A revisionist collection of essays which reassess the legacy of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars on the governments of Restoration Europe. The papers are based on recent research.

This book is suitable for children age 9 and above. Napoleon Bonaparte was the first emperor of France. He was a very successful military general and he led his army into many victorious battles. This is the story of how a lawyer's son rose to become a powerful emperor.

The Napoleonic period cannot be interpreted as a single historical 'block'. Bonaparte had many different persona: the Jacobin, the Republican, the reformer of the Consulate, the consolidator of the Empire and the 'liberal' of the Hundred Days. The emphasis here will be on Napoleon as the heir and executor of the French Revolution, rather than on his role as the liquidator of revolutionary ideals. Napoleon will be seen as part of the Revolution, preserving its social gains, and consecrating the triumph of the bourgeoisie. The book will steer away from the personal and heroic interpretation of the period. Instead of seeing the era in terms of a single man, the study will explore developments in French society and the economy, giving due weight to recent research on the demographic and social history of the period 1800-1815.

A summary of the impact of the Napoleonic era on France and Europe. It interprets the period in the context of the legacy of the French Revolution, and examines the social forces on which Napoleonic power was based. Original documents give a fresh and unusual perspective on social and political trends.

A revisionist collection of essays which reassess the legacy of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars on the governments of Restoration Europe. The papers are based on recent research.

This book provides a concise, accurate, and lively portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte's character and career, situating him firmly in historical context. David Bell emphasizes the astonishing sense of human possibility--for both good and ill--that Napoleon represented. By his late twenties, Napoleon was already one of the greatest generals in European history. At thirty, he had become absolute master of Europe's most powerful country. In his early forties, he ruled a European empire more powerful than any since Rome, fighting wars that changed the shape of the continent and brought death to millions. Then everything collapsed, leading him to spend his last years in miserable exile in the South Atlantic. Bell emphasizes the importance of the French Revolution in understanding Napoleon's career. The revolution made possible the unprecedented concentration of political authority that Napoleon accrued, and his success in mobilizing human and material resources. Without the political changes brought about by the revolution, Napoleon could not have fought his wars. Without the wars, he could not have seized and held onto power. Though his virtual dictatorship betrayed the ideals of liberty and equality, his life and career were revolutionary.

The Collected Works of Napoleon Bonaparte encapsulates the manifold dimensions of one of historys most complex figures through a rich tapestry of narratives, analyses, and firsthand accounts. This anthology unites a diverse range of literary styles, from the reflective memoirs of Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne, Napoleons private secretary, to the investigative rigor of Ida M. Tarbell, an acclaimed journalist and biographer, and the strategic insights of Napoleon himself, complemented by Charles Downer Hazens historical perspectives. These works collectively offer a multifaceted view, presenting the reader with a nuanced understanding of Napoleon's legacy and the era he shaped, discernible through the juxtaposition of personal reflection, historical analysis, and political discourse. The contributing authors, each distinguished by their unique backgrounds and areas of expertise, provide a deeply varied exploration of Napoleons influence across different spherespolitical, cultural, and military. Bourrienne offers an intimate glimpse into Napoleons personal and political life, while Tarbell and Hazen contextualize his actions within broader historical and cultural movements, examining the impact of his leadership on the course of European history. The anthologys strength lies in its collective portrayal of a pivotal era, informed by individual perspectives that, when woven together, enrich the readers understanding of a complex historical figure and the times he dominated. This compilation is indispensable for those seeking to delve into the complexities of Napoleonic studies from multiple angles. It provides an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the thoughts, strategies, and legacies of Napoleon, as well as the interpretations of notable scholars and observers. For students, historians, and enthusiasts of military and political history alike, The Collected Works of Napoleon Bonaparte offers an educational journey through the lens of diverse narratives, inviting readers to explore the multifaceted impacts of one of historys most enduring figures. The anthology emphasizes the value of understanding history through a patchwork of voices, inviting a dialogue that bridges generations and perspectives.

A comprehensive account of the life and enduring influence of the early 19th-century French emperor covers his rise to prominence, the ways his life reflected his time, and the lingering impact of his death on national stability.

*Includes pictures *Includes a bibliography for further reading Nearly 50 years after Napoleon met his Waterloo, generals across the West continued to study his tactics and engage their armies the same way armies fought during the Napoleonic Era. Despite advances in military technology and the advent of railroads for transportation, all of which made defensive warfare more effective, acclaimed military geniuses like Robert E. Lee used flank attacks and infantry charges against superior numbers in an effort to win decisive victories, and it would not be until World War I that concepts of modern warfare made the Napoleonic Era of the early 19th century outdated. For those questioning why generals continued using tactics from the Napoleonic Era even as technology changed the battlefield, the Battle of Austerlitz may provide the best answer. Napoleon is regarded as one of history's greatest generals, and Austerlitz was his greatest victory. In 1805, Britain, Austria, and Russia allied together to form the Third Coalition against the French, and the Third Coalition's forces consisted of armies from Austria and Russia, with Britain providing naval support as well as its financial powers. Napoleon had already defeated and mostly destroyed an Austrian army in October at Ulm before it could link up with the Russians, setting the stage for the Battle of Austerlitz to be the culmination of the war against the Third Coalition as a whole in early December. Despite the smashing victory at Ulm, Napoleon's French army would still be well outnumbered at Austerlitz by a joint Russo-Austrian army in a battle that would also come to be known as the Battle of Three Emperors. Napoleon's enemies would famously say he was worth 50,000 men in the field, but the simple truth is he wasn't able to dominate Europe on his own. In fact, the subordinates and soldiers underneath him participated in several of history's most famous battles and charted the course of Napoleon's rise and fall. The French army which became known as the Grande Armée existed for just 10 years, from 1805 - 1815, and the question of what it was about this army that allowed it to win so many notable victories and to survive defeats which would have destroyed lesser armies has fascinated historians and writers ever since. After all, in terms of equipment, weapons, and battlefield tactics, there was little to distinguish the Grande Armée from other European armies in the early 1800s, but in battles such as Austerlitz (1805), Jena-Auerstedt (1806) and Wagram (1809) it won stunning victories, often against numerically superior enemies. No single factor can account for these victories, which could be attributed to a combination of high morale, a truly egalitarian approach to promotion from the ranks, a radical army organization, and the inspired leadership of Napoleon, all of which combined to make the Grande Armée virtually unbeatable for the first few years of its existence. As noteworthy as those battles all were, Waterloo is the most famous battle in modern history if not all of history, and appropriately so. Gathering an army of 100,000 men, Napoleon marched into what is now Belgium, intent on driving his force between the advancing British army under the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian forces under Marshal Blucher. It was the kind of daring strategy that only Napoleon could pull off, as he had at places like Jena and Austerlitz. At Waterloo, however, it would end disastrously, as Napoleon's armies were unable to dislodge Wellington and unable to keep the Prussians from linking up with the British. The battle would end with the French suffering nearly 60% casualties, the end of Napoleon's reign, and the restructuring of the European map. Simply put, the next 200 years of European history can be traced back to the result of the battle that day in 1815.