Thesis.
Founded on three fundamental principles of equality, fraternity and liberty, the French revolution spanned from 1789-1799. The revolution was really a historical landmark in the world for the massive bloodshed and intensity of the revolution. The country had been torn apart by political and religious strives which had persisted for a decade. After the revolution, the napoleon Bonaparte assumed power as the emperor. The revolution had begun due to the resentment of the feudalism, civil inequality and religious intolerance. It was geared towards the French establishment of a new political and social system where all people would enjoy equality before the law, government centralization, abolition of feudalism, religious tolerance and equality in access to careers. It was a struggle against inhumanity in a bid to create a favorable atmosphere where all human beings would exercise their rights and freedoms without any obstruction. Over the decade of the revolution, France did not have any centralized form of government but was stricken by serial upheavals and instability. It was until after the revolution that Napoleon discovered the need for a strong centralized state in order to consolidate the revolutionary advances in a bid to establish stability which had lacked for one decade. He sought to major upon the benefits of the revolution to steer France to the establishment of a stable foundation to institutionalize the gains therein by establishing a proper administrative framework. Napoleon came in as a shrewd administrator who would serve to convert the gains of the revolution and establish a humane French territory where the three principles of the revolution would be observed. I would argue that Napoleon was a champion in the French revolution and steered the French revolution principles to fruition.(Martyn. L. 1994, P,71-73)
At the onset of his reign, Napoleon set his objectives of establishing a methodological system of governance that would be that would be based on the popular consent and the general public interests of the entire French population against the will of any particular faction. His rule was founded on a republican monarchy where the voice of the citizens was the rule of law. The rule sought to unravel a social revolution that would be the pathway to the achievement of liberty and equality for all French citizens. In the advent of his rule, Napoleon’s regime managed to abolish and suppress the feudalism that was highly resented. The access to careers was now open to everyone who had the ability and desire to practice in a particular field. The assignment of careers was no longer based on birth of the candidates but all the people were considered for any opportunity from the same platform with none enjoying absolute advantage over the others by virtue of birth. His administrative debut brought to an end the medieval era and managed to stage a platform for the desired order and stability in France all aimed at establishing a united France. The success of any state is based on the unity of the members of the same state. Napoleon attempted to unify all people in France: the emigres and the revolutionaries, hence serving as an immediate mediator between the pre and post-revolutionary France. The reforms by the Napoleon were all inherited from the revolution and consolidated in the country. By meting out the reforms on France, Napoleon was a real protagonist and reformist. (Linda. F. & Marsha. F, 2004, p 120,121),
In his efforts to see the fruition of the principles of the revolution, Napoleon was keen on the principle of equality for all citizens in France. Equality was footed by several administrative measures by the Napoleon regime: for instance, the abolition of all elements of feudalism was meant to guarantee equal access to land and related land rights. All citizens now had equal and unlimited rights to own land anywhere and of any size as much as it was legally acquired. The issue of Proletarians and bourgeois became an element of the revolutionary and ancient pasts. There could only be a master servant relationship but not master slave relationship. All people who were part of the empire were supposed to subscribe to a uniform legal and justice system (the Napoleonic code) that was applied retrospectively to all citizens regardless their birth, race or origin. The application of the code to any single instance or individual was not dependent on any other factor apart from the law itself and the matter surrounding the application. All people were equal and acted as per the same code. Napoleon’s regime also established the Legion of Honor which was meant to boost unity in the empire alongside talent recognition and appreciation. The Legion of Honor was a symbolic sign of the post revolution reunion of all estates in the country. All states in the country were supposed to converge and work towards a common national interest against the ancient revolutionary norms of each state for itself. Napoleon in his position was also a symbol of unity and represented the general public will and acted as a link between the citizens and the governing organs. All members of the society subscribed to unconditional loyalty to the throne and this was a real equating factor because they were all equal before the rule. The strong and authoritarian streak borne by Napoleon was also a contributing factor to the achievement and maintenance of equality in France. The achievement and maintenance of equality in the country by the emperor was a useful tool for effective administration because the presence of equality would deter any feelings of neglect or oppression on a part of the population against another. At the time of power assumption, Napoleon found no element of liberty in France. Guided and dictated by the French interests to safeguard their interests and properties obtained from the revolution, political liberty was left to perish. In the Napoleonic code, this was however meant to safeguard the principle of equality. Liberty was left to diminish in order to see the achievement of the other principles; a collaboration of all the principles would have otherwise proved to be impossible in the prevailing conditions. Napoleon was only unable to create a liberal state but did not stamp out any liberty.(Michael. V. L. 2007,p 100,102),
Conclusion
Having risen to the throne at the end of the French revolution, the Bonaparte Napoleon served as an exemplary shrewd administrator who could be emulated for leading France to unity and prosperity from a torn status which had been the outcome of the French revolution. Napoleon managed to promote and improve the level of equality in the country, opened careers to all people with talent, ability and will, as well as stamping out feudalism. He established a new social and political system based on the public will not any particular faction in the country. He expended more efforts to ensure equality not by pulling down those at the top bur by raising those at the bottom. H eventually achieved his old age goals of consolidating and preserving the gains of the revolution. Even after his demise, his administrative tactics still lived on. Napoleon is an iconic emperor who was a pragmatic leader with an outstanding element of wit and ability to rule, unify and lead. I would argue that his reign served to protect the principles of the French revolution and pushed them to maturity with the exception of liberty. Napoleon was a very important factor in the revolutionary decade as well as the period immediately after the revolution: he steered France to the fruition of the principles of the revolution. (David. P. J. 2012, p 92-95),
References.
Martyn. L. (1994), Napoleon Bonaparte and the legacy of the French revolution, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, USA.
Owen. C. (1999), The French revolution and the Napoleonic era, Harcourt College publishers, Harcourt.
David. P. J. (2012), Napoleon and the Revolution, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, USA
Louis. B. (1981), France under Napoleon, Princeton University Press, USA.
Michael. V. L. (2007), The fall of Napoleon: The allied invasion of France, 1813-1814, Cambridge university press, New York, USA.
Linda. F. & Marsha. F, (2004), the French revolution, Greenwood Press, New York, USA.
