Napoleon Bonaparte: was he for or against the...

revolutionary ideas from the French Revolution that the peasants stated. Can you prove your yes or no answer with evidence????

I find it difficult to believe that someone who made himself emperor, and his friends and family kings and princes, was devoted to the ideals of republican government.

That is my overall question: which did he support and which did he not, along with evidence if applicable.

Thanks everyone so far!

Originally posted by es_bih Originally posted by gcle2003 I find it difficult to believe that someone who made himself emperor, and his friends and family kings and princes, was devoted to the ideals of republican government. I don't say exactly devoted, but definetly partial to them.

Originally posted by gcle2003 Originally posted by es_bih Originally posted by gcle2003 I find it difficult to believe that someone who made himself emperor, and his friends and family kings and princes, was devoted to the ideals of republican government. I don't say exactly devoted, but definetly partial to them. Liberté? Egalité? Fraternité possibly as long as they were his own brothers. Atheism and the cult of Reason? He was a man of his times nevertheless. But, think of it this way, he was also supposed to and expected to act in that manner. France had a legitimate monarchy; now that monarchy had claimants, he could not extinguish these claims, especially now that the rest of Europe began antagonizing him. The reactionary governments throughout Europe did not need a powerful repbulic in the midsts of royal traditions. They were willing to deal with the US and the Dutch Republic. Admittedly they were not a military threat as Frence was both before and after Napoleon assuming the crown. He reacted to the problems. As far as making royals of his family, well, again that was almost needed in him mind, except Spain where he had a loyal royal family in place already. I don't understand that - he made his brother King of Spain, as well as a few other places.  He needed to secure these holdings in order to secure France. Otherwise he would have risked having no buffers. It is not unsimilar to the Roman expansion in the 4th ct. BC and up, they fought "defensive" wars, wars which more and more could be agressive than deffensive. However, they thought of it as purely defensive in order to secure their interests and to create a buffer between them and everyone else. That's true but has nothing to do with the ideals of the Revolution. And claiming that Napoleon's military adventures were merely 'to secure France' is a bit mind-boggling. Now he was no diehard republican obviously, for he would have died for his beliefs rather than conformed to the norm, but he was partial to them for sure. I'm not sure what ideals you think he was partial to - partial enough to override his personal ambitions.

France was attacked post-Revolution mostly due to the fact they overthrew their royal family. That fact alone shows a proven hostility for non-royal forms. The US was an ocean away, and the Dutch Republic lost out to England throughout their wars. It was a minor European partner more interested in gaining trading outposts than expanding in Europe.

As far as Napoleon, yes he had his favor of certain revolutionary ideas, for one merit based promotions, as he himself would not have much chance against the established nobility in the prior system.

He made his family into royals and his generals into princes, why? because it was easier to trust them than established royals who never saw him as part of their country club so to say. Claiming the Imperial throne was a move to legitimize himself in a already established system, marriages soon followed, attaching himself to the Hapsburgs, too was a good idea. These things can go both ways, diabolical twists and turns, or actions based on necessity or supposed necessity. I said prior, there was no need to dismember the Spanish Bourbons, they were allies, he though them incapable of controlling Spain - a country in turmoil due to decades of misgovernment and debt.

Originally posted by es_bih France was attacked post-Revolution mostly due to the fact they overthrew their royal family.