Jonah Patel
Napoleon Bonaparte was a prominent military and political leader who rose to power in France during the tumultuous period following the French Revolution. His rule, which lasted from 1799 to 1815, with a brief interruption in 1814, significantly impacted the country's political landscape and left a lasting legacy. One of the intriguing questions surrounding Napoleon's reign is whether he established a constitutional monarchy or veered towards absolute monarchy or dictatorship. This topic sparks fascinating discussions, as it involves examining Napoleon's actions, the evolving political landscape of France, and the complexities of his leadership.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Monarchy | Nationalist Monarchy |
| Rule Based On | French Revolution, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen |
| Rule Style | Absolutist |
| Power | Dictatorial, All decisions were taken without consultation |
| Title | Emperor of the French |
| Rule Duration | 1804-1815 |
| Rule Interruption | Bourbon Restoration of 1814 and exile to Elba |
| Rule End | 22 June 1815, after defeat in the Battle of Waterloo |
| Rule Features | Referendums, Risking his power, Not imposing a constitutional monarchy |
| Rule Aim | To preserve the appearance of the French Republic |
| Rule Focus | To show that feudal system was abandoned and a nation state was created |
| Rule Legacy | French Second Republic was transformed into the Second French Empire |
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What You'll Learn
Napoleon's rule was a new political system
Napoleon's rule was not a constitutional monarchy, as he did not try to impose one, despite its popularity in England. Instead, he behaved like an absolute monarch, taking decisions without consultation and ruling by divine right. This was a continuation of the French monarchy's concept of divine right, which was a set of customary practices recognised as the kingdom's fundamental laws.
Napoleon's rule was based on the instruments of the French Revolution, such as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. However, he did not restore the monarchy but instead introduced a new political system. The title "Emperor of the French" emphasised that the emperor governed over the French people and not the state, indicating a constitutional monarchy. It also showed that the feudal system was abandoned and a nation state was created, with equal citizens governed by their emperor.
Napoleon's rule was characterised by his concentration of power, which was strengthened by amendments to the Constitution of the Year VIII. This constitution established the Consulate, with Napoleon as the First Consul, and preserved the appearance of a republic while instituting a dictatorship. The Constitution of the Year X made Napoleon the First Consul for life, and the Constitution of the Year XII established the First French Empire, with a hereditary throne in Napoleon's family.
Napoleon's rule was also marked by his use of propaganda, which emphasised his role as a saviour and the man sent by providence. This propaganda evolved to focus on the concept of the family, with the birth of the king of Rome giving meaning to the term "heredity".
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He behaved like an absolute monarch
Napoleon Bonaparte's rule began with a coup d'état, which was justified by the deficiencies of the 1795 constitution. He became the First Consul for ten years, appointing two consuls who had only consultative voices. His power was confirmed by the new Constitution of the Year VIII, which preserved the appearance of a republic but established a dictatorship.
Napoleon behaved like an absolute monarch, taking all decisions without consulting anyone. He did not try to impose a constitutional monarchy, which would have been popular. Instead, he acted like a ruler by divine right, only referring to a parliamentary monarchy after his fall from power. He also installed his family members as rulers in several European states under his control, such as his brother Joseph, who was given the throne of Spain.
Napoleon's government quickly became an authoritarian one-man system, but he surrounded himself with talented and skilled collaborators and experts and supported a merit-based system in the military. He established himself as the head of a more liberal, authoritarian, autocratic, and centralized republican government in France while not declaring himself head of state. He borrowed many techniques from the Ancien Régime, reintroducing plenipotentiaries and an over-centralized, strictly utilitarian administration. He also expelled his more vocal critics, such as Benjamin Constant and Madame de Staël, to quell dissent within the government.
Napoleon's rule has been described as a form of enlightened despotism, which was fashionable at the end of the 18th century. This was a period when a sovereign could decide to bring happiness to his people without asking for their opinion and often in the face of opposition. However, Napoleon did act in agreement with the people through the practice of referendums, which went against the spirit of enlightened despotism.
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He did not try to impose a constitutional monarchy
Napoleon's rule was based on the instruments of the French Revolution, such as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. However, he was an absolutist monarch who did not try to impose a constitutional monarchy. Instead, he behaved like an absolute monarch by divine right, only referring to a parliamentary monarchy after his exile to Saint Helena.
Napoleon's reign lasted until June 22, 1815, when he was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo and exiled to the island of Saint Helena, where he died on May 5, 1821. During his rule, he took all decisions without consulting anyone and did not impose any checks on his power, such as a constitution. This is evident in the Constitution of the Year VIII, adopted in 1799, which established the Consulate and gave Napoleon virtually dictatorial powers as the First Consul.
The Constitution of the Year X (1802) further strengthened Napoleon's power by making him First Consul for life. In 1804, the Constitution of the Year XII established the First French Empire, with Napoleon as Emperor of the French, and made the throne hereditary in his family. This constitution repeated many rules from the old Capetian monarchy, including those referring to imperial succession and the exclusion of women from the line of succession.
Napoleon's rule was characterized by his concentration of power and the use of propaganda to portray himself as a "saviour" and the man sent by providence. He installed his family members as rulers in European states under his control and emphasized the modern identity of his nation, aspiring to achieve equal footing with established monarchs such as the British royalty.
While Napoleon did not impose a constitutional monarchy, he did establish a new type of monarchy known as a nationalist monarchy. This form of monarchy ruled on behalf of society's nationalist aspirations and drive for independence, with the emperor governing over "the French people" rather than ruling over France as a state. This title was created to preserve the appearance of the French Republic and to demonstrate the creation of a nation state with equal citizens governed by their emperor.
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His power was confirmed by the new Constitution of the Year VIII
The Constitution of the Year VIII, also known as the French Constitution, was adopted on December 24, 1799, and established the form of government known as the Consulate. This new constitution confirmed Napoleon's power and gave him most of the powers of a dictator, while preserving the appearance of a republic.
Napoleon's rise to power began with a coup d'état on November 9, 1799, known as the Coup of 18 Brumaire, which overthrew the Directory and closed down the Council of Five Hundred. He became the First Consul, with two other consuls who had only consultative voices. The Constitution of the Year VIII was crafted to legitimize his position and consolidate power in his hands. It established a legislature of three houses: the Conservative Senate, the Tribunate, and the Legislative Body (Corps législatif).
The Senate, composed of 80 men over the age of 40, was more than just a legislative body. It had executive functions, verifying draft bills and directly advising the First Consul. The First Consul, Tribunate, and Legislative Body each nominated one-third of the senators, who then appointed the members of the other two houses. This interdependence between the houses, along with the First Consul's power to appoint members of the Council of State, weakened the legislative branch and ensured Napoleon's control.
The Constitution of the Year VIII was the first since the Revolution of 1789 to not include a Declaration of Rights. While it affirmed certain general rights, such as the inviolability of the home and personal safety, it did not provide the democratic freedoms that had been expected. It established universal masculine suffrage, but citizens were limited to creating "Lists of Confidence (or Notability)", from which members of the government were selected, rather than directly electing their representatives. This system maintained the illusion of democracy while concentrating power in the hands of the First Consul.
The Constitution was approved by a plebiscite, with an official vote of 99.94% in favor, though this near-unanimity has been questioned. Napoleon's popularity, along with the technical nature of the text, likely contributed to its acceptance. The Constitution of the Year VIII marked a break from previous constitutions, allowing Napoleon to exercise personal power while maintaining a republican form of government.
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He crowned himself Emperor of the French in 1804
On December 2, 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of the French in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. This was the first time a Frenchman had held the title of emperor in a thousand years. Napoleon was a Corsican-born military strategist who had rapidly risen through the ranks of the French Revolutionary Army in the late 1790s. By 1799, France was at war with most of Europe, and Napoleon returned from his Egyptian campaign to take over the reins of the French government, saving his nation from collapse.
Napoleon's rule was based on the instruments of the French Revolution, such as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. However, he was also an absolutist monarch who installed his family members as rulers in European states under his control. He behaved like an absolute monarch by divine right and made all decisions without consultation. He did not try to impose a constitutional monarchy, which would have been popular, but instead established a dictatorship.
Napoleon's power was confirmed by the Constitution of the Year VIII, which preserved the appearance of a republic but established a dictatorship. This constitution was adopted in 1799 and accepted by popular vote in 1800. It established the form of government known as the Consulate, with Napoleon as the First Consul, and two other consuls who had only consultative voices. In 1802, the Constitution of the Year X made Napoleon First Consul for life.
In 1804, Napoleon established the First French Empire with himself as Emperor Napoleon I. The Constitution of the Year XII established the House of Bonaparte as France's imperial dynasty, making the throne hereditary in Napoleon's family. This constitution was ratified by a people's referendum, with over 99% of voters approving it, according to the released results. By 1807, Napoleon's empire stretched from the River Elbe in the north to the Pyrenees and the Dalmatian coast in the south, and across Italy.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Napoleon was not a constitutional monarchy. He was an absolutist and an absolute monarch who behaved like a dictator and made all decisions without consulting anyone. He did not try to impose a constitutional monarchy, and instead, his rule was based on the instruments of the French Revolution, such as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
A constitutional monarchy is a country with a king or queen whose power is controlled by a set of laws and basic principles. The constitution is a central set of laws that govern the organization of the government and set limits on the government's power. The monarch is not an absolute ruler and does not have exclusive law-making power.
An absolute monarchy is a form of government where the monarch has unlimited power and is not subject to any laws or basic principles. The monarch in an absolute monarchy is the absolute ruler and has exclusive law-making power.
Some examples of constitutional monarchies include the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. In these countries, the monarch is the head of state but does not have political power, which is assumed by the people through elected politicians.
