Napoelon: Friend Or Foe Of The French Revolution?

Napoleon: Friend or Foe of the French Revolution? Napoleon Bonaparte is easily one of the most authoritative swayers in history. During his reign, he radically changed the landscape of Europe, as well as the political playing field of the time. Born of the French Revolution, Napoleon was able to derive power from his famous Coup d’état, in which he overthrew The Directory and established himself as the ruler of France, a rule which lasted from 1799 to 1814. While at first, Napoleon generally adhered to the philosophies of the French Revolution as manifested in The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, as time progressed, his absolute power suffered from corruption at the expense of the French populace. It is thoroughly possible that Napoleon personally did not believe in adhering to the principals of the French Revolution during his entire reign. However, he sought to supply a few basic rights of the French Revolution which only ultimately benefited himself. Napoleon violated almost every principle delineated in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen in order to benefit his own means. He did, though, support several principles, primarily manifested with the Napoleonic Code. At first, Napoleon was simply the “First Consul” of France, giving him the particular position of power with the country, but not yet supplying him with total control. Slowly but surely, this changed as Napoleon ameliorated his power further with each plebiscite. In order to give an illusory that his ain power was increasing through democratic means, Napoleon held a plebiscite in which people can decide whether or not Napoleon can increase his power. The validity and honesty of these plebiscites were questionable; but nonetheless, the people of France were under the impression that they were ruled by a leader that they elected. Eventually, Napoleon would become the emperor of France, having comprehensive control over the French empire which he worked to create for years. The Napoleonic Code was a set of statements incorporated into the French law which reflected some idea of the French Revolution. They were not entirely upheld by Napoleon, but the stipulations in which they were supply an argument for those who believe that Napoleon did indeed support the philosophies born from the French Revolution. For instance, the main ideas traced in the Napoleonic Code were Equality Under the Law (most obviously violated due to the treatment of women), the right to Protection of Property, and the right to Acquisition of property. All of the above were mainly upheld throughout Napoleon’s reign with the exception of “Equality Under the Law.” However, one notable condition in which Napoleon did adhere to equality was his treatment of the Jews. Jews were no longer cast in unfavorable light; some might even argue that Napoleon’s treatment of Jews was palpably favorable. 1

Napoleon: Friend or Foe of the French Revolution? Two years into his reign, Napoleon Bonaparte approved the “Concordat of 1801,” in which Catholicism was recognized as France’s major religion. This was recognition of the principle “Law is an expression of general will.” Though France rejected the inherent political power of any religious institution as a religious institution, the ratification of the Catholic Church was permissible because it was parallel to the interests of the people, as the majority of France believed in Catholicism. Madame de Remusat, an individual who lived in France during Napoleon’s rule, brought up a few points about him that seems to suggest that he supported the French Revolution. She reminds us that the only way in which Napoleon could ever gain the power he has is because France was a republic at the time, and the very idea of ruler gaining power due to a republic is an idea inherent in the French Revolution. She mentions that before Napoleon’s rule, the very word “republic” was almost taboo in Europe. Ironically, during Napoleon’s rule, it is probable that using the word “republic” outside of the context of praising Napoleon was taboo. Napoleon seems to be the only one who ever benefited from this republic during his years. His monopolization of the republic under himself undermines the very idea. Joseph Fouche, Napoleon’s Minister of Police (which is a position that is roughly tantamount to the modern Secretary of State) held a very prominent position whose primary role was that of foreign policy. The French Revolution, however, did not deal very much with foreign policy so the very construct of an important person who dealt with foreign policy inherently does not support the revolution. Rather, the construct of having a high-profile minister that deals with foreign affairs is against the French Revolution, as the government is investing in a praxis which is not wholly an interest to the French people. Louis Bergeron is a historian that corroborates the idea of Napoleon being true to the Revolution. He states that Napoleon upheld the ideas of civil equality, the destruction of feudalism, and “ruining the privileged position of the Catholic Church.” However, one could expostulate that Napoleon did not actually practice civil equality, as exemplified by his horrid treatment of women, and that he only sought to destroy the Feudalistic nobles and Catholic Church because it was a way of increasing his own personal power, not unlike Louis XIV’s strategy to weaken the nobility in order to increase the power of the monarchy. Indeed, Bergeron said himself that Napoleon’s practice was often “disconcerting borrowings from the old regime.” George

Rude,

too,

substantiated

the

idea

that

Napoleon

upheld

the

Revolutionary ideas. He claimed that Napoleon chose to defend Robespierre rather 2

Napoleon: Friend or Foe of the French Revolution? than prosecute him, and that Napoleon studied Rousseau, an individual whose thoughts are manifested in The Declaration of the Right of Man and Citizen. He further disambiguated that Napoleon has sympathized with much of Jacobin philosophy and that he has believed in the overthrow of privileged aristocracy. In fact, Rude believes that Napoleon, in practice, developed the ideas of the French Revolution more than anything. Vocally, though, Rude states that Napoleon “prided himself on being a relative of aristocratic figures, such as the late Louis XVI and Francis of Austria.” Napoleon’s violation of The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen is further elucidated by his violation of “free communications” and “no one shall be disquieted on account of his opinions.” This was accomplished by not allowing any freedom of consciousness whatsoever. Those who disagreed with him were often sent to Asylums, many were also jailed without a rational given reason. Furthermore, Napoleon successfully eradicated all but four newspapers, the remaining of which only existed under governmental influence. This particular example is a prime way in which he did not allow freedom of the press, a parcel of freedom of consciousness. The foremost statement of The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was contravened by Napoleon. The declaration states “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.” “Men” is referred to in the “human” sense, not in the gender sense. It is unlikely that stripping women of their family and political rights is “founded only upon the general good.” The myriad of irrational arrestments Napoleon made throughout his career is an obvious infringement of “No person shall be accused, arrested, or imprisoned except in the cases and according to the forms prescribed by law,” as well as a transgression of the entire notion of freedom in general. In fact, irrational arrestments have been a trend that is present in totalitarian governments throughout history, and never in a working democracy. Furthermore, the lack of balance of power within France was an inherent disagreement with The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, plebiscite or not. Napoleon repeatedly waged wars on other countries to pursue his own interests, rather than that of the people. It is very unlikely that the French would find it favorable to be constantly at war and creating hegemony throughout Europe. The fact that war was waged for his own interests was also supported by the fact that he put irrationally high taxes on the countries he controlled; all that money went to the government and ultimately benefited him, not the people. The Declaration of The Rights of Man and Citizen acutely states “The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. 3

Napoleon: Friend or Foe of the French Revolution? No body nor individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation.” A king of emperor is not exempt from this, but is rather more liable to adhere to it due to his position of command. To put it in simple terms: Napoleon Bonaparte was an overall foe of the French Revolution. He has some idea which supported the Revolutionary philosophies, but his practice generally rejected them. His authoritative ruling behavior did not adhere very much to the idea of a republic, as he generally executed law based on self-interest rather than the interest of the people.

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