For a span of 52 years, Napoleon impacted the world in an astonishing manner (Elaine Landau 89). There are numerous achievements that Napoleon initiated without regard to the prevailing circumstances. The revolutions and instances of expedient military conquests, spell out the magnitude of individual effort that Napoleon employed to ensure success in the wars he waged (Elaine Landau 75). Napoleon’s personal, visionary statement was, “The most dangerous moments come with victory (John Abbott 233).” Numerous cases of double superior leadership positions like the Emperor of France and Italy’s King dictate that Napoleon’s achievements were more individually driven as opposed to circumstances. An analysis of Napoleon life from Childhood to Emperorship leads us to understand that Napoleon’s success was individual and not circumstantial.
Napoleon was born to a legal attorney on August 15, 1769 in the island of Corsica (Elaine Landau 11). His early years of life faced daunting challenges that shaped his view of life (Elaine Landau 12). The most challenging instance, in his childhood, was the death of his father when Napoleon was 15 years. This not only led him to be the breadwinner of the family, he also decided to join the military a few years later. The circumstantial view of Napoleon’s life would have inhibited his stamina to face the challenges that life threw at him. Napoleon joined the army because of being brilliant. In his study at the Royale Militaire, Napoleon took one year to learn and succeed in a two-year course. The government awarded him a scholarship to the military academy, and this indicates that his individual effort rather than circumstances led to his successes.
At the age of 30, in 1799, Napoleon was the Emperor of France (Elaine Landau 73). As the emperor, he did not engage in governance alone. Napoleon organized numerous military conquests, which culminated in victories (Gregory Fremont-Barnes 55). As a general in the French revolution, Napoleon facilitated military engagements with other European armies (John Abbott 242). In his military engagements, Napoleon applied exceptionally peculiar military tactics currently under study in many military colleges. Sometimes Napoleon and his army engaged in simultaneous military engagements and won. The Napoleonic code and other key strategic military tactics are evidences of the individual will power that drove Napoleons achievements. Such achievements can only be attributed to an individual drive and not circumstances that existed.
Napoleon had a keen interest in enlightenment. When he planned the Egyptian invasion in 1798, he opted to take scientists together with military men on this escapade (Gregory Fremont-Barnes 39). The scientists would do a lot of mineral search while the military men engaged in conquest. During his campaigns in Italy, he initiated the publishing of two newspapers which he distributed to his armies to keep them informed. In 1799, Napoleon effected the introduction of the metric system of measurements (Gregory Fremont-Barnes 45). This step stopped the general rounding up of weights in business which posed a substantial burden on the people. He not only envisioned it but passed legislation of the adoption of the system in the year 1812 (Elaine Landau 75). This keen interest in knowledge and advancement are individual passions that Napoleon had since his childhood and not a result of circumstances.
Napoleon engaged in an extremely risky operation of executing a coup in France. This event happened during the time he had led the Egyptian invasion. When France was reeling on the brink of bankruptcy, Napoleon together with Sieyes organized the coup of 18 Brumaire. Napoleon’s individual elegance came out, when he successfully drove out the legislative councils and set up transitional consuls to run the government administrative affairs. Bonaparte drafted the constitution and managed to become the first consul. These achievements portray Napoleon as an individual enthusiast and achiever and not a circumstantial achiever.
Among the most daring escapades Napoleon initiated, the European attacks and revolution are the most daring. The forces led by Napoleon executed significant societal reorganization campaigns that led the feudal patterns of society to stop. The initial organization was a closed setup seen in the society’s restrictive culture (Gregory Fremont-Barnes 54). Napoleon’s efforts and military conquests not only wielded successes in war but also opened up the Jewish community to face challenges against their traditions. Napoleon set up the Napoleonic code that many European countries adopted in their efforts towards unification and nationalism. The bourgeois society is an example of beneficiaries of the revolutionary ideas that Napoleon initiated. Napoleon’s efforts led to the reorganization of the numerous states of the Roman Empire into an organized 40 state Confederation. These revolutionary efforts were individual initiatives for the good of the society and not a result of circumstances.
The respect Napoleon attracted was evident even outside France. He not only employed propaganda and political wit to slide societal gain into place, he also opposed oppressive regimes and supported independence. In Poland, for example, Napoleon’s legal code and efforts to introduce bureaucracy are elements of pleasant memory (Elaine Landau 80). As King of Italy, and simultaneously the Emperor of France, Napoleon invented the green-white-red basic colors for the flag. To this age many European and non-European countries have flags that adorn the basic colors Napoleon invented. These efforts that Napoleon initiated within and outside France are manifestations of individual rather than circumstantial achievements.
Though many address the Napoleonic successes as circumstantial achievements, the driving force offered by Napoleon played the principal role (Gregory Fremont-Barnes 49). Military might without coordination and tact cannot achieve the magnitude of success that was evident in the Napoleonic conquests. Many countries have adopted the code of governance and military approach instituted by napoleon. This is a result of the individual passion and influence Napoleon imparted. If it were a result of circumstances, then the current conditions could not accommodate the Napoleonic ideologies and legislation.
Works Cited
Elaine Landau (2006), Napoleon Bonaparte, Twenty-First Century Books.
Gregory Fremont-Barnes (2010), Napoleon Bonaparte: Leadership, Strategy, Conflict, Osprey
Publishing.
Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne (1839), Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Scott, Webster
& Geary.
John Abbott (2005), The Life Of Napoleon Bonaparte, Kessinger Publishing.
