One of Napoleon Bonaparte’s greatest achievements was the fame he gained as a military leader and commander. His brilliant commanding skills gained him the victory of five coalitions, from 1792 to 1809, in a row as well as ending the 850-year-old Holy Roman Empire. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo, said ‘I used to say of him that his presence on the field made the difference of forty thousand men’. There were many reasons why Bonaparte was so successful in his military campaigns. Napoleon as a leader treated his soldiers as the most important members of his army. He provided improved food and provided regular pay as well as financial incentives. Bonaparte is remembered for his strategies and new and innovative military tactics. His army was usually outnumbered in many battles with the coalitions, however he still managed to win the battles most of the time because of well-timed and well-constructed battle tactics. The Battle of Austerlitz is a prime example of Napoleon’s military genius where his army of around 72,000 men decisively defeated 85,000 Austro-Russian soldiers with impressive statistics. Approximately 9000 French troops were killed or wounded while 16,000 Austrian and Russian soldiers were killed or wounded. The French also managed to capture 12,000 soldiers while the Allies only managed to capture 573. Not only this, but the Allies also lost 180 artillery pieces and 50 standards while the French lost only one standard. Napoleon’s military achievements were not all on land. At sea, he managed to set up a blockade called the Continental System which prevented European countries from trading with Britain. However, the economic blockade was not successful and only caused discontent with the various countries which agreed with the blockade.

Bonaparte’s achievements with social reform were not only felt immediately in France and the rest of Europe, but lasted for a long time after his downfall. Because of Napoleon’s lack of religious faith, he no longer made Catholicism the required religion in France and his conquered countries and made the state of France more tolerant to other religions. Napoleon signed the Concordat with Pope Pius VII in 1801. This settlement recognised that Catholicism was the religion of the majority of France and accepted that the Pope was the head of this religion. It was also agreed that the French government would continue paying the clergy. Protestants were allowed to worship freely, providing they remained loyal to France. Other social reforms implemented by Napoleon included the abolition of feudal rights, restoration of nobility, rewriting some of the constitutions and constructed the ‘Code Napoleon’ which rewrote the constitutional rights of the French. The code forbade privileges based on birth, allowed freedom of religion, and specified that government jobs go to the most qualified of people. The Napoleonic Code was a fundamental change in the nature of the civil law system; it made laws much clearer and much more accessible. Napoleon also managed to control the media, something nobody had ever done before. In 1799, there were 70 newspapers in France but by 1804, there were only 4 left. Napoleon even wrote some of the articles himself and owned some of the newspaper companies. Not only this, but Napoleon also managed to suppress freedom of speech which was one of the Revolution’s principles. He established a large secret police force to keep a close watch on political opponents of the regime.  Anybody who spoke against him was arrested and taken as a political prisoner. By 1814, there were several thousand political prisoners in the country. Napoleon also improved education in France by establishing primary and secondary schools in many parts of the country. He later established a school for training teachers and a national university in 1808.

Debt was the main cause of the French Revolution, which meant Napoleon had to reform and improve the economy or risk being overthrown himself. To solve the financial problems facing the government, Napoleon introduced a more effective method of tax collection based on centralised control. Instead of being collected by local officials, tax was now collected by representatives of the central government. This achieved greater speed and efficiency. He also reintroduced indirect taxes on goods such as salt from which he used to raise money for his extravagant military spending. In 1800 he established the Bank of France which was a new financial institution to help stabilise the country. Napoleon also encouraged the improvement of agriculture and the expansion of industry. He redistributed land to peasants whose lives improved considerably under his rule. Other ways he improved the economy included his encouragement of French manufacturing by imposing tariffs on imported manufactured goods. Extraordinary progress was made in the textile industry and a society for encouragement of nation industry was established. However, French foreign trade did not improve during Napoleon’s rule due to British naval supremacy.

Napoleon is remembered for his massive changes to the political systems and organisation of France and Europe. Bonaparte abolished democracy, which was one of the principles of the Revolution and also became the Emperor of the French. The abolition of democracy caused France’s media to be entirely controlled by the government, similar to today’s communism.  He brought the Pope from Italy to crown him. On December 2, 1804 Napoleon was crowned Emperor of the French. The coronation itself cost over 8.5 million francs. Other political achievements included the formation through political treaties of a serious of satellites states serving French interests. A prime example of these types of treaties is the Treaties of Tilsit which were two agreements signed by the Russian Tsar Alexander, Napoleon and the leaders of Prussia. In the two treaties, Napoleon arranged an alliance with Russia and stripped Prussia of about half its territory. Russia and France agreed to share the territory which Prussia had to give up. Napoleon created the Kingdom of Westphalia. Prussia’s army was reduced to 40,000 and had to pay a grand sum of 100,000,000 francs. The treaty humiliated Prussia and caused hatred for Napoleon. Bonaparte would crown his relatives as the rulers of newly conquered nations. However, Napoleon often used conquered countries as satellite states to support his never-ending wars of conquest rather than improve and reform them which resulted in Napoleon to be even more hated.

Although Napoleon was a dictator, he did provide the most effective leadership that France had experienced for a century. Napoleon was both a great administrator and a brilliant military leader. After the Napoleonic Regime, France and Europe would never be the same. Napoleon completely readjusted the map of Europe, changing political boundaries through political treaties and arranged marriages. France itself was left after his second abdication with political turmoil for many years to follow. What is important about Napoleon is the legacy that he left in France as well as Europe were his social, economic and religious reforms. France now had a central banking system, a clear constitution that gave many more rights to the individual and the freedom of religious choice not seen in many other countries during this period. Although Napoleon’s career ended with his exile on St Helena, his military prowess and strategies are still studied today and have formed a place in military history.  

The other great powers of Europe, most of which had been humbled by Napoleon at one time or another, recognised that this was the opportunity to join forces again and put an end to Napoleon once and for all. Thus began the War of the Sixth Coalition. In central Europe, Russia, Austria and Prussia (the pre-eminent of the German states, Germany not being a unified country at this time) formed several large armies and marched into the territories of the German states that supported Napoleon. In the climactic Battle of Liepzig (16 to 19 October 1813) Napoleon managed to extract his army from being entrapped, but his retreat prompted the other German states to switch to the Allied side.

Britain was also a member of the Sixth Coalition, fighting alongside the Spanish and Portuguese against the French in Spain: the Peninsular War, in which Sir Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, made his name.

Napoleon managed to stave off the Allies in 1813 but they pressed in on France again in 1814. Even then, he won some stunning victories against individual Allied armies. However the Allies adopted the strategy of pushing on several fronts, pressing hardest wherever Napoleon was not present. Soon the Allies were invading France and in a treaty of 9th March 1814 they agreed to stay united until Napoleon himself was deposed. This war was personal.

On 30th March 1814 Allied troops entered Paris. Napoleon still believed he could eject them and restore the French Empire but his generals, the Marshals of France, disagreed and mutinied. On 11th April Napoleon reluctantly entered into negotiations with the Allies and on 13th April he abdicated, agreeing to be exiled to the Mediterranean island of Elba.

With Napoleon gone, the leadership and borders of France had to be sorted out, and this was the purpose of the Treaty of Paris, signed on this day, 30th May, in 1814. It gave back to France territories recently conquered by the Allies which France had held before the French Revolution and restored the French monarchy to the throne. However to prevent further trouble, sizable Allied occupation armies remained in France.

Napoleon bidding farewell to his guard before being exiled to Elba (painting by Antoine Montfort, public domain reproduction from Wikimedia Commons)

The ordinary people, war weary, must have breathed a sigh of relief. However it was premature. In less than one year Napoleon would escape from exile and reignite Europe in the brief conflagration that ended on the battlefield of Waterloo.

Napoleon lived an interesting life from an historical perspective: perhaps most interesting, though, to the audience who reads his biography than viewed through the eyes of Napoleon. Since the historical figure was so full of ambition; it is envisioned doubtful he had little chance to evaluate the quality of his life—he was too busy wishing to possess France. The following provides somewhat of a chronological history as to the life of France’s eventual emperor; up to the time when he formed the Consulate. His military successes were many; and his background was disciplined. Perhaps somewhere in these early beginnings; you’ll be able to see why France’s eventual emperor was so infused with opportunism and ambition.

As an aside, Napoleon’s name was originally of the Italian form; however it was written in the “French” near the end of the 18th century. In other words, the Italian spelling was used for several decades (initially).

1. Napoleon was born in 1769 and passed away in 1821. He was ruler of France between 1804 and 1814. He attempted to resume his rule and was successful at it for a very brief time, from March to June of 1815.

2. Much like French history, Napoleon’s life is set on a stage of high intense militaristic drama: This fact makes for (again) a very intriguing biographical sketch of the historic French leader.

3. Aside from the (ever so-slight digression) the chronology of Bonaparte continues. It should be noted, before resuming; the place of birth of Napoleon was Corsica. He was the son of Maria Letizia Buonaparte; and Carlo Buonaparte. (Notice the Italian form as to the name.)

4. Bonaparte received his education in military schools located within France: This schooling obviously provided him with a firm foundation as it pertained to his later life.

5. Bonaparte, further was part of a family of eight children. The family was considered noble; however, not wealthy. The fact, just noted, instilled within the future Emperor of France, a strong sense of obligation to his family throughout his life. Backing up a bit, as to education, Bonaparte received his military education at the Brienne-le-Chateau and Paris.

6. The young Bonaparte was assigned as (a) second lieutenant of the Artillery in the year: 1785.

7. Bonaparte (next) stood in-command of France’s Artillery (forces) and proved instrumental in the successful French take-over of Toulon. You, may note, Toulon at the time of the take over was occupied by the British. As a result of the future emperor’s success: he received promotion to that of Brigadier General.

8. Next, in 1795, the French government (then termed: The Directory) made Bonaparte a Commander of their Army of the Interior. Subsequently, he was sent the following year (1796), to the north of Italy to engage in war with Austria. The preceding campaign is associated (historically) with the War of the First Coalition. The war began in 1793; with Spain, Holland, Sardinia (joining after 1794); Great Britain, Prussia and Austria on one side; and France on the other.

1. Backing up a bit, prior to his participation in the latter-mentioned campaign; Bonaparte married (his famous partner) Josephine. Josephine was the widow of Alexandre Vicomte de Beauharnais.

2. The following reviews Napoleon’s outstanding militaristic success, as it pertains to the Italian Campaign (just mentioned). The dates of this campaign were: April of 1796 to October of 1797.

• The first Napoleonic victory involved Bonaparte’s defeat of the Sardinians. As part of this victory, Napoleon was able to get their king to accept an armistice agreement; or more precisely forced the king to sign it.

• Next, as it pertains to the Italian campaign, the future French leader defeated Austria on May 10, 1796 at Lodi. He then took over Milan (Italy); next winning other victories at Arcole (dates: November 15-19); Rivoli (date: January 14, 1797) and capturing Mantua on February 2nd. As a result of Napoleon’s preceding victories, the Austrians agreed to initial peace negotiations. The initial discussion took place with respect to “peace” at Leoben Austria.

• The Austrians, on October 17th signed the Treaty of Campoformio. The French, upon the signing of the treaty, were granted possession of the Austrian Netherlands. The Austrian Netherlands was the land mass (known today) as (the country of) Belgium. Bonaparte returned to France in 1797.

After peace was accomplished with Austria, his original intent was to take over Britain; however, he gave up on the plan after deciding his naval capacity was not sufficient. As a result, he came up with a more indirect course of action. He decided to attack the colonial interests of the British within the Middle East. Subsequently, he first overtook portions of Egypt. In review of that particular invasion, Napoleon set sail from Toulon on May 19, 1798; landing on the shores of Alexandria on July 1, 1798. Once in Egypt, the eventual French leader, successfully defeated Egypt’s forces, during (what is known as) the Battle of the Pyramids. The victory occurred on July 21st.

The future emperor of France then proved successful in the capture of Cairo (Egypt). However that said, it may be noted, the British were successful in destroying France’s Naval Fleet-which had carried Napoleon’s army to these shores during what is known (historically) as the Battle of the Nile. Britain, during this engagement, were under the direction of Horatio Nelson. The Battle of the Nile took place on the dates of: August 1st through 2nd of 1798.

At this point, the eventual French leader was totally cut off with respect to communications from the country of France. Nevertheless, Bonaparte saw fit to extend French dominance in the area by taking over Syria. He proved successful in his endeavor until meeting with opposition from British forces at Acre. Admiral Sidney Smith and his squadron successfully defended the seaport against Napoleon’s advance. As a result, Bonaparte went back to Egypt. Here he proved, once again, victorious in his defeat of Turkish forces at what is now Abu Qir Bay. The date of this successful (military) endeavor is July 25, 1799.

All these victories set aside; Napoleon realized his position in Egypt was not (truly) justified. Further, during this period, a Second Coalition had developed comprised of Great Britain, Russia and Austria. It was at this juncture the future Italian leader discontinued his pursuit of inhabiting Egypt. He was able to make it through British lines on August 4th (going unnoticed). The future emperor of France made it back to his country on October 8th; always to be remembered as France’s Hero of the Italian Campaign.

In the past, many authors have written about the narcissistic leaders of their generation. Among these respected authors from the past are Sigmund Freud, G.W.F Hegel, and Friedrich Nietzsche. In “Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego”, Freud said the leader’s intellectual acts are strong and independent even in isolation and his will need no reinforcement from others. According to Freud, narcissistic leaders love no one but themselves or other people only insofar as they serve their needs.

Narcissism is often concealed by powerful and influential leadership. Followers even regard these extraordinary leaders as their heroes. Unbeknownst to these loyal lackeys, behind that strong leaders is a smoldering passion from a bloated self-created love for oneself. Alexander, Caesar, and Napoleon are three of the leaders in history believed to be narcissistic by many authors. In his “Lectures on the Philosophy of History”, G.W.F. Hegel referred to Alexander, Caesar, and Napoleon as narcissists disguised by their strong leadership and prominence.

Hegel believed that they might all be called heroes, in a sense that they have obtained their intentions and their vocation from a disguised source and not from the calm normal course of things, authorized by the existing order. Napoleon Bonaparte himself said that  it was precisely that evening in Lodi that he came to believe in himself as an unusual person and became consumed with the ambition to do the great things that until then had been but a fantasy.

Friedrich Nietzsche mentioned in “The Genealogy of Morals” that narcissistic leaders are such incalculable beings.  Without cause or reason, narcissistic leaders come like fate insensitively and without alleged reason. Nietzsche compared them to lightning that suddenly appears in an extremely terrible, swift, forceful and unusual manner making them abhorred. The terrible egotism of the artist of the brazen glance moves them. They think that they know themselves to be justified for all eternity in their masterpiece as the mother is justified in her child.  Nietzsche went on to call them great deceivers who owe their power to a remarkable process is at work. Overcome by their belief in themselves, these deceivers wield  their dreadful voice, expression, and gestures in the very act of deception with all its preparations.  It is this persuasive belief that speaks to the vulnerable audience like a miracle.

At present, narcissistic leaders exist in the form of CEOs who are transforming industries of the modern generation. Prominent CEOs of today such as Bill Gates, Andy Grove, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Jack Welch wield their power and influence to manipulate the global audience whether in a good or in bad way. With their own publicists, books are written in their name and spontaneous interviews are conducted to actively promote their personal philosophies.

Top international magazines are frequented by the faces of today’s narcissistic leader. The world tycoons of business in general are directly and indirectly establishing and molding the objectives of every person as an individual and the global audience as a group. World leaders of today do not necessarily have to be the political leaders as compared to their counterparts in the past. They, in fact, have no political positions at all.

Whether the modern narcissistic leaders have political connections or not, one thing is for sure. They are wealthy enough to make every single person in the world, from grade school kids to lawmakers, listen to what they have to say. More often than not, these leaders have each a success story to tell. This gives them the credibility to speak about the ladders to success in life, which is generally about getting rich, though sometimes merely implied.

This very success wealthy people have gave them this exaggerated love for themselves. People listen to them. People want to befriend them. People want to know their secrets. People want to be like them. Thus, it is also safe to blame these fawning lackeys for creating the megalomaniac imaginary self in these world leaders.

In the past, war heroes existed. Among them narcissistic leaders, strongly influential enough to convince people to fight for their territory and even sacrifice their lives. In the modern times, extremely wealthy people emerged as the card players of world economy. They wield their success stories, money, and fame to make people follow them. In the future, it is expected that narcissistic leaders will continue to control the prominent tip of the pyramid. This is an indication that it takes a narcissist to be a leader, be it a good one or not.

                Before noon time on May 10th, the French vanguard had reached the city of Lodi. Here, they found the Austrian rearguard on the other bank, defending the bridge. To the left of the Austrian position was stationed some cavalry at Cadella Fontana, so as to prevent a passage and to protect the rearguard in its retreat, which was expected to take place the next day. To the right of the Austrian position at Corte del Palasio was the main Austrian force, to block any French attempt to cross the fordable stream.

                On the Austrian position was some fourteen guns trained on the bridge, supported by nine battalions of infantry. Interestingly enough, Napoleon mistook the rearguard for the main Austrian army – a similar mistake which would take place 10 years later, at Jena. Determining to show his men that there were no obstacles for the Armee d’Italie and since he ran no risk for failure, Napoleon took the grenadiers of Dallemagne and threw them into Lodi, which was quickly taken. Meanwhile, Massena was coming up with his six thousand men in the rear from Pusterlengo, and Augereau was coming with an equal number from Borghetto. Thus, the Austrians stationed in Lodi retired across the bridge.

                Now, Bonaparte occupied the front of the town and placed his artillery on the bank opposite of the Austrians. A cannonade by the French opened up; this had the effect of driving the Austrian batteries from their posts and buying more time for Napoleon to bring up his other divisions. Beaumont was then sent upstream to cross at a ford near Montaroso with 2,000 cavalrymen, to ride down the Austrian right flank. Napoleon, in order to encourage the troops of the Army of Italy, assembled the grenadiers in a deep column at 7PM, and threw them upon the bridge with a battalion of carabineers at the head. They took off at the double-quick across the 300 foot bridge, to the shout of “Vive la Republique!”

                A terrific fire of grapeshot and canister now came from the Austrian guns, which had been brought up again and well posted so as to command the bridge. With this fire, the entire head of the French column was swept away and the brave grenadiers wavered, but were instantly rallied by their officers: Dallemagne at the head and Massena close at hand. Making their way through the piles of dead and wounded, the battalions of grenadiers fell upon the Austrian guns, bayoneted the crews and captured every piece. This assault was aided by the fact that a portion of their comrades had dropped from the bridge onto islands in the Po; finding that they could wade to the other bank, these grenadiers acted as skirmishers and opened a lively fire.

                With the first Austrian line being broken, Massena crossed and deployed the grenadiers on the Austrian’s left and right. The French gave the second Austrian line cold steel, and routed them. The Austrian position was taken, and in addition to fourteen guns, thirty ammunition carts were taken. After uselessly throwing in his cavalry, Sebottendorf, the commander of the Austrian rearguard, retired with a loss of 2,000 men.

What was the situation in France before Napoleon took power in 1799? France had experienced the revolution in 1789 and had gone through several different types of government. France was changed, during the revolution, from a monarchy-governed state to a republic, to a revolutionary government to being ruled by the directory, a group of five men who were elected by a council. It was this government that Napoleon overthrew by plotting with members of the directory and his brother, who held the position of speaker in the Council of Five Hundred. The directory was overthrown and was replaced by the Consulate, with Napoleon running everything as First Consul. Five years after the overthrowing of the directory, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of France, and the story has it that he seized the crown out of the hands of Pope Pius VII to avoid subjugation to the authority involved there – many of these acts have lead me personally to believe that his seizure of power was more tyrannical in nature than heroic.

     Napoleon was a great general and a true master of stratagem; it was his strategies and tactics that allowed him to conquer most of Europe through a series of wars and battles. He was, more often than not, victorious, and his actions in battle were seemingly very heroic. Long before Napoleon was a general, he was a lowly artillery commander who battled in the siege of Toulon; it was his plan that led to the capture of the city. During the battle he was wounded in the thigh, and after his victory was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. Many of his actions and decisions in battle could be viewed as tyrannical, such as his re-establishment of slavery in the French colonial territories. When his army was retreating from Russia, suffering from plague and cold, he had many of the sick men and stragglers poisoned to avoid them falling into the hands of the Russians. It may have been a sacrifice for his country, but he was still killing off his own men to avoid them getting captured, which is, presumably, the act of a tyrant. He was apparently ruthless, and it was this attribute combined with superior stratagem and strength of arms that allowed Napoleon to win so many battles.

     To many of the conquered countries, Napoleon was indeed considered a tyrant. The British considered him a ravenous conqueror, and a nursery rhyme suggested that he ate children, warning youngsters of the Bonaparte Bogeyman. They propagandized Napoleon as being freakishly short and many cartoons frequently mocked his diminutiveness. He was often caricatured with a ridiculously large hat and belly for such a short man. I suppose it’s just the fate of any world figure, tyrant or no: to be made fun of for every little shortcoming that you possess. It’s as true today as it was two hundred years ago.

     My conclusion is, though Napoleon possesses many heroic deeds and attributes, he gives me reason to believe that he is more of a tyrant than a hero. It seems like he wished to win at almost any cost, sacrificing the lives of his men in bloody battles and campaigns. He even had his men kidnap the Pope at one point; forcing the evangelical leader to travel with him to adopt policies and gain power. Despite his tyrannical side, Napoleon was and remains to this day, a symbol of military genius and political power, and many of his contributions to Europe, such as the Napoleonic Code, have gone unrivalled. He was truly a great man, hero or tyrant.

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The Emperor of third century Rome decreed that the prices of various goods should be fixed by the Emperor, and that anyone selling at a higher price would be put to death, so people started stock-piling all kinds of goods. Those who had traded in them refused to sell at low fixed prices. His response to this was to make it law that stock stock-pilers and those who refused to run shops and stalls would be executed.

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So, they had economic problems way back then but their methods were designed to wipe out the problem completely.  Imagine the outcry if it became law that all those who sold things at inflated prices were executed. It would  certainly sort out a few economic problems right across the world.

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  In Ancient China, by law, doctors would only be paid if their patients recovered and their problem was solved. If they didn’t improve, the doctor had to pay them. This sounds like a sure fire way to make certain that the doctors studied hard and always did the best they could for their patients. Then there’s the question of patients with terminal conditions. I wonder if the doctors bothered with them at all, if they had no chance of being paid. Would we get better health care if modern day doctors were paid on results?

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 During the eighteen hundreds, in England, if you attempted to commit suicide and failed, you were put to death. So, whichever way it went you got what you wanted. Too bad if you changed your mind at the last minute.

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If you lived in Scotland, during the middle ages, it was illegal to be intoxicated if you were in charge of a cow.  This law has never been repealed.  It sounds as though intoxicated cattle herders, or milkers were a problem in Scotland at this time, so the law stepped in to sort it out.  (It’s those three legged milking stools those pose the biggest problem if you’ve had a Scotch whisky, or two.)

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Sticking a postage stamp bearing the Queen’s head onto a letter the wrong way up is an act of treason in England. You can still be imprisoned in the Tower of London, where many a traitor has lost his or her head, if you are found guilty of treason. The law is still on the statute books.

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There is still a law in France which stems from the Napoleonic days.  You must not name a pig Napoleon and doing so is punishable by death.  There must have been a problem with people doing this, or the law would never have been made.  Perhaps the French peasants of Napoleon’s day showed their discontent in this way.

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   In Ancient Rome, the Emperor Claudius believed that married men would not want to leave their families, so he banned marriage. Christian priest Valentine secretly married people who still wanted this and was summarily executed.  (This is the true root of St. Valentine’s Day.)

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 In London, England, it is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament. I wonder what the penalty is.  Off with his head!

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  In England and Wales, there is still a law on the statute books that allows a pregnant woman to relieve herself wherever she wants to.The mental picture of a crowded city centre and all those pregnant ladies taking advantage of their legal right requires no further description.