When the name Napoleon Bonaparte is mentioned, the first thing to pop into mind is the time after the French Revolution. He seized power after the collapse of the Revolution, at first as part of the First Consul, and then becoming sole ruler himself. Although it has been debated that he was a democratic reformer, Napoleon Bonaparte was effectively ruler of France from 1799 to 1815. He installed a regime that was authoritarian, and ruled with an iron hand. After a time like the Reign of Terror, the French people needed leadership and someone to show them the right way, and Napoleon quickly took advantage of this. He began by serving as an artillery officer, and quickly saw himself as the greatest ruler of his time.
There came a point in Napoleon’s
Or was proving to the people his greatness and ability to be a ruler his priority? In 1804, after being crowned, Napoleon said, “It is said that I love power. Well, does anyone have any cause for complaint? Never have the prisons been so empty and the people so safe. The government is strong, my hand is steady, and my enemies are sensible enough to know that I shall not slacken the reins.” This quote proves that Napoleon does not care about his people directly. He cares about proving to everyone that he is the best ruler, and emperor that they have ever had. He claims he is doing everything right and that no one could ever do more than he has. It’s almost as if Napoleon is being overconfident. It could be debated that he does not care for the people at all, and that his love for power blinds him of the people’s
His way with words allowed him to gain control, and his military intelligence allowed him to conquer all that he did. He had an iron hand, which allowed him to get into a role of authoritarian and dictator. His love for power blinded him of things such as his people’s needs, and what was right for France. Throughout his reign, he craved for more and more power. Him being power hungry, and not knowing when enough was enough, ultimately brought upon his