NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Napoleon Napolean Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte, also known as The Little Coriscan, was born on August 15, 1769 on the small island of Corsica in the northern part of the Mediterranean Sea. Young Napolean was born at a very hectic time in Coriscan s history. At that point of time Corsica was trying to gain independence through rebellion from French troops that had captured Coriscan from Genoa, an Italian state. Although the bid for independence failed, the Coriscan's would eventually become an independent state. Because Napolean was born during the war, he was technically half-Italian, half French. Although he was half-and-half, he was completely loyal to France.
He was born during a war, and he would soon die because of one. When young Napoleon had his tenth birthday, his parents sent him to a military school just outside of Paris. It was there that Napolean devoted himself to military tactics. He often spent hours alone studying different military strategies used throughout history, and developed his own. Napoleon quickly became the top of his class, while being one of the youngest. He was young, but he was knowledgeable.
While his older classmates were off partying and drinking, Napoleon was often alone studying. Napoleon quickly graduated from military school with honors. When Napoleon was a mere 16 years of age, he became a bright young lieutenant in the Royal French Artillery (or something like that). After 3 years in service with the military, the French Revolution broke out.
When the Storming of the Bastille took place on July 14, 1789, Napoleon was sent throughout the country to quell riots throughout the land. Through these acts, Napoleon was recognized as a bold leader, and a brilliant strategist. He was quickly recognized and promoted accordingly. Eventually, however, the revolution succeeded. A new government was set up, and the people seemed to be somewhat satisfied. But where was Napoleon?
Somewhere in the fray, Napoleon managed to slyly change sides to be on the winning team. He was recognized as a bold leader and a hero. He had won many victories against the British, and in 1796 he was rewarded by becoming the Commander in Chief of the Army Interior. As the Commander in Chief, Napoleon was given control of the French army. He wasted no time, and marched on to Italy.
There he liberated it from the Austrians, although he really conquered it. Napoleon then conquered most of Austria (for the first time). He marched home to the streets of Paris as a recognized hero. Meanwhile, the new government was struggling. It wasn t working the way it was supposed to and seemed to be somewhat corrupt.
It was accusing the French people of doing things they did not do so that they could pass a law for the governor s benefit. Napoleon seized this opportunity to take control of the government. He had the people s support. On November 9, 1799, Napoleon, and 500 of his most loyal soldiers took over the chambers of the National Legislature. They drove out the members of the government.
A new government system was put into place. France was now in the hands of three officials, called consuls. Napoleon was the head consul. As a consul, Napoleon did many things to gain people s favor. He unified the Roman Catholic Church, as it long as they submitted to the government more strictly. He also established the Bank of France.
These things made him very popular. He gained the church s support, and merchants support. Napoleon also set up a plebiscite in which the citizens had the right to vote yes or no on an issue. By now, Napoleon was getting power hungry. He exposed his 2 fellow consuls in various consuls, and made threats against each of them seeing as he was the most powerful consul. Eventually Napoleon was able to monopolize all the consuls power to the first consul.
He then appointed himself consul for life, by way of asking the people through the plebiscites. On December 2, 1804, Napoleon crowned himself emperor of France. He had the people s support, because to them he was a godsend. He had freed them from the corrupt governments, and had also won many glorious battles in their honor. He had reformed the economy, greatly increasing it.
He had also given the French people many more rights, such as freedom, of religion, anti-slavery laws, and he set up the Napoleonic code. Also, due to Napoleon s military genius, France was the biggest it had ever been in hundreds of years. The people loved Napoleon, and agreed wholeheartedly on his emperor ship. Although people in France loved him, people outside France absolutely hated him. The people in France s occupied countries felt that their culture and heritage were being threatened. The Italians felt threatened by France s power, and feared that they would be assimilated into the French Empire.
Napoleon wanted to take over all of Europe, and he almost did. He controlled Italy and most of Austria. He did not have Spain, but he had a pact with the leader. Besides, Spain was in civil war anyway. They were weak and could be taken any time. Through a series of battles, Napoleon began to take Prussia.
Although Prussia, Austria, Russia, and Britain all had a pact, The Little Coriscan was still beating them. Napoleon swiftly took half of Austria s remaining territories, and bullied the Austrians out of the pact. Napoleon quickly rushed to Prussia. There, Napoleon thoroughly defeated them.
He took half of their territories, and forced the king to surrender. As well as surrendering to Napoleon he now became Napoleon s slave. Prussia was then forced to leave the pact. This left only Britain and Russia. On February 8, 1807, the Battle of Eylau took place. Russia lost this battle.
Their military was severely wounded, and spring was approaching. Napoleon threatened to follow up his victory by invading the wounded Russians if they did not leave the pact with Britain. Britain was the only one left in the pact, and she would have to survive on her own natural resources as none of the other nations were allowed to trade with Britain. Napoleon was then the master of the continent. Napoleon was soon abuzz with plans to invade Britain. He was building up an army preparing to invade Britain, and was ready to attack.
But first he would have to go through Britain s navy. This is where everything went wrong. The British fleet, though outnumbered, was in far better shape than the French fleet. The British navy was far more trained and prepared, and had an excellent admiral guiding them. The British destroyed all of Napoleon s fleet. This meant Napoleon could not cross the channel to get to Britain.
His plans were wrecked. His fleet was gone. Since the French fleet was devastated, the trade route from Russia to Britain via the see was open. Russia began selling grain to Britain once more.
A very angry Napoleon demanded that Russia stop. The Czar of Russia refused. This infuriated Napoleon. He decided he was going to invade Russia, and show them who was boss.
But, by this time, the Russian army had regained some of its strength. Napoleon took his Grand Army of conquered European countries citizens and marched into Russia. This was his grave mistake. Napoleon s soldiers were not used to the cold weather. The temperature got to below 35 degrees Celsius. But, instead of fighting the army, the Czar pulled his men back.
Before leaving they burned their own fields and slaughtered their livestock. This was called the scorched-earth policy. When Napoleon s army arrived they didn t have to fight, but they gained nothing because everything was burnt to the ground, and the Russians had retreated. Every time Napoleon would try to catch up with the Russians, they would just pull back. This meant that sickness, and hunger was killing more French soldiers than the Russians.
Eventually, Napoleon decided to cut his losses and retreat. But as soon as the broken army turned around and retreated, the Russian army ravaged them in their weakened state. The soldiers were hungry, sick, cold, and had no spirit to fight. The Russians plan was not to face Napoleon head on, but to use guerilla warfare. Like if the army was passing through some woods, the Russians would hide around, leap out, shoot a couple soldiers, then run away before they could react. Or at night when everyone was sleeping.
A bunch of Russian soldiers would ride into the French camp, burn a few tents, shoot and stab a few people, steal some provisions, then ride away into the cover of darkness. When Napoleon finally made his way into France, his army was a mere 10, 000 men; he had started with 400, 000. Napoleon s enemies recognized his weakness. So, in 1813, Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia all began the campaign to destroy him. Napoleon was not as strong as he once was, and could not bully Austria and Prussia anymore. They joined up with Britain and Russia.
Together, all four countries army was far larger than Napoleon s. Although Napoleon was a brilliant strategist, the enemy was just too big. In 1813 Napoleon suffered a series of defeats. He and his armies were forced to keep retreating further and further back into France. In 1814 however, Napoleon was able to raise another army, and win a few battles. Although this was happening, his enemies were still pushing towards Paris.
On April 1, 1814, combined troops of Russians, Prussians, and British entered Paris. Napoleon was beat. He was forced to surrender, and was exiled to a small island off Italy, called Elba. A new provisional government was set up in France. Although the Emperor was in Elba, he was not done yet. Then new king in France was very unpopular.
He was pushed from the throne after a mere 9 months after Napoleon s defeat. Napoleon then decided to go back to the French people. He escaped from Elba, and quickly gathered up a small fighting force. Most of France welcomed him back, as he said that he would liberate them from their captors. On March 20, 1815, Napoleon stormed Paris and reclaimed his throne. But, Napoleon s enemies once more got the best of him.
They quickly re-gathered their forces to destroy Napoleon once and for all. Napoleon and his enemies met at Waterloo, in Belgium. On June 18, 1815, Napoleon made his move. He attacked a largely British force on a sunny afternoon in Waterloo. Although the French were well prepared, the British held their ground all day. They had the high ground, and just didn t move.
Wave after wave of French men charged straight into infantry volleys, and cannon fire. Finally the French decided to regroup and stop attacking. But, at night an army from Prussia arrived at the British camp. That night the Prussian army with the British launched a counter attack. Napoleon s men were just too tired to fight, so they fled.
Napoleon fled all the way back to Paris, where the British and Prussians caught up with him. He was captured again, and again banished to an island. This time though, he was banished as a prisoner he was a prisoner on the island of st helena for six years he died on st helena in eighteen twenty one
Free research essays on topics related to: small island, french people, russian army, commander in chief, napoleon bonaparte
Research essay sample on Commander In Chief Napoleon Bonaparte
