Napolean's Defeat Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Napolean's Defeat - Term Paper Example The Aim of his reforms was to consolidate whatever was good in the Revolution and to conciliate those who had suffered at its hands without compromising the essential principle of Equality, Liberty and Fraternity. His conciliation of the Church and migrs did not restore their pre-Revolution privileges or power. Napoleon as a emperor of France and 'Son of the Revolutionary' he launched a new offensive against the absolute monarchies of Europe with the main purpose of spreading the Revolutionary principles to other countries and to glorify himself and France. There was a fundamental difference between the character of the wars waged by Revolutionary France from 1792 to 1802 and the Napoleonic Wars from 1803 onwards. The former were wars of liberation; they carried the message of the Revolution to the down-trodden people of foreign countries; they roused in them hopes of deliverance from the tyranny of absolutism, and hence wherever the French soldier went they were regarded by masses as helpers, friends and saviors of the underprivileged classes. But the Napoleonic wars did not rouse any such popular fervor. They were waged by an Imperial Despot to achieve glory and therefore instead of rousing sympathy, in the long run, they roused antagonism. The national self respect of the countries invaded by Napoleon was roused against him and was, in the end, one of the most important causes of his downfall. Napoleon trampled on the national sentiments of vanquished people by placing his brothers and sisters on their thrones. He was no longer regarded as a deliverer from the tyranny of absolute rulers; he was hated as a usurper and tyrant. Causes of Downfall of Napoleon Napoleon, 'the man of Destiny' and the 'son of the Revolution' had a phenomenal rise. The forces of the Revolution threw him into the limelight from the comparative oblivion, and once he had grasped the public gaze in dispersing the Paris mob with great alacrity and success in 1795, he continued to climb higher and higher till he became the Emperor of France in 1804. He so dominated the French and European stage that the period of his ascendancy - the years 1799-1815 -- is called the 'Napoleonic era.' His hold on Europe during this period was complete and the destiny of Europe depended on his whims and fancies. Napoleon was a genius both an administrator and as a general. His finest qualities of leadership and generalship always came to forefront in time of adversity. He was a master of strategy and brilliant campaigning. He was essentially a soldier and his inherent love of conquest and domination in the long run alienated the whole Europe and roused bitter national animosity against which he could do nothing. The whole of Europe was arrayed against him and finally was responsible for his overthrow. 1. Military Causes (i) Enormous losses in the Peninsular War, the Russian Campaign and the War