NAPOLEON MAN OF PEACE
by Ben Weider


President of the International Napoleonic Society
2875, Chemin Bates, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3S 1B7

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	Napoleon 1st, emperor 1769 - 1821 If ever a ruler owed his position to what is called the "will of the people", Napoleon did. Napoleon won it by his success with the sword, not the sword of execution, nor the sword of the guillotine, but the sword of battle against the enemies of France. The people of France elected Napoleon as the Emperor, because he saved France from its enemies and he defended the gains of the Revolution at home. Napoleon established both the Bank of France and the French bourse (stock exchange) as weIl as National and Departmental Tax Boards, to insure equitable taxation for alI. Consequently, the income of the French peasants skyrocketed. Napoleon established awards such as the "Legion of Honour" to reward those whose services to the nation merited special recognition; the recipient could be scientist, composer, legislator, clergyman, writer, as weIl as a soldier. In the area of public works, over 20,000 miles of imperial and 12,000 miles of regional roads were completed, almost a thousand miles of canals were build, the Great Cornice road was constructed along the Mediterranean coast, mountain roads were constructed across the Alps by ways of Simplon Pass and Mont. Cenis, and harbors were dredged and expanded at many ports, including Dunkerque and Cherbourg. Not only was Paris beautified with the construction of boulevards, bridges and monuments, but the National Archives received a permanent home. Napoleon also saved the Louvre. Monument buildings were constructed throughout the Empire and structures, such as the Imperial Cathedral of Speyer, made famous by Luther, were preserved while work on the spires of the great cathedral of Cologne were continued on Napoleon's orders. In fact, Napoleon's architectural handiwork can be found scattered across Europe, from Rome to Vienna. "Think tanks" and research centers were established in France to work on projects vital for national economy. An Industrial Board was organized to provide data and information to French Industry, as exemplitied by the success of the sugar beet farming and the canning industry. For religion, Napoleon ended the schism and restored the Catholic Church to France by the Concordat in 1801. He insured freedom of religions and equalily to the Protestant sects, and he declared France the homeland of the Jews, after il became obvious he could not establish their national home in Palestine. The Code Napoleon established equality before the law, emphasized the sanctity of the family, and assured the legal gains of the Revolution. The Code of Civil Procedure insured widespread user of mediation in the courts and the laws, and the courts were secularized. Napoleon as Emperor at the moment of his corononation, wearing the collar of the Legion of Honour, which he founded in 1802. Napoleon created the Imperial University to administer French Education. Specialized engineering and technological schools were established along with the famous lycées to insure a scientific education. The establishment of a Professional School of Midwifery and first School of Obstetrics were formed during the consulate and the School of Veterinary Science was professionalized under Napoleon. In the military, Napoleon pioneered in what we describe today as the "principles of war" which are studied by almost every military academy in the world. The armies of today are based on the organization created by Napoleon for his Grand Army and it has been used ever since. Many historians claim that Napoleon created his own legend on St. Helena. The truth is that his legend started in Toulon in 1793. Lord Holland, speaking in the British House of Peers, spoke about the deceased Emperor in August 1833. He stated : "The very people who detested this great man have acknowledged that for 10 centuries there has not appeared upon earth a more extraordinary "character". This is indeed a tribute to the Emperor.

Like aIl soldiers who have seen battle, Napoleon had a horror of war. He was sentimental and good. He loved the people and his soldiers like they were his children.

Never in his entire life did he start a single war. AIl the wars he conducted were forced on him by the reigning monarchs of Europe, who wanted to keep their ancestral privileges and feared the spread of republican ideas.

Consider what William Pitt said in the British Parliament on December 29th, 1796: "England will never consent to the reunion of Belgium and France. We will continue to wage war as long as France does not return to its 1789 borders." He kept his word, as did those who succeeded him, except during the brief interval of peace under the Treaty of Amiens from the 25th of March 1802 to the 16th of May 1803.

So, then ! Napoleon was in no way responsible for the annexation of Belgium. It was the Convention of August 1795 that made it a French province. Besides, the annexation of Belgium was not the real issue behind what was at stake. More than anything, the British oligarchy wanted to crush this French Republic that intended to export the ideas of Liberty to the rest of Europe. Essentially, it wanted the King of France to be returned to
the throne.

As a result, seven coalitions, spurred by Britain and funded by its gold, were mounted against France during the period from 1793 to 1815.

Here is the list, with a brief account of how each unfolded:

Rivoli -January 14th , 1797 This extraordinary victory of Bonaparte in Italy which ended the first coalition, stunned all of Europe.

1st Coalition: 1793 - 1797 England, Austria, Prussia, Russia, Holland, Spain, Portugal, Papal States and Italy. In 1792, the armies of the Republic under the command of Dumouriez and Kellermen had repulsed the attacks of the Prussians at Valmy and the Austrians at Jemmapes. In February 1793, English Prime Minister William Pitt, who had assumed that the armies assembled and seasoned by Prussia and Austria would make short work of the sans­culottes, decides to mount a major coalition of aIl the monarchies of Europe to put an end to the Republic. In the face of this threat, the military strategist Lazare Carnot, later Napoleon's Minister of War, orders a mass draft and sets out to organize and train the troops by developing "the amalgam," whereby young recruits full of passion and enthusiasm at the prospect of fighting for liberty are posted around a core of veterans.

Soon the armies of the Republic are victorious on aIl fronts. The Italian Princes are the first to leave the coalition, followed by Prussia, Russia, Holland, Spain and Portugal.

In the spring of 1796, only England, Austria and the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia remain in a state of war .
It was at this point that Bonaparte was named Commander -in-Chief of the Italian army and began the dazzling campaign that astounded Europe.

1796:
12 April -Victory of Montenotte
21 April -Victory of Mondovi
28 April -Armistice of Cherasco with Piedmont
10 May -Victory of Lodi
15 May -Bonaparte enters Milan
5 August -Victory of Castiglione
8 Sept.­ Victory of Bassano
17 Nov.-Victory of Arcola

1797:
14 Jan. -Victory of Rivoli
2 Feb. -Capitulation of the Austrians at Mantua
17 act. -The Treaty of Campo-Formio ends the war

25th of July 1799 Battle ofAboukir By L.F. Lejeune

2nd Coalition: 1798 -1802 England, Austria, Russia, Kingdom of Naples William Pitt, knowing Bonaparte to be in Egypt, believes this time it will be possible to defeat the armies of the Republic and restore the Bourbons to the throne of France. With a good deal of gold, he succeeds in persuading Austria, Russia and the Kingdom of Naples to join England to relaunch the war. The hostilities get underway in the fall of 1798 in the Kingdom of Naples, where General Championnet quickly turns the situation to his advantage. King Ferdinand IV is forced to flee to Sicily. In March 1799, the Directory decides to launch three offensives, one in Bavaria, one in Switzerland, and the third in Italy. It believes its forces are superior. But Bonaparte was not there.

Jourdan engages Archduke Charles at Stokach on the 25th of March and is defeated. In Switzerland, Masséna can do no better than hold his positions. However, the grimmest setbacks occur in Italy. Suvorov forces Shérer and Moreau to retreat and abandon Milan. Joubert, who had replaced Moreau, attacks Suvorov at Novi on the 15th of August 1799. He is killed in action, and it is a disaster. Italy is lost for France. Fortunately, Masséna buys time. At the Battle of Zurich (from the 23rd to the 27th of September) he drives the Russians back across the Rhine .

And then Bonaparte returns from Egypt.

On the 14th of June 1800, he defeats the Austrians at Marengo and on the 3rd of December, Moreau defeats another Austrian army at Hohenlinden. Treaties favourable to France put an end to the war:

9 February 1801 -Treaty of Luneville (Austria)
28 March 1801 -Treaty of Florence (Naples)
25 March 1802 -Treaty of Amiens (England)

3rd coalition: 1803 - 1805
England, Austria, Russia, Prussia, Sweden

In 1803, William Pitt, now back in power in England, violates the Treaty of Amiens and declares war on France, while working to put together a new coalition. He is also party to the Count d'Artois' attempts on Bonaparte's life (Cadoudal -Pichegru).

Bonaparte assembles an army at Boulogne intending to invade England and impose peace. But the Austrians advance in Bavaria and Napoleon, who has been Emperor of France since the 18th of May 1804, decides to break camp and march to encounter them. He captures General Mach's army at Ulm on the 20th of October 1805.

Nelson destroys the French fleet at Trafalgar the following day on the 21 th of October . Then cornes the great victory of Austerlitz over the Austro-Russians on the 2nd of December 1805, the anniversary of the coronation.
The Treaty of Presbourg on the 26th of December 1805 brings the war to a close.

The batlle of Friedland, 14 th of june 1807

4th coalition: 1805 -1807 England, Prussia, Russia, Sweden Prussia, which had not been able to act in 1805, drags England, Russia and Sweden into a new coalition against France. On the 14th of October 1806, its army is simultaneously wiped out in two major battles: Jena, under the command of the Emperor in person, and Auerstaedt under the command of Marshal Davout. The fleeing troops of both Prussian armies meet; the two routed armies collide and become entangled in indescribable mayhem under the dismayed eyes of King Frederick William and Queen Louise, who had come, as if to a parade, to attend the victory of their troops.

Napoleon enters Berlin in triumph. However the Russians advance into Poland and the Swedes are in Pomerania. At the end of December 1806, Napoleon leaves Berlin and sets up in Warsaw. After the indecisive Battle of Eylau (8th of February1807) , Napoleon crushes the Russians at Friedland on the 14th of June 1807.
The Treaty of Tilsit ( 7th to 9th of July 1807) ends the war.

5th Coalition: 1809
England, Austrian

At the end of 1808, England again tries to align the European powers against France. Austria alone accepts, and only on the condition that England pay their campaign expenses. The Austrians take the offensive on the 10th of April 1809. They will be defeated in several battles, the most important of which are Eckmühls ( 22nd of April) , Essling (22nd of May) and finally Wagram on the 6th of July. The Treaty of Vienna of the 14th of October 1809 ends the war.

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