HOW
NAPOLEON CONSOLIDATED HIS POWER:
From 1802 to 1815, Napoleon was so dominant
in Europe and he was able to consolidate his
power due to several factors:
- In the first place, Napoleon used force to dominate affairs in France and Europe.
He a large well motivated army that he used to conquer states like Italy,
German, and Holland etc. He also relied on the same army to consolidate
his power in such conquered states. The army was yet useful in maintaining
law and order and suppressing resistances
- Napoleon also used his closed relatives and friends to
administer the conquered states. E.g. Joseph Bonaparte in Spain, Louis Bonaparte in Holland,
Jerome Bonaparte was made the king in West Phalia
and Sister Caroline was made Queen of Naples. By using his brothers and
sisters and closed friends, Napoleon was able to use loyal and trusted
administrators who maintain effective control in their area and avoided
any sabotage against Napoleon.
- Napoleon dubiously used the revolutionary doctrines of
equality, liberty and fraternity in Europe
to win support as aliberator.He falsely preached such ideas to cool down
resistance in the conquered state and consolidate his power. Much as later
he violated such principles, through oppression and exploitation; he had
already consolidated himself in power.
- Napoleon also used marriage ties as political tool to gain natural
alliance. In 1810, he divorced Josephine because she was barren and
married Marie Louise from Austria.
This improved on the diplomatic relationship between France and Austria
which explain why Austria
remained friendly ally until 1813, hence, consolidating his power.
- Treaty signing also helped Napoleon to consolidate his power.
He concluded his military victories by signing treaties. I.e., he forced
the defeated powers to sign these treaties. E.g., Austria signed Lunaville treaty, Russia signed the treaty of Tilsit, and Britain
signed the treaty of Amien in 1802.The treaties enable Napoleon to
consolidate his power.
- Napoleon established firmed control over Education and press
since they were potential department that could be used by his opponent to
undermine his power in Europe. In the conquered
states such as Italy,
German and Spain,
he censored the press and the journalists who published articles against
him were arrested, tortured and killed. The teaching of liberal subjects
like History was abolished.
- Napoleon signed concordat with Pope to consolidate his
influence in Europe. He believed that the
friendly relationship with the Pope would make him get support from the
Catholics who were the majority in France
and the whole Europe. He brought reconciliation
between the church and the state. That is why Catholics supported him up
to 1808 when he violated the treaty.
- Napoleon’s social, economic and political achievements in France
were so great that made them to give him solid support in his conquest and
domination. He modernized France,
improved on education, codified the law, centralized administration and
improved on the economy.
- Similarly, Napoleon embarked on socio-economic development in
the conquered states which made him to be welcome as a liberator. E.g., he
constructed and improved on roads, railways, ports and harbors in the
Italian and German states. He also laminated inequality and destroyed the
privileges of the nobles and the clergy. This made Italian and German
peasants to support Napoleon hence, consolidating his power.
- Napoleon also resorted to over taxation as a strategy of
dominating Europe. By over taxing the conquered
states, Napoleon made them so poor and submissive that they could not
finance resistance against him. He also used the money for further conquest.
The revenue collected also helped him to administer his big Heterogeneous Empire.
