How is Napoleon viewed today in France?
- Thread starter Godwynn
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Domen
Misico dux Vandalorum
Was he a dictator? Certainly much less a dictator than absolute rulers before him and in other countries.
LightSpectra
me autem minui
"Much less of a dictator?" Right. I'm sure he would've maintained constitutional integrity in Britain had he conquered it, just like he maintained federalism in Germany.
He was an absolute monarch in every sense of the word...
CELTICEMPIRE
Zulu Conqueror
He was an absolute monarch in every sense of the word...
Considering that he had himself crowned king of France when he was supposed to be against Monarchy.
He crowned himself Emperor, actually, and there's not a whole lot to argue for the claim that Napoleon was ever antimonarchical at any point in his career.
ParkCungHee
Deity
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Did he even keep parliament around?
LightSpectra
me autem minui
He allied with, or tried to curry the favor of, the anti-monarchist factions when it was convenient to his interests. Which doesn't say Napoleon was ideological about anything, but it does say he was manipulative.
Napoleon was an autocrat, but more in the mode of a Franco than a Hitler. That said, ask the Spaniards how they feel about Franco. Napoleon was almost as brilliant a political infighter as he was a general, but he was outclassed by at least two of his own subordinates in the former category, with both Fouche and Talleyrand proving to be better infighters than he could ever be. Of course, neither of them were ever stupid enough to go for broke like Napoleon often did.
classical_hero
In whom I trust
He fell short of the goals.
He had no goals.
Domen
Misico dux Vandalorum
You know any dictator who contributed as much and in as many countries to the development of law, economy & education as Napoleon did?
Napoleon also preserved - even restored - many of the achievements of the first - most productive, least bloody - phases of the French Revolution.
When it comes to law - his Code Civil from 1804 was an innovative and modern codification of private law compared to those in other countries of that time. Also his Code Penal from 1810 - although not as modern as his Code Civil - is considered as one of the first modern codifications of criminal law.
He didn't crown himself king of France and he didn't crown himself emperor of France.
He crowned himself emperor of the French - not of France.
ParkCungHee
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Stalin.
Napoleon also initiated one of the bloodiest waves of conflict in European history, considered himself to be above the rules of diplomacy, re-established a military aristocracy in France, ruined the economies of the European states by subordinating them to his war machine, and deserved every bit of what happened to him in 1812-5.
As to the Code Civil, a historian once remarked about Napoleon, "A mugger's blow may restore an amnesiac's memory, a lover's betrayal turn a person to a saintly life of good works. The consequences do not alter the nature of the actions themselves."
Notably, I didn't specify what kind of emperor he crowned himself. But yes, that's correct. It's also irrelevant.Domen said:
Of course, the fact that a Pole would be giving a panegyric to Napoleon is roughly as surprising as a Brit harping on the genius of Wellington. I personally feel sorry for you - Napoleon hoodwinked and betrayed the Poles as viciously as any of the Partitioners - but it is what it is.
But he was still short! *rimshot*
LightSpectra
me autem minui
I don't see how that makes him not a dictator. It's entirely irrelevant. May as well bring up the eponymous pastry as evidence.
Exactly. He was quite open about his intention to give the Grand Duchy to Alexander in exchange for peace; he was even enthusiastic about the prospect, since it would make Prussia more dependent upon him while he marshalled his troops for another attack on Russia.
Verbose
Deity
As for the OP, my impression is one of "Not being that much on people's minds at all these days", or maybe this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7ktcT8a49M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7ktcT8a49M&feature=related
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