Napoleon – notes on the video: 1.

Controversy – is Napoleon a liberator or oppressor an idealist or power hungry conqueror?

Romanticised
* every generation writes its own version
* a mirror - they all find their own image
* was he a positive force in French history
* or a megalomaniac

His rise was not a foregone conclusion - early promise but influential patronage still needed

At Brienne
impressed the inspector of military schools
good at maths
hence posted to artillery (the highest ranking branch of the army)
graduated at 15 from Brienne

Went to Ecole Militaire de Paris
graduated from here after one year - with distinction
became lieutenant
posted to Valences

Context - enlightenment (talent progresses regardless of rank)
1780s political turbulence

Military service in France and Corsica

1788 posted to Auxenne artillery school
du Teil impressed

back to Corsica (campaigned for self government)
cunning
extensive bribery
made adjutant major assigned to Corsica
Lieutenant colonel in the 2nd battalion

Problem - Paoli is pro Royalist
Riots
Napoleon has to used force against his fellow countrymen
Lobbied politicians in parliament to make sure he kept his post

Became captain in the 4th artillery regiment
Storming of Tuileries (twice)
Napoleon witnessed this - learnt fear of mobs

1792 back to Corsica - fear of factionalism

1793 His book advocated unquestioning support for revolution (Souper de Beaucaire)
This appealed to Saliceti (member of the Convention and fellow Corsican)

1793-4 = difficult and dangerous situation
Many generals executed

Right person right place right time

Saliceti gave him the opportunity to show his skills
sent him to Toulon (to fight Admiral Hood)

Saliceti was with the armed forces at the siege to urge the forces on (like a military commissar)

He gave Napoleon command of the artillery (NB main force nominally in the charge of Carteaux and du Gommiere)

Napoleon had pluses
e.g. had men
also the Revolution had inherited magnificent artillery from the old regime (both in terms of organisation and ‘hardware’)

Napoleon shows ability, drive and political positioning (Black)
extorted political capital out of the victory (Smith)
brilliant at exploiting his success (Blanning)

NB he wouldn’t have risen had it not been for the revolution.
Feb 1794 became General of brigade

first Italian campaign (inconclusive)

Aug 1794 - fall of Robespierre and backlash
NB Napoleon had been a friend of Augustine Robespierre
Napoleon was investigated as a terrorist (for misappropriation of funds)
investigated by Saliceti!!!

It was fortunate he wasn’t in Paris otherwise he would have got the chop
Got away with it
But was transferred to an infantry regiment

Napoleon then presented his plan to get the Austrians out of Italy
then
Barras’ influence
and timing

Royalist threat - so they turned to Napoleon

1795 – Vendemiaire: whiff of grapeshot incident
hero of the day
Directory realised his potential and gave him Command of the army of the Interior

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Machiavellian flair for manipulating people and events
marriage to Josephine
left two days after this

1796 Northern Italy
to exploit ideals of rev
to get money (live off the land) and plunder
to distract attention from food shortages and economic problems in France
inherited 37,000 badly equipped and demoralised troops
reformulated army and drove it forward
gathered round him the most talented officers

NB democratisation of the profession
a military meritocracy

relentless energy, skill, luck etc.
Battle of Lodi
personally set the cannon
fiery speeches
personally directed advance across bridge
inspirational leadership - charismatic leader

NB Created his own newspapers - eg the Courier of Italy

Napoleon takes over Lombardy
stripped the place bare
400m francs of booty sent back to France
army could be properly paid

BUT Directory sends Kellerman to share command with N

Anxiety back in France
? were soldiers more devoted to Napoleon than the Gov.
Napoleon shows increasing political independence as the campaign develops
e.g. negotiates with foreign powers without referring back to France

Siege of Mantua 1797 = Battle of Rivoli - speed of thought and movement and aggression
Napoleon establishes a series of new Italian republics (put Gov. into Italian hands)

Dec 1797 return to Paris
given project of invasion of England

(Plan with Wolfe Tone - including 65 purpose built gun boats)
BUT Napoleon advised Gov. against it because they weren’t masters of the sea.

so Talleyrand suggested Egypt (then from there India)
Alexandria, Cairo etc.