The Successes and Failures of Napoleon Bonaparte

The Successes and Failures of Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon was one of the most successful leaders of France despite his well-known failures. Napoleon was very successful domestically, creating revolutionizing ideas on both the economic front as well as the social front. He was also very successful on a worldwide front. His military prowess will forever be remembered in French history. Although Napoleon had many successes during his time as ruler of France, he also suffered several blunders in which led to his demise. Overall, Napoleon will forever be remembered for his military success and failures, but his domestic policies will forever influence the French culture.

Napoleon was a very successful ruler, and created many beneficial policies for the French. First, he established great economic successes in the home front. He created the Central Bank of France in 1800, which helped stabilize the monetary system in France. The bank created a sole controller of not issuance in which could be backed by gold and silver. His conservative economic policies also helped strengthen the state in which helped grow French industries.

Napoleon also had success on the social front. He first established the Civil Code in 1804. On mainly a legal forefront, he was able to create more equality for men, giving freedom of religion and removing birth privileges. The code strengthened the power of every man especially in family life. He also created a religious conformity in 1801 with the Concordat in which elected the Roman Catholic religion as the majority. It also did pay tribute to other Christian religions, creating a peace and unity of the people. Overall Napoleon had great social and economic successes in which helped develop his domestic success.

Napoleon was not only successfully domestically, his successes ranged militarily and diplomatically. He was able to sign treaties with two strong European powers, Great Britain and Austria. On Feburary 9th 1801 he signed the Treat of Luneville with Austria and on March 25th 1802 he signed the Treaty of Amiens. These were significant because it was a rarity for Europe to be at such peace. His largest military success was the 11-year war period between 1803 and 1814. He spent this time at war, defeating Austria in 1805, Prussia in 1806, the Russian armies in 1807, and British forces in Spain in 1808 (Kishlansky, 634). Overall, Napoleon had many diplomatic and military successes during his reign.

Although Napoleon had much success during his reign, he also suffered some blunders in which led to his demise as a ruler. Although his domestic social policies helped equalize the culture for men, it stripped much of the enlightenment successes for women. He also turned a blooming democracy into an old style tyranny. Although he had several military successes and failures, his biggest blunder is his failed attempt to seize