Blog #5

"Was Napoléon an 'Enlightened Despot," a Dictator, or a Son of the Revolution?"
Napoleon was an 'Enlightened Despot’. He was a very popular hero in France due to his military victory in Italy. His goal was to disrupt vital trade in Britain and to establish a greater power in France. He was a strong and respected leader in eyes of France. Napoleon Bonaparte restored the republic in the French government. Napoleon’s armies took over Italy and Switzerland by defeating Austria and Sardinian armies. He was established the rule of one man, the first Consul. He is considered one of the greatest generals and revolutionaries throughout European history. He rose to power during the chaotic French Revolution. This revolt was caused by its economic, political, and social turmoil that resulted in the need for an overthrow of directory, the French government of his time. He drafted a new constitution but acquired full political control. Under his administration, he initiated innovative and dramatic mainstream programs echoing his values as the esteemed "Enlightened despot." His law and justice reform Code Napoleon is an example as to why Napoleon is an enlightened despot. It declared all men to be equal before the law without regard to rank and wealth. He thought that economic programs promoting national unity among all social classes. Napoleon did come into power because of public disgust of bloody insurrection and then he drew up a constitution which was the fourth attempt by the revolutionary distraught France to provide a written instrument of government. Despite contradicting and negating many of his new reforms and later in his rule, Napoleon Bonaparte, considered by many as "the last of the enlightened despots", embodied the world view of many intellectuals and engendered his ideas through daring would be very successful. Napoleon Bonaparte is a man who brought stability to his people in a time of chaos. I would find it very difficult to state that Napoleon was anything other than an enlightened despot because of what good that came from his rule and through his actions. It is unarguably understandable to admit that Napoleon is an enlightened despot and the son of the Revolution. Bonaparte did in fact use his authority to change the patterns of social, political, and economic relationships in France. He did not do so as a dictator though but as an enlightened despot. He solved many of France's economic, social, and political problems that had came about from the French Revolution ensuring the people that they would indeed retain the rights gained during the revolution. His new reforms politically modernized France and the face of Europe.