13.2.2

Napoleon’s Rise to Power

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Napoleon’s Rise to Power

In the midst of France’s chaos, a man called Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power in the military and went on to establish himself as leader of a powerful French Empire.

Political crisis

Political crisis

  • By 1799 AD, France was in a political crisis.
  • It had been ten years since the Storming of the Bastille and, although many progressive political steps had been made in France, there was no strong leadership in the country.
The Directorate

The Directorate

  • Robespierre’s reign of terror was over, and France was now being governed by a Directorate of five people, who had no clear political aims or agenda for the country.
  • It was in this political environment that Napoleon seized power.
The coup

The coup

  • He returned to France and staged a coup (a military take-over) against the Directorate in November 1799 AD.
  • Many people in France welcomed this, seeing Napoleon as a strong and decisive leader who would unify France after years of chaos.
The First Consul of France

The First Consul of France

  • Napoleon was made First Consul of France at the age of just thirty and took total control of French politics.
  • The French Revolution had come to an end, and France entered the Napoleonic Era.
Jump to other topics
1

Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1

The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2

The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3

The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4

The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5

Medieval Religion

1.6

The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7

How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8

Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9

Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10

Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11

Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12

European Renaissance

1.13

Norman Conquest & Control

1.14

Historical Skills

2

The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1

Anglo-Saxon England

2.2

The Contest for the English Throne

2.3

Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4

King John

2.5

The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6

The Black Death

3

Worldviews

4

The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5

The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6

The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7

The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8

Religion in the Middle Ages

9

Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10

The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11

The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12

US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13

The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14

The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15

Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16

World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17

The Russian Revolution: 1917 AD

18

The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

19

World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

20

The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

21

Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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