Napoleonic Europe

Napoleonic Europe During the French Revolution, the people of France had witnessed many different forms of government- absolute monarchy, constitutional monarchy and a republic. Thus, as a key phase in any revolution, a dictatorship will arise who says he will meet the people’s desperate needs. This was Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon rescued France from the toils of the revolution. He was also a child of the Enlightenment and used many of its ideals during his …

…rights. He greatly modernized and progressed French and much of European society. Ideas such as establishing a national bank, organizing public education and employing natural rights upon the people give Napoleon the title of last enlightened despot. However, his numerous taxes and wars would prevent people from seeing these great reforms until his fall in 1815. Although he is better known as one of the greatest military geniuses, his domestic- enlightened reforms can not be ignored.