Napoleon Bonaparte An Enlightened Despot Analysis

1. How was Napoleon an "Enlightened Despot"? An enlightened despot is an authoritarian leader who exercises rationality and tolerance to improve the lives of his citizens. Napoleon Bonaparte can be classified as an enlightened despot in the sense that he used his power and influence to embody the ideals of both the French Revolution and the Republic. He used the majority of the support for his authoritarian control by continuing to broaden police authority and by presenting himself to the French as their savior. He fought wars such as the Battles at Trafalgar, Austerlitz, Leipzig and Waterloo, as an attempt to try and unite Europe under one French Empire. Even though his plan eventually failed, French nationalism and pride emerged in its

During his reign, coalitions were formed. The First Coalition, consisted by Austria and Prussia, was created to restore the monarchy in France. The formation of this organization indicated that these nations were fearing the events that's happening in the Revolution in France and that these events may lead to the instability of Europe. In 1799, a second coalition was formed. Britain, Austria, and Russia joined forces to prevent the French expansion into the Near East. The third coalition composed of Britain, Austria, and Russia was created in 1805 to stop Napoleon's expansion to in Belgium and to strengthen Prussia. The Continental System created by Napoleon made the European countries resent Napoleon's control thus they buy smuggled goods. To show hate against this system, Russia withdrew from the Continental System. These three coalitions and Russia's reaction to the system emphasized the disagreement of the European nations to the Napoleonic Empire. On the other hand, Napoleon's reign also brought a sense of nationalism. The Confederation of Rhine, which was Napoleon's reorganization of German states, stirred the German nationalism. Napoleon unified the German principalities under the French rule in a way that he used these states provide him with soldiers and supplies for his wars and because of this, the Confederation stimulated the German desire for unification. Napoleon also