Napoleon essays

Napoleon essays "Napoleon I is sometimes called the greatest enlightened despot." Evaluate this assessment in terms of Napoleon I's policies and accomplishments. During the Enlightenment, many Enlightenment thinkers wanted to educate and enlighten the monarchs, who then could use that knowledge to enforce good laws and promote human happiness. Few monarchs have been considered enlightened monarchs; these include Fredrick the Great, Catherine the Great, and especially Joseph II. Along with these great leaders, Napoleon is also often considered an enlightened monarch. When Napoleon came back to France, he was a member of a small group who plotted and successfully overthrew the five-man Directory. Napoleon then seized power, and he was considered a national hero by the people. During his rule, Napoleon successfully made new reforms and laws that generally kept the people happy. When Napoleon came into power, France was a total wreck, economically, politically, and socially. However, Napoleon used his enlightened knowledge to strengthen France once again. He made changes to policies that kept every class of France satisfied. For example, Napoleon ¡Ã‚ ¯s Civil Code allowed male equality of all male citizens before the law and absolute security of wealth and private property. This kept the middle class and revolutionaries who fought for this right content. Under Napoleon ¡Ã‚ ¯s rule, the Bank of France was established, stabling the economy of France. Also, Napoleon got rid of serfdom and feudal dues. These changes gave peasants more land and status, satisfying these bitter peasants. He also pleased the nobility by creating an imperial nobility to reward his most talented officials. Napoleon also compromised with the Catholic Church to keep the religious authorities and people satisfied, and also to prevent a conflict between the church and the state. After long negotiations with Pope Pius VII, Napoleon and the pope reached an agr ...