaving, he had to learn French, because at home he used Corsican-Italian dialect. Whole life Napoleon spoke French with Italian accent and he never properly learned to write it.
During his education he was unhappy, and a loner; shy, unsociable, unpopular and aggressive. Yet all this did not prevent the academic successes. He was the best at math, loved geography, and even more ancient history. He had an excellent ability to remember, he was a generous and rich imagination. He enjoyed in the acquisition of knowledge which is confirmed by the fact that most of the tasks and challenges he handled better than other students. Napoleon said on St. Helen: “I was the poorest among colleagues... they have pocket money, which I've never had. But I was proud and did his best to anyone noticing ... I never learned to laugh and play like other children.”
After the graduation in Brienne in 1784, was admitted to the prestigious Royal Military School in Paris, where the two-year study completed in just one year. He was forty-second among fifty six cadets, and as a 16-year old became one of the youngest officers called to duty. He was assigned to the regiment of La Fere in Valence, southern France, and until the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789 he served in Auxonne (Burgundy, eastern France).
In those years he lived a life of lower officer, poor
and with not so bright look on the future. But those years can be viewed as the most important period in his life due to the crystallization of ideas that he gained by reading many books, but also writing his political views, criticism of religion and the Church, and feelings toward Corsica.
Napoleon wrote that in man’s foundations of “man's natural spirit is the desire for domination” and that “human nature knows no other law except its own interests: to take care of yourself, destroy your enemy, that were his daily tasks."
Fiercely criticizing the monarchy on beginning of Theses on the royal government in which he writes that the royal government is usurpation of the society’s sovereignty, unless it reflects the general will: then can be completely sovereign.”
In these first works of the young officer we see how he was fascinated by the state. In the essay Contesting Roustan, says: “The aim of our government decisively help weak against the strong, make everyone to taste the sweet peace and tranquility, to find the way to happiness.” Here we see the fundamental right of forming the state, but not praise to freedom that implies.
In the same work he wanted to discus if Christianity disturbs “good governance”? He replied with a very clear "Yes". His ideal is a pre-Christian Rome, where there was state religion explaining that it would be better for all that western society without much bloodshed replace Christianity with the state religion. But he says it is no longer possible.
Corsican novel and Letters from Corsica contain Napoleon's criticism of laxity and cowardice of the islanders, their drowning in the French luxury, the loss of the autonomous government, the lack of heroes and heroic sacrifice. Everything he explained in a single sentence: “When there is no more patrie, virtuous patriot must die.”
The French revolution changed his life radically. His focus wason what his Corsican patrie could get. So, after he came to Corsica, Napoleon became a loyal soldier of the Revolution wanting to explain and instill its principles to his people. Among the units of Corsican National Guard he encouraged rebellion against units of the Royal Army, choked the counter-revolutionary rebellion among countrymen and supported civil disobedience. Even among his colleagues in the regiment of La Fere in Ajaccio tried to spread propaganda Revolution often exposing the danger of destroying a military career. The only thing that he didn’t approved in this historical change is public and mass violence which have flared the children of the Revolution.
To save what can be saved, he went to France in 1792 to his regiment where he was promoted to the rank of captain. After that, because of conflicts with moderate Pasquale Paoli, Babbu of Corsica who returned from exile, he had to escape with his family to France in 1793, while his beloved patrie peaked in hands of Great Britain.
Magnificent Italy…
From that moment until his famous highlight as emperor it will take some time, but moments where he shines and shows all his genius followed, thanks to which he took his place under the glorious sky of history.
With the help of Corsican representatives Christoph Saliceti in September 1793 he became commander during the siege of Toulon, a city in southern France who stood up against the revolutionary government, and was occupied by the British. The city is conquered in December of that year. During the battle he was wounded in the thigh and his willpower, persistence, agility and great intellect earned him another promotion to brigadier general with only 24 years.
“There were good Jacobins. At one time, every intelligent man must be Jacobin. So it was with me.” Napoleon was associated with revolutionary leader Maximilien Robespierre. When Robespierre was arrested and executed at the end of July 1794, Napoleon was sacked and arrested in August. That interrupted his political rise, although he was released after two weeks and returned to duty.
The next two offers, command of the artillery of the French West Army and the appointment of infantry generals he refused. He was waiting for his opportunity in which he could excel and then unstoppably grow. Then it happened. In early October 1795 the supporters of monarchy prompted the armed protest in Paris. Defense of headquarters of Revolutionary Assembly, the Convent, is entrusted to him. As an artillery expert, the crowd is scattered by use of artillery and later he boasted that cleaned up the streets with “a whiff of grapeshot”. He was named General Vendemiaire after the first month of the revolutionary calendar because then he quenched the rebellion (October 5).
Thanks to this brilliant action, the new revolutionary government, the Directory, was fond of him, in particular its important member Paul Barras. The same month he became divisional general, and ten days later and overall commander of the army in the country.
Right after he got married with beloved Josephine in March 1796 he had to go to Savona in the southwest of Italy, the headquarters of the French army of Italy which he was a commander. This first Napoleon's invasion of Italy, as noted by a French historian, signaled that “Caesar and Alexander after so many centuries got a successor. “
Against his enemies he stringed all the victories: at Montenottea, Milles, Dega, Arcolei, and battle at Rivoli plain in 1797 was decisive. Napoleon without the knowledge of the Directory signed a truce in Campoformio. The Cisalpine Republicwas declared; Venice, whose possessions gained Austria, ceased to exist. More importantly, peace has ceased to exist the first anti-French coalition that was created in 1792.
... And Mysterious Egypt
Aware of the great reputation that has earned by conquering Italy, Napoleon Bonaparte was careful what he was doing; he would not directly enter into the central political stage, and wasn’t ready to independently take any initiative and kept away from all fractions and divisions. On the other hand, Directory wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible, fearing of his growing fame and power. As the only opponent of France was the United Kingdom, fascinated by the East, Bonaparte's presented a plan to Directory of attacking British interests through the conquest of Egypt so that could cut British access to India. The Directory approved the action.
In May 1798 Malta fell without a battle. Entering the Alexandria, Napoleon achieved his glorious victory at the Pyramids against the Mamelukes cavalry (descendants of freed slaves - members of the Guard of Egyptian rulers who took power in 15th century). Infront of the pyramids he managed in one sentence to motivate his troops: “Soldiers! From the top of the pyramids to 40 centuries watch us! “
Along with this Egyptian adventure goes one mysterious story. When Napoleon visited the Great Pyramid he asked to be left alone in the royal chamber. After he came back, he was visibly shaken, but did not say what he had seen and not even wanted to be mentioned ever again. At the request of friend he just said, “No, there's no point. Anyway, you would not have believed me. “Even on his deathbed he did not reveal what was happened to him. Some people think that he experienced a revelation about his future.
However, Egypt was a military failure. English fleet under the command of Admiral Horatio Nelson destroys the fleet of the French Republic at Abukir putting an end to the French naval presence in the Middle East. Napoleon's troops were decimated various epidemics, thirst and heat. In addition, a second anti-French coalition was managed to form which resulted in a series of French defeats in central and southern Italy.
As misfortune never comes alone, Napoleon heard of dissatisfaction of French government which proved to be weak and ineffective. Bonaparte suddenly decides to leave Egypt in October 1799 and, because of fears that he will meet with the English fleet, secretly unloaded in Frejus, France.
Change of the world started
By the time he returned to France, the situation on the battlefield was better, but the constant instability of the situation because of corrupt and incompetent government Directory caused the fatigue of people who wanted inner peace and order. Thermidors (rich bourgeoisie which took power after the overthrow of the Jacobin dictatorship) suppressed in blood all rebellions and did not want the return of the Jacobin Constitution, and feared the victory of royalists and the restoration of the monarchy.
Because of the military victories and heroic reputation in society, Bonaparte is seen as the person who will again impose peace to Europe. That possible merit he didn’t want to share with Directory, so he connected with the supporters of the coup d’état: members of Directory Joseph Sieyes and Joseph Fouche, Foreign Minister Charles Talleyrand and his brother Lucien, President of the Council of five hundred. The conspiracy ended on November 9 when General Bonaparte with the help of the army overthrew the Directory and took power. He established the Consulate, where Napoleon was the first consul, and Sieyes and Roger Ducos temporary consuls.
New (military) victories
Although the majority of French society supported Napoleon's rule, it also had its opponents, the royalists and Jacobins. Most daring assassination attempt took place on Christmas Eve in 1800 in Paris when Napoleon drove to the Paris Opera to watch the world premiere of the oratorio Creation by composer Joseph Haydn. As the carriage of the first consul moved down the street suddenly flew into the air circuits with complex barrels full of gun powder, but conspirator is too late lit the wick. Angry Bonaparte immediately took advantage of this event to destroy the political opposition but in purges he killed the guilty and the innocent ones.
In order to return the French acquisitions in Italy, in May 1800 attacked Austria which makes his second invasion of Italy. Crossing the Alps, fought the Austrian army at Montebello and Hohenlinden, and in a decisive battle at Marengo. This leads to the peace between France and Austria declared in 1801 in Lunéville confirming the status of Treaty of Campoformio.
Confusion, Confession and Conviction Page 29