Strong Personality – France saved by Napoleon Bonaparte
The primary source “Letter from Citizen Bonaparte, General in Chief of the army of Italy, to the Executive Directory,” written by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1796 is uncovering aspects with expansionism, class, and about social behavior for French people living during Napoleon’s time era. The primary source is a letter written by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1796 sent from when he was out in battle outside France’s boarders. He was on a conquest journey in the northern part of Italy, and was defeating his way towards Venice. People who lived during Napoleon’s era were still living with a class system, however not like the one during the French Revolution, and were more mobile than before. The French society needed strong personalities to help them out of the crisis after the French Revolution. It is important for us to understand what happened during this time period because the French Revolution and the time period after is extremely important to understand what modern history is based on and how it structured modern history.
It is pretty obvious to people, and is considered general knowledge that expansionism was on the agenda for France and Napoleon when he was the reign of France. Many people also knew that he was a general also before he ruled over France. However, not everyone knows how heavily Napoleon was involved in the battles. He was a general in the French army and led his troops around in Europe and other parts of the world, such as Egypt. When we examine this information we understand the mindset of French rulers before Napoleon ruled France. This also reflects in the people of France, how the mindset of the civilization of France was during this time period. The period after the French Revolution (1789 - 1799) the monarchy was overthrown, and society was rather unstable. Social and economic life in France had changed, and the whole country was broke.
Older French societies are known to have a class system where the peasants work for the upper class, the bourgeoisie. The French Revolution happened, and the bourgeoisie did not anymore have the power they used to. However, this did not mean that the class system was not present at the time. The class system was different, but it was still prestige to the French people to have some kind of reward or title. According to the primary source, the letter, Napoleon demanded that a handful of the soldiers in his army would be promoted to captains: “I demand that Citizen Rav (Ray? Rey?) aide-de-camp of the brave Mezzini, and Citizen Thoiret, worthy adjutant of the third battalion of the grenadiers, be both made captains.”[1] It was important to the soldiers to get promoted for good service to their country. A promotion helped them keep their hopes and their motivation up. Napoleon also rewarded other soldiers in this letter,
In the letter Napoleon was constantly writing about the cannons they used, and sent updates on the canons back to the Executive Directory. He informed the Executive Directory when the canons arrived at his camp, and how many. “…and four pieces of cannon which has just arrived to be placed.”1 This reveals to us how the French population was doing with military progression. By bragging about his cannons, and especially one of his men that he was a cannoneer, a horseman, and a grenadier at the same time indicates that some of the men in his army was very good trained and had a hunger for success and victory. This was exactly the kind of people that France needed at this time. The French people needed a leader, and Napoleon himself was of this exact personality. The French people needed Napoleon, an emperor set on his goals, to bring them out of the crisis that started after the revolution in 1799 (p. 72)[2].
Referring back to the part where Napoleon mentioned that cannon arrived, we understand that the French army was very mobile. They traveled far distances with heavy artillery. When Napoleon stated this in a proud voice, which makes us understand the importance of it. Napoleon was proud of how mobile and fast his army was, all the horsemen that were able to move quickly over far distances. The cannons, heavy as they were, were most likely moved by men, assisted by horsemen guiding them though rough landscape towards the next target of bombarding.
After the French Revolution the country was really broke. People were both devastated and scared and had no money to rebuild their homes and houses. About five years after the end of the revolution, people were granted tax reliefs to rebuild their homes and farms. People were extremely scared that there was going to be a new monarchy that would eventually bring it all back in time (p. 72)2. A new monarchy meant that the class system would eventually heal back to the way it used to be – the bourgeoisie on top, and the peasants on the bottom, which was the reason for the revolution in the first place.
The people of France were controlled, and the cultural events and information they got from newspapers was limited. In 1811 there was only four newspapers left out of close to 60 original ones. The theatres were limited too, and sponsored by the directory. This way the Directory could control what people were watching and point them in the direction they wanted. The Directory did so the theatre plays were suited for the many Protestants, the majority of the people, in France at this time (p. 80).[3]
Napoleon liked to do things his way. He reformed the penalty system in France. It was no longer a crime to be homosexual, although the policemen could harass them in public when they wanted to. The policemen did horrible things to homosexuals, such as public exhibition or even amputating body parts (p. 84).[4] By building new prisons, Napoleon actually created jobs for the French people. In 1810 he built eight new prisons, where the prisoners were held. This helped the French people out of the economic crises started years earlier during and after the French Revolution. The largest change for the people of France was in 1084 when Napoleon announced the Napoleonic Code. The code included freedom of religion, no privileges based on birth, as well as the jobs offered by the government was going to be offered to the persons best qualified for the job, not for the people with most connections and an enormous social and professional network. This basically did so it was easier for people outside the bourgeoisie to do well for themselves, and fight for the people of their social class. It also made it more difficult for people, part of the bourgeoisie, with no or minor knowledge to get positions they were not qualified for.
Summing up how the social life and the people living during the time 1789 – 1814, and what Napoleon did to make France a better place, we can better understand how it was to live in a turbulent starting with a civil war and gradually build up a country to an empire of the early eighteen hundreds. People living in this period were broke. Napoleon helped them out by creating work for the citizens of France. Old France was had better military due to mobilization of heavy artillery and skilled people that worked hard on becoming a better soldier than anyone else. Class was still in France during this time, but is no longer considered an issue to the people of France as it was before. Now qualifications and achievements based on what you accomplished can get you a job in the government instead of the class people were born into.
[1] http://www.napoleonbonaparte.nl/newspaper/ruralrepository8-11-1796/letterfromntodirectory.html
[2]http://site.ebrary.com/lib/marymountpv/docDetail.action?docID=10076947&p00=social+history+france+napoleon page 72
[3]http://site.ebrary.com/lib/marymountpv/docDetail.action?docID=10076947&p00=social+history+france+napoleon page 80
[4]http://site.ebrary.com/lib/marymountpv/docDetail.action?docID=10076947&p00=social+history+france+napoleon page 84
It is pretty obvious to people, and is considered general knowledge that expansionism was on the agenda for France and Napoleon when he was the reign of France. Many people also knew that he was a general also before he ruled over France. However, not everyone knows how heavily Napoleon was involved in the battles. He was a general in the French army and led his troops around in Europe and other parts of the world, such as Egypt. When we examine this information we understand the mindset of French rulers before Napoleon ruled France. This also reflects in the people of France, how the mindset of the civilization of France was during this time period. The period after the French Revolution (1789 - 1799) the monarchy was overthrown, and society was rather unstable. Social and economic life in France had changed, and the whole country was broke.
Older French societies are known to have a class system where the peasants work for the upper class, the bourgeoisie. The French Revolution happened, and the bourgeoisie did not anymore have the power they used to. However, this did not mean that the class system was not present at the time. The class system was different, but it was still prestige to the French people to have some kind of reward or title. According to the primary source, the letter, Napoleon demanded that a handful of the soldiers in his army would be promoted to captains: “I demand that Citizen Rav (Ray? Rey?) aide-de-camp of the brave Mezzini, and Citizen Thoiret, worthy adjutant of the third battalion of the grenadiers, be both made captains.”[1] It was important to the soldiers to get promoted for good service to their country. A promotion helped them keep their hopes and their motivation up. Napoleon also rewarded other soldiers in this letter,
In the letter Napoleon was constantly writing about the cannons they used, and sent updates on the canons back to the Executive Directory. He informed the Executive Directory when the canons arrived at his camp, and how many. “…and four pieces of cannon which has just arrived to be placed.”1 This reveals to us how the French population was doing with military progression. By bragging about his cannons, and especially one of his men that he was a cannoneer, a horseman, and a grenadier at the same time indicates that some of the men in his army was very good trained and had a hunger for success and victory. This was exactly the kind of people that France needed at this time. The French people needed a leader, and Napoleon himself was of this exact personality. The French people needed Napoleon, an emperor set on his goals, to bring them out of the crisis that started after the revolution in 1799 (p. 72)[2].
Referring back to the part where Napoleon mentioned that cannon arrived, we understand that the French army was very mobile. They traveled far distances with heavy artillery. When Napoleon stated this in a proud voice, which makes us understand the importance of it. Napoleon was proud of how mobile and fast his army was, all the horsemen that were able to move quickly over far distances. The cannons, heavy as they were, were most likely moved by men, assisted by horsemen guiding them though rough landscape towards the next target of bombarding.
After the French Revolution the country was really broke. People were both devastated and scared and had no money to rebuild their homes and houses. About five years after the end of the revolution, people were granted tax reliefs to rebuild their homes and farms. People were extremely scared that there was going to be a new monarchy that would eventually bring it all back in time (p. 72)2. A new monarchy meant that the class system would eventually heal back to the way it used to be – the bourgeoisie on top, and the peasants on the bottom, which was the reason for the revolution in the first place.
The people of France were controlled, and the cultural events and information they got from newspapers was limited. In 1811 there was only four newspapers left out of close to 60 original ones. The theatres were limited too, and sponsored by the directory. This way the Directory could control what people were watching and point them in the direction they wanted. The Directory did so the theatre plays were suited for the many Protestants, the majority of the people, in France at this time (p. 80).[3]
Napoleon liked to do things his way. He reformed the penalty system in France. It was no longer a crime to be homosexual, although the policemen could harass them in public when they wanted to. The policemen did horrible things to homosexuals, such as public exhibition or even amputating body parts (p. 84).[4] By building new prisons, Napoleon actually created jobs for the French people. In 1810 he built eight new prisons, where the prisoners were held. This helped the French people out of the economic crises started years earlier during and after the French Revolution. The largest change for the people of France was in 1084 when Napoleon announced the Napoleonic Code. The code included freedom of religion, no privileges based on birth, as well as the jobs offered by the government was going to be offered to the persons best qualified for the job, not for the people with most connections and an enormous social and professional network. This basically did so it was easier for people outside the bourgeoisie to do well for themselves, and fight for the people of their social class. It also made it more difficult for people, part of the bourgeoisie, with no or minor knowledge to get positions they were not qualified for.
Summing up how the social life and the people living during the time 1789 – 1814, and what Napoleon did to make France a better place, we can better understand how it was to live in a turbulent starting with a civil war and gradually build up a country to an empire of the early eighteen hundreds. People living in this period were broke. Napoleon helped them out by creating work for the citizens of France. Old France was had better military due to mobilization of heavy artillery and skilled people that worked hard on becoming a better soldier than anyone else. Class was still in France during this time, but is no longer considered an issue to the people of France as it was before. Now qualifications and achievements based on what you accomplished can get you a job in the government instead of the class people were born into.
[1] http://www.napoleonbonaparte.nl/newspaper/ruralrepository8-11-1796/letterfromntodirectory.html
[2]http://site.ebrary.com/lib/marymountpv/docDetail.action?docID=10076947&p00=social+history+france+napoleon page 72
[3]http://site.ebrary.com/lib/marymountpv/docDetail.action?docID=10076947&p00=social+history+france+napoleon page 80
[4]http://site.ebrary.com/lib/marymountpv/docDetail.action?docID=10076947&p00=social+history+france+napoleon page 84
Works Cited
Primary source
Bonaparte, Napoleon. “Rural Repository.” Napoleon Bonaparte Internet Guide. N.p., 11 Aug. 1796. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. <http://www.napoleonbonaparte.nl/newspaper/ruralrepository8-11-1796/letterfromntodirectory.html>.
Secondary source
McPhee, Peter. Social History of France, 1789-1914. Gordonsville, VA, USA: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004.
Link:(http://site.ebrary.com/lib/marymountpv/docDetail.action?docID=10076947&p00=social%20history%20france%20napoleon)
Primary source
Bonaparte, Napoleon. “Rural Repository.” Napoleon Bonaparte Internet Guide. N.p., 11 Aug. 1796. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. <http://www.napoleonbonaparte.nl/newspaper/ruralrepository8-11-1796/letterfromntodirectory.html>.
Secondary source
McPhee, Peter. Social History of France, 1789-1914. Gordonsville, VA, USA: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004.
Link:(http://site.ebrary.com/lib/marymountpv/docDetail.action?docID=10076947&p00=social%20history%20france%20napoleon)
Primary Source Annotation
Bonaparte, Napoelon. “Rural Repository.” Napoleon Bonaparte Internet Guide. N.p., 11 Aug. 1796. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. <http://www.napoleonbonaparte.nl/newspaper/ruralrepository8-11-1796/letterfromntodirectory.html>.
This source is a letter written in Napoleon Bonaparte’s time. The letter is written by the general in chief, Napoleon Bonaparte, in 1796 in the country he ruled – France. It seems like this letter is written by Napoleon Bonaparte to inform the Executive Directory. The Executive Directory was the National Convention during the directory area from 1795-1799.
The source starts out with a lot of information. Information such as title of the letter, when it is from and whom it is for: Rural Repository, 1796, and the intention were informational. Napoleon writes back to the National Convention on journeys to Italy to take over a weak and vulnerable army in Italy. Napoleon Bonaparte decided to change the plans, and did not cross the river of Po. This shows that Napoleon was an impulsive man, and often had quick not planed impulsive actions.
Napoleon Bonaparte also talks about his new weapons: cannons. Furthermore he also brags about one of his men, the brave Berthier, who was a multitalented. Berthier was operation cannons, grenades, and a horseman all at the same time.
Napoleon Bonaparte is ending the letter with a short report on how the battles have been so far. One of his enemies, Beauleau, is fleeing and pulling back his forces to Austria, where he is from. Napoleon Bonaparte also tells about a few deaths in his troops. In the very end, Napoleon Bonaparte is reporting what is going to happen in the close future.
Bonaparte, Napoelon. “Rural Repository.” Napoleon Bonaparte Internet Guide. N.p., 11 Aug. 1796. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. <http://www.napoleonbonaparte.nl/newspaper/ruralrepository8-11-1796/letterfromntodirectory.html>.
This source is a letter written in Napoleon Bonaparte’s time. The letter is written by the general in chief, Napoleon Bonaparte, in 1796 in the country he ruled – France. It seems like this letter is written by Napoleon Bonaparte to inform the Executive Directory. The Executive Directory was the National Convention during the directory area from 1795-1799.
The source starts out with a lot of information. Information such as title of the letter, when it is from and whom it is for: Rural Repository, 1796, and the intention were informational. Napoleon writes back to the National Convention on journeys to Italy to take over a weak and vulnerable army in Italy. Napoleon Bonaparte decided to change the plans, and did not cross the river of Po. This shows that Napoleon was an impulsive man, and often had quick not planed impulsive actions.
Napoleon Bonaparte also talks about his new weapons: cannons. Furthermore he also brags about one of his men, the brave Berthier, who was a multitalented. Berthier was operation cannons, grenades, and a horseman all at the same time.
Napoleon Bonaparte is ending the letter with a short report on how the battles have been so far. One of his enemies, Beauleau, is fleeing and pulling back his forces to Austria, where he is from. Napoleon Bonaparte also tells about a few deaths in his troops. In the very end, Napoleon Bonaparte is reporting what is going to happen in the close future.
Primary Source
( Leominster , MA)
Aug 11, 1796
France
Army of Italy
Paris, May 20.
Copy of letter from Citizen Buonaparte, General in Chief of the army of Italy, to the Executive Directory.
Head Quarters, at Lody 22nd Floreal,
Citizen Directors,
I was of the opinion that the crossing of the river Po, would have been the boldest action of the campaign, as likewise, the battle of Mellefimo (or Mellesimo), one of the most vigorous actions ever known; but I have now to relate the battle of Lody.
The ??? (sast?), at three o'clock in the morning, the headquarters reached Cafal; at nine our vanguard encountered the enemy defending the approach of Lody. I immediately ordered all the cavalry to mount, and four pieces of cannon which has just arrived to be placed.
General Augerau's division, who had stopt at Borgetho and that the Gen. Massant, who has slept at Cafal, marched immediately; meantime the vanguard oversaw all the different posts of the enemy's and took from them one piece of cannon. We entered Lody in pursuit of the enemy, who had already crossed the Adda over the bridge. Beauleau, with all his army, was ranged in order of battle; 33 pieces of cannon defended the passage of the bridge…
But I must not forget to mention the brave Berthier, wo was on that day a cannoneer, a horseman, and a grenadier at the same time. Sugny (Soult?), chief of brigade, who commanded the artillery, behaved gallantly.
Beauleau flies with the remainder of his army; he is now crossing over the states of Venice; several towns of which have shut their gates. Since the beginning of the campaign, though we had very warm actions, and the army of the republic were oftentimes forced to show a great deal of boldness, none of them has yet been so terrible as the crossing of the bridge of Lody. If we lost but a few men, it is owing to the haste of the execution, and the sudden effects which the ??? and tremendous fire of the intrepid column produced on the army of the enemy, I demand that Citizen Monier (Mortier?) be confirmed adjuctant general, who serves in that capacity, although he is not included in this affair. I demand that Citizen Rav (Ray? Rey?) aide-de-camp of the brave Mezzini, and Citizen Thoiret, worthy adjutant of the third battalion of the grenadiers, be both made captains.
As soon as we shall be settled in a place, I will forward you a list of those who have distinguished themselves on that glorious day.
The commissary of the Government was always by me; the army is much indebted to his activity.
Buonaparte
(http://www.napoleonbonaparte.nl/newspaper/ruralrepository8-11-1796/letterfromntodirectory.html)
Aug 11, 1796
France
Army of Italy
Paris, May 20.
Copy of letter from Citizen Buonaparte, General in Chief of the army of Italy, to the Executive Directory.
Head Quarters, at Lody 22nd Floreal,
Citizen Directors,
I was of the opinion that the crossing of the river Po, would have been the boldest action of the campaign, as likewise, the battle of Mellefimo (or Mellesimo), one of the most vigorous actions ever known; but I have now to relate the battle of Lody.
The ??? (sast?), at three o'clock in the morning, the headquarters reached Cafal; at nine our vanguard encountered the enemy defending the approach of Lody. I immediately ordered all the cavalry to mount, and four pieces of cannon which has just arrived to be placed.
General Augerau's division, who had stopt at Borgetho and that the Gen. Massant, who has slept at Cafal, marched immediately; meantime the vanguard oversaw all the different posts of the enemy's and took from them one piece of cannon. We entered Lody in pursuit of the enemy, who had already crossed the Adda over the bridge. Beauleau, with all his army, was ranged in order of battle; 33 pieces of cannon defended the passage of the bridge…
But I must not forget to mention the brave Berthier, wo was on that day a cannoneer, a horseman, and a grenadier at the same time. Sugny (Soult?), chief of brigade, who commanded the artillery, behaved gallantly.
Beauleau flies with the remainder of his army; he is now crossing over the states of Venice; several towns of which have shut their gates. Since the beginning of the campaign, though we had very warm actions, and the army of the republic were oftentimes forced to show a great deal of boldness, none of them has yet been so terrible as the crossing of the bridge of Lody. If we lost but a few men, it is owing to the haste of the execution, and the sudden effects which the ??? and tremendous fire of the intrepid column produced on the army of the enemy, I demand that Citizen Monier (Mortier?) be confirmed adjuctant general, who serves in that capacity, although he is not included in this affair. I demand that Citizen Rav (Ray? Rey?) aide-de-camp of the brave Mezzini, and Citizen Thoiret, worthy adjutant of the third battalion of the grenadiers, be both made captains.
As soon as we shall be settled in a place, I will forward you a list of those who have distinguished themselves on that glorious day.
The commissary of the Government was always by me; the army is much indebted to his activity.
Buonaparte
(http://www.napoleonbonaparte.nl/newspaper/ruralrepository8-11-1796/letterfromntodirectory.html)