Blazin_billy
Registered Senior Member
Ok, so we have a thread showing his downfall, why not show his uprising. What made him conquer Europe? 
Why Napoleon conqured Europe?
- Thread starter Blazin_billy
- Start date
Frisbinator
Registered Senior Member
I don't know.
He didn't.
At various times he conquered parts of Europe. Some reasons.
Militarily: innovations in tactics: the column and massive concentrated use of artillery. Wellington pointed out that the ifrst was based on false principals, andthe generals he faced were half-defeated already.
Another reason was economic; until he went into Spain and Russia the countries he invaded had to support his armies, pay indemnities and supply troops for his next invasion. The economics of his empire- especially France- required repeated invasions.
Third reason was political. He was only secure as a great general. By keeping other generals out of France on campaign they could not seize power as he had.
At various times he conquered parts of Europe. Some reasons.
Militarily: innovations in tactics: the column and massive concentrated use of artillery. Wellington pointed out that the ifrst was based on false principals, andthe generals he faced were half-defeated already.
Another reason was economic; until he went into Spain and Russia the countries he invaded had to support his armies, pay indemnities and supply troops for his next invasion. The economics of his empire- especially France- required repeated invasions.
Third reason was political. He was only secure as a great general. By keeping other generals out of France on campaign they could not seize power as he had.
Napoleon was ambitious(for whatever reason) and because he gave the French what they wanted(la gloire, mainly), and France happened to be the strongest power on the contient at the time.
And like most military dictators he needed fresh victories to maintain his cult of personality, which meant pleanty of wars.
And like most military dictators he needed fresh victories to maintain his cult of personality, which meant pleanty of wars.
Unofficially, his megalomania.
Officially, to export the French revolution to neighbouring countries. The Napoleanic wars were ideological. The French fought for collectivism and against aristocracy. The English, and others, fought for individual rights and private property and the monarchy.
Officially, to export the French revolution to neighbouring countries. The Napoleanic wars were ideological. The French fought for collectivism and against aristocracy. The English, and others, fought for individual rights and private property and the monarchy.
Only in the pre-Napoleonic period- up to about 1802. Nap used propaganda about the Ancien Regime, and had republican generals and politicians serving him, but his whole aim was imperially based. He made his relatives monarchs and created a whole new aristocracy. His downfall in 1814 was a conspiracy between the republican Fouche and the monarchist Talleyrand.SLWK said:
He conqured Europe beacuse (I Think) the countries of Europe had broken a agreement of not trading with England. Also when he tryed to Invade Portugal he had to cross over Spain to get there and Spain got threatned by this action and they went to war with France. Also he annaxed the Austrian Netherland and parts of Italy to France. Britan was scared shitless and they persuaded Russia, Austria, and Sweden to join a third coalition against France. But Napoleon's army defeated the coalition. Hope that might explain it.
Demosthenes X
Registered Member
Napoleon fought, and won because the French fought for their ideals, and not for a feudal vassal. Napoleon's creation of 'nationalism' inspired the glory of France.
He conquered Europe basically because he had no choice.
He was a ruler born from the French Revolution and of the new world order that it tried to establish. The other European regimes, all of them monarchies and especially Great Britain, made coalition after coalition to try and overthrow him. Of course he was a military genius and they were not, so he kept defeating them, and the best way to stop them from attacking again and again was to conquer them. Then it was a vicious circle. The more Napoleon beat them, the more they wanted revenge, and the more they attacked Napoleon, the more he beat them and took their territories. Napoleon wanted peace, and that's one of the reasons he had himself be crowned Emperor. Mostly because he wanted to start a dynasty, but also because he mistakenly thought it would make him "fit in" more with the rest of European royalty, and they would leave him alone.
An other thing that came into play was the blockade. When he realised he couldn't invade Great Britain through strength of arms he had a master plan to turn all of Europe into a fortress and isolate the U.K. But for that to work, every country in Europe would have to shut down its ports to English ships. And of course since most countries in Europe resented Napoleon they (more or less) secretely did trade with British ships. For instance, the reason he invaded Spain, which was one of his most humiliating defeats, was simply to get to Portugal, which was openly trading with Great Britain. For instance, the reason Napoleon decided to invade Russia (which was the beginning of the end as we all know) is because the Czar had broken his earlier treaty with him and started trading with the British.
Note : I'm not trying to paint Napoleon as a jolly ole fellow who didn't want harm to nobody. There were also political and economical reasons to his conquest, and more than a hint of megalomania. What is true (and often overlooked) is that whatever Napoleon could have said or done the rest of Europe wouldn't (and they didn't) have found rest till he was defeated for good.
He was a ruler born from the French Revolution and of the new world order that it tried to establish. The other European regimes, all of them monarchies and especially Great Britain, made coalition after coalition to try and overthrow him. Of course he was a military genius and they were not, so he kept defeating them, and the best way to stop them from attacking again and again was to conquer them. Then it was a vicious circle. The more Napoleon beat them, the more they wanted revenge, and the more they attacked Napoleon, the more he beat them and took their territories. Napoleon wanted peace, and that's one of the reasons he had himself be crowned Emperor. Mostly because he wanted to start a dynasty, but also because he mistakenly thought it would make him "fit in" more with the rest of European royalty, and they would leave him alone.
An other thing that came into play was the blockade. When he realised he couldn't invade Great Britain through strength of arms he had a master plan to turn all of Europe into a fortress and isolate the U.K. But for that to work, every country in Europe would have to shut down its ports to English ships. And of course since most countries in Europe resented Napoleon they (more or less) secretely did trade with British ships. For instance, the reason he invaded Spain, which was one of his most humiliating defeats, was simply to get to Portugal, which was openly trading with Great Britain. For instance, the reason Napoleon decided to invade Russia (which was the beginning of the end as we all know) is because the Czar had broken his earlier treaty with him and started trading with the British.
Note : I'm not trying to paint Napoleon as a jolly ole fellow who didn't want harm to nobody. There were also political and economical reasons to his conquest, and more than a hint of megalomania. What is true (and often overlooked) is that whatever Napoleon could have said or done the rest of Europe wouldn't (and they didn't) have found rest till he was defeated for good.
Last edited: