Age of Napoleon

November 1795-1799: The Directory

• The Directory was a five-member group that replaced the Committee of Public Safety

• It was weak and struggled to enforce government policies and had to rely on the military

• The Directory struggled with corruption and attempts to overthrow them

• Napoleon was promoted for making successful battle plans and supporting the revolution

• Napoleon gained popularity because he was seen as a successful leader who defeated enemies

• He overthrew the Directory and declared himself First Consul of France

• He had unlimited control

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Nov. 1799: Napoleon overthrows government

• New set of laws based on Enlightenment principles

• Rights to all citizens before the law

• Religious toleration

• Women lost rights

• Adopted by many other leaders

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March 21, 1804: The Napoleonic Code

• Napoleon added areas of the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Germany to France.

• Put his brother on the throne of Spain which led to uprisings.

• 1812: Napoleon invaded Russia with 600,000 soldiers.

• Napoleon got stuck in the harsh Russian winter.

• Fewer than 20,000 survive of the 600,000 that invaded Russia

• Napoleon returned to France defeated and weakened.

​In 1814 Napoleon and his army were defeated. He was exiled to the island of Elba. Napoleon escaped and reclaimed power in 1815. He raised another army and was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo. He was exiled once again to the island of St. Helena until his death.

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• This was a meeting of European states.

• Purpose was to address the conflict in Europe caused by the Napoleonic Wars.

• Balance of power was established to prevent future wars

• Monarchy restored in France​

Nov. 1814-Jun. 1814: Congress of Vienna