AP Euro Napolean

Napoleon was a dictator based on the way he came into power, the way he used his power, and how he had reacted to obstacles. When Napoleon crowned himself emperor of France in 1804, he went down the road of being a dictator of France after claiming he wanted to bring revolutionary ideas and monarchy together. He greatly ignored the ideas of the revolution and mostly focusing on his power and the power of an absolute monarchy. Napoleon saw that the citizens of France were of service to the government because they owed the government their lives. School children were to memorizes statements that honored Napoleon. He wanted the children to know that if they gave him honor, respect, and obedience they would be rewarded with the preservation of the empire. They also owed Napoleon those things because he was given the right to be emperor by God and respecting Napoleon would be respecting God. This was definitely not a way someone who is an enlightened despot would practice their political rule. Napoleon also used his experience in the military to run his country. He was a very successful militant and used his knowledge of warfare in politics. This really showed a dictatorship style of leading. He was very dominant such as being forceful with his conquered lands. He forced the lands conquered by the french to be under the rulings and way of life. Napoleon was trying to spread the enlightened ideas but did it in a forceful manner and was only out to make himself look better not after the betterment of French politics and social ideas. When Napoleon was after greatness he faced many obstacles. He did anything to get over them at any cost. He was really only looking out for himself. Political officers of Napoleon would observe him and notice that he was only interested in leaving a powerful name and legacy and not leaving a powerful race of French citizens. Napoleon wanted to raise France up but only with him at the top. He wanted France to be a world power and show that nothing could conquer Napoleon. Napoleon was a very powerful leader but not exactly in the right way. He showed a lot of dictatorship characteristics and was extremely self centered.

Napoleon Bonaparte’s actions and words aroused debate among historians of whether he should be classified as a enlightened despot, dictator, or son of the Revolution. Based on Napoleon and others’ view of him, he can best be classified as a dictator. A recurring theme throughout these documents was that Napoleon “...was much less concerned to leave behind him a ‘race,’ a dynasty, than a name which should have no equal glory, that could not be surpassed…”(document 2).  One way Napoleon continued his legacy and name was by forcing others to repeat his achievements and memorize them. When asked why they should obey their emperor, students are required to reply “First, because God, who has created empires and distributes them according to his will, has, by loading our emperor with gifts both in peace and war…” (document 5). Napoleon and his people are claiming that God specifically chose Napoleon as a divine ruler on Earth and that he should be the only one. Along with transferring ideas of Napoleon orally, he also became known through art. Napoleon was depicted in art as a dictator as well. Document 9 shows Napoleon strongly sitting on a horse and showing no fear as he crosses the Alps. One can see how influential Napoleon was by noticing the rocks in the bottom left hand corner with Napoleon’s name carved in it.
Not only is Napoleon seen as a dictator through other peoples’ eyes, he also viewed himself as a dictator as shown in two diary entries.Napoleon viewed himself as above all others when he writes “After I have been seen three times at the theatre, I shall not be looked at again” (document 6). Napoleon’s egotistical ways has led him to think of himself as a single ruler, as shown in his diary entry in document 6 when he references singe rulers such as Hannibal and Caesar. Napoleon once again shows his efforts to continue his reputation in his diary when he writes “I have framed and carried into effect a code of laws that will bear my name to the most distant posterity” (document 7). Here, Napoleon is showing that he does not care about the improvements for the people, but instead caring about spreading his name even more so.

I think it is reasonable to classify Napoleon Bonaparte as a Dictator, Son of the Revolution, or an Enlightened Despot, but I personally think he can be best classified as an Enlightened Despot. He did carry over ideas of the Revolution into his ruling, but he also was a very controlling ruler. However I do not believe him to be controlling enough to be a Dictator, and I think ruled too much like a monarch to be considered a Son of the Revolution. In Napoleon’s own diary he called himself a monarch, saying he was, “the most powerful monarch in the world”(7). Also, in this diary he states his belief that the people own the sovereignty, but calls himself the voice of the nation as if setting himself on the throne. Since he does see sovereignty in the people I think this exemplifies his role as a Despot not a Dictator. In source 8, Napoleon’s letter to Citizen Ripault, his librarian and overseer of the newspapers, I think it is again shown he is more of an Enlightened Despot instead of a Dictator. Like those in the Enlightenment he lets all papers come out, allowing the spread of new intellectual ideas and promotes learning. This letter does show though that he contained articles that could influence the public on political matters and advertisements. However, most of what he did was simply to analyze the works and despite some censoring in an 1805 diary entry shown in Source 6 he shows he allows some freedom in political papers as he says, “They may publish a few little articles with just a bit of poison in them”, allowing for some opinions about him to be published.
Different from some similarities to Dictators, Napoleon also shows signs of being a Son of the Revolution, like when he conquered Spain and other areas. Unlike a Dictator he granted freedoms to those that he conquered and even abolished feudalism in Spain after he conquered it shown in Source 4. Napoleon even abolished parts of the Spanish Inquisition because he did not feel they were consistent with civil sovereignty, and idea he believed in, like a true Son of the Revolution. Still, he need give complete freedom to the people and placed himself as the head of this government making him more of a Despot than a revolutionary. Those around him like Madame de Remusat saw that he tried to carry on some revolutionary ideas, but in general accepted him because they believed, “only despotism could at the epoch maintain order in France”(3). The people saw his ruling as destiny like that of a Despot and thought that he had built somewhat of barrier from republican influences. For these reasons, I do not see him as a Son of the Revolution and I see him as an Enlightened Despot because although controlling, he did not control and restrain his people like a true Dictator.

Historians have disagreed on whether to label Napoleon Bonaparte as an enlightened despot, a dictator, or a son of the revolution, and after analyzing his actions, I would agree that his characterizations are most similar to that of a dictator. Napoleon was power hungry and craving the attention from his citizens, which led him to rule with absolutism. Napoleon's actions were directed to improve himself and Count Mole elaborated on that stating “He thought of nothing but his own gratification of magnifying himself in his power without limit and without rest” (source 2). Count Mole was a counselor of state, minister and peer of France who worked alongside him and he was able to see a different side of him than the general public. Napoleon had control over his citizens opinion seen with his attempt to place himself on equal par with God. Through the school system, the students were expected to memorize a strict catechism. He truly believed that God “established him as our Sovereign and made him the agent of his power and His image” (source 5). Napoleon was insecure on the people's view of him and he stated in a personal diary entry “my power would fall if It were not support it with more glory and more victories” (source 6). This led him to fight and attempt to conquer the entire European continent. Napoleon put a censorship on any form of literature by placing citizen Ripault in charge of controlling what it published and allowed to be read by the public, blocking any form of rebellion against the government through political literature (source 8). Taking away an individual's right to freedom of speech is an act of absolutism. Napoleon carried himself with much pride and confidence through his rule, and that is depicted in a painting of himself crossing the alps, painted by Jacques- Louis David (source 9). In that painting, Napoleon is gracefully riding a horse, leading an army. He is painted as a strong leader, and Napoleon would agree that “Power is never ridiculous” (source 6). Napoleon’s desire for power only fueled the fire for him to grow as a dictator, conquering much of europe and recreating the map with his conquests, all for his own personal gain, similar to that of a dictator. Overall, Napoleon may have been an effective leader to some, his absolute rule not only in France but in the entirety of Europe conclusively classifies him as a dictator.

Napoleon Bonaparte was not enlightened. He did not follow the ideas of the French Revolution; in fact, he undid most of the effects of the revolution. He instead was a dictator, with no major goal other than simply gaining as much power as possible. One piece of evidence for this is Count Mole’s remarks on Napoleon. In these remarks, he refers to Napoleon as thinking “of nothing but his own gratification, of magnifying himself and his power without limit and without rest.” This statement comes from a man who likely knew Napoleon quite well, so it is likely to be correct. Another piece of evidence is the Imperial Catechism, which schoolchildren were required to memorize and recite. This Catechism refers to Napoleon as the agent of God, and suggests that those who do not obey him will go to Hell. Some of the best evidence for Napoleon’s obsession with power is his diary. Every entry in the document, other than the first one, which appears to be the rough draft for a speech, supports that Napoleon only wants power. The second entry suggests that Napoleon must always be at war. The third says that even Europe is too small for Napoleon, showing that he wants even more power than an entire continent. The fourth refers to his belief that he must preserve a good reputation or he will lose his precious power. The fifth implies that he is extremely happy that people who he has never met will do anything for him. In the sixth, he implies that all of his victories are entirely because of him, and that his soldiers matter little, suggesting that he has a great ego. In the seventh entry, he describes how to maintain the power he craves so much. In the eighth, he describes suppressing the press in order to maintain his power. Finally, in the ninth entry, he implies that he is very upset that someone would call power, his main goal, ridiculous. In Napoleon's letters to Saint Helena, he seems to compare himself to Jesus. As well as that, he says he could have been the greatest man to ever exist. These again show his lust for power; he wants to be the greatest man ever, and he wants to be thought of as divine, perhaps even to be worshipped. All of this evidence points to the fact that he was a dictator, and all evidence that does not appear to do so is likely due to his efforts to maintain his popularity, satisfying his ego.

Napoleon was dynamically complex and, much like every other human being, the summation of his actions can never be lumped into one category. No matter how many spirited debates historians conduct, history remains fluid. Napoleon was a son of the revolution as well as a traitor of the revolution. He held enlightenment ideals while simultaneously contradicting the same beliefs. He displayed dictator tendencies as well as democratic sentiment. However, several things-- amidst his ever-shifting ideologies-- remained constant: his elevated sense of self, his conviction of a divine aspect within his success, and his desire for expansion and control. By examining the elements of constance in his life and in the documents, the reader realizes the most prevalent side of Napoleon was his dictator-like tendencies.
On many fronts, it would appear that Napoleon shares characteristics of Enlightenment thinkers. This is especially highlighted in Document 1, in which he directs his troops to show respect to their enemies. The rights of rational beings transcend the feuds between countries, and Napoleon makes it clear that the image of France is to be of firm benevolence. However, Napoleon went against these same ideals too many times to be considered an Enlightened despot. While the enlightenment represents intellectual growth, equality, and peace between man, Napoleon found his story carved out of war and invasion. As Emperor, he clearly rejected an “equal” outlook, and took great pains to suppress and censor the information within France concerning his reign.
In the wake of the Revolution’s tumultuous years, France was desperate for an end to chaos, fighting, and death (Doc 3). Their initial attempt at government had proved to be bloody and terror-driven. Napoleon saw an opportunity to fill the void and assert his rule over France. He found motivation in greed and a lust for power-- willing to sacrifice anything for the sake of control and legacy (Doc 2). As he rose in power, he (as well as the people of France) became convinced of a divine element surrounding his success. In school, children were taught that “to honor and serve our emperor is therefore to honor and serve God himself” (Doc 5). Napoleon became absorbed in his sense of self, as shown in Document 6. He became convinced of his individual necessity in the preservation of France. The only way he felt could maintain stable control over the country was in the form of conquest. Throughout history, many dictators have found stability in a constant state of war, as it gives the country not only a common enemy, but a common focus as well. Napoleon claims that he believed sovereignty rested with the people (Doc 7), but he also placed himself in an extreme position of power while many citizens were left without a voice. Through his obsession with power, control, and expansion, Napoleon revealed his absolutist qualities. While the majority of France saw Napoleon as a war hero and did not object to his rule, it is clear that his own aspirations were pushed onto the nation’s agenda, and the french citizens were merely his followers.

Napoleon Bonaparte, while good at manipulating his audience, uses his opportunities to further himself and his career to the extent of a dictator, never wanting to lose the credibility and stature he gained during his ascent to the illusion of French monarch (Emperor). For example, upon first glance, his 1817 diary entries appear to be a plea to emotion to excuse the accusations of being corrupt and immoral (Source 7). However, upon further examination, Napoleon is openly acknowledging himself as crucial and timeless part of French, as well as European history. In doing so, Napoleon speaks directly to the audience he predicts he will speak to -- historians. He attempts to shift his self image to project himself a monarch whom only acted out of the better interest for his subjects, them needing his guidance in domestic and world affairs. This tactic can prove to be counter productive because of his self decreed power and role in French success, cementing his identity as a self involved opportunist. Even in earlier times, Bonaparte uses his ranking in military settings to enthuse his troops in promises of "honor, glory, and riches" (Source 6). Later in his diary entries his worlds evolve to better reflect his self image and hunger for the very things he promised others. In doing this, Bonaparte uses the opportunities he is given to further only himself instead of the men with which he used to get himself there. In addition to the personal reflections that came from Napoleon himself, his Councillor of State confirms through private observation and discussion that Bonaparte wishes to gain more control over continental Europe, accumulating and maintaining degrees of power which would consider him a dictator (Source 2). Napoleon goes as far as to denounce weaker men as well as fellow monarchs, those of whom he has surpassed in power. To secure his power, Bonaparte instills a Catechism for students to memorize and recite (Source 5). In doing this, Napoleon is able to ensure later support of his endeavors by enforcing a political opinion at a young age. To avoid conflict, Napoleon also goes as far as to monitor the media to avoid information or counter-arguments to his actions (Source 8). Of course with different sources one could view Napoleon Bonaparte as an enlightened despot or a revolutionary, it is more sensible to consider him a dictator when analysing private thoughts and conversations of the man himself.