Napoleon and the Enlightenment



Napoleon, during his reign of France appeared as an enlightened ruler, but some of his actions such as creating a superior class in France contradicted him of being just that. His goal was to appear enlightened to the citizens of France because they would believe he was doing everything in his power to help them. It allowed him to gain popularity throughout France because they believed he was doing everything in his power to make a better living for them. His motto was, “order, security, and efficiency” which was used in the way he controlled warfare, politics, and economic problems. It played a large role within his military pursuits and the way he persevered in battle. He was a brilliant, successful general that took care of his soldiers and led them in battle, which goes along with the efficiency and security within France. The enlightenment took place in the 1700’s, and it occurred in the latter part of the Absolute Era. It occurred in France but it spread across Europe as well. It was an Era in which philosophes used methods of new science and solved the problems of society, which is similar to the way Napoleon handled issues in France. Napoleon made transportation easier by creating infrastructure and created schools for education in France and this relates to the philosophy of Voltaire and the importance of education. The enlightenment aristocrats were based on reason and logic and not on superstition or tradition thinking. Some of the contributing causes to the Enlightenment were reaction to religious wars, exposure to world cultures, and reaction to Absolutism. Hobbes believed that only a powerful government can ensure an orderly society while Locke believed the government should reflect the heads of the people. Napoleon solidified his power but he also allowed the people of France to have a say in government which led to his uprising as en emperor and caused a great deal of popularity in France.

Napoleon had many ideas that reflected enlightened ideas and reflected the people’s needs in France. In 1802, Napoleon issued a plebiscite which involves the popular vote of all people. It was in the form of a yes or no question and the reason for Napoleon issuing it was to increase his legitimacy and gain approval from the people in France. Later in 1800’s the plebiscite led to Napoleon being known as “Consul for Life” in which he was not elected. In 1804, he was known as emperor, he created the first French empire. Although Napoleon issued the plebiscite to gain approval and to help his campaign, he involved the people of France, which is an enlightened idea. This is similar to Rosseaus’ view on General will. Rousseau believed that the general will should be formed for the good of society and all opinions should be heard and that is what Napoleon did during the vote. He believed in people being promoted based on merit which was based off hard work and dedication rather than inheritance. He believed that earning your position in society was important that creates an economy of hard working people rather than an economy that inherits their wealth. Napoleon improved industries and created currency. Both of these ideas were for the good of the economy and represented enlightened ideas. In the concordat of 1801, it was an agreement that granted Catholics freedom to practice their religion. Even though the church was kept under state control, it recognized the religious practices of Catholics. Revolutionaries who opposed the Church denounced the agreement, but the Catholics welcomed it. He won the support of the Pope and the Catholic Church in this agreement which was crucial to his campaign. Religion did not play a role in his life but he was rational about the idea of people having something to live for and was understanding about other people’s religion. Napoleon created the Napoleonic code which started in France in 1804. It was a unified law code which abolished feudalism and allowed religious toleration. It was effective, orderly and it reduced chaos which reflected enlightenment ideas and his motto of “order, security, and efficiency.” He helped school systems as well which contains a similar view as the enlightenment thinker, Voltaire. Voltaire believed people were born basically good but needed to be educated for society which is similar to Napoleon. Voltaire battled corruption, injustice and inequality and strongly defended freedom of speech. Napoleon believed in many ideas and policies that were for the good of the country and made many people happy with some of the reforms that he carried out.

Although Napoleon created many policies that were for the good of the country, he did have ideas and policies that were not enlightened. There were 75 newspapers in France that had different opinions on politics and the overall economy in France. Napoleon shut down 60 of these newspapers because he did not agree with what they were saying about him. This goes against the views of Voltaire, and freedom of speech. This is far from enlightened because he is not allowing the people of France to view their honest opinions about him; he closed down the majority of them because he did not want to read what they had to say. He also put many of his brothers and sisters as kings and queens of Europe which is based on relationships and not merit in which he praised earlier in his campaign. He disagreed with Adam smith and the policy of Laissez Faire. He controlled prices which contradicted many enlightenment ideas. He agreed with the idea of Absolute Monarchy with Hobbes but Locke disagreed with this form of government and believed the people should have a say in the government and they have the obligation to overthrow an unjust government. Locke had an optimistic view of human nature while Hobbes had a very pessimistic view of human beings stating that they are naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish. Early in Napoleons’ campaign he stated that he supported the equality of citizens in France but in 1802, he created the Legion of Honor. It was a new status in society which granted them special privileges. It was a superior group; similar to nobility but Napoleon never called it that because he tried to please the general public with the idea of equality, but he did contradict himself.

Enlightenment ideas are much different than enlightenment policies, which are carried out. Enlightenment ideas are thoughts that intend do well for the good of society but did not become established. The enlightenment and the thinkers within it played a large role throughout Napoleons’ reign and the French Revolution. It modeled some of the policies that were carried out and was important in the way that France was run during the 1800’s. Napoleon was enlightened in the early part of his campaign in which he reformed education, created currency, and allowed religious toleration. He did have many ideas that were not for the good of the economy such as, shutting down some of the local newspapers and going against Laissez Faire. He had a large impact on France and the Napoleonic code consolidated many changes of the revolution.