Everything about Formation Of The Napoleonic Empire totally explained
Between 1795 and 1799, the
constitution governing France dictated there be an executive arm of government – the
Directoire, composed of five Directors. One of these five,
Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, approached General
Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799, seeking his support for a
coup d'état to overthrow the four year old constitution. Also involved were the
Director Roger Ducos, Napoleon's brother
Lucien, and diplomat
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord. It would take place on
9 November 1799 (otherwise known as
18 Brumaire, An VIII, under the
French Republican Calendar); the following day, troops led by Napoleon would seize control of France. The legislative councils were dismissed and a diminished legislature was left, naming Napoleon, Sieyès and Ducos as provisional
Consuls to administer government. Sieyès had expected to be the head of this new
Consulate; Bonaparte doublecrossed him, by drafting the
Constitution of the Year VIII and thus secured his own election as
First Consul. Consequently, he became the most powerful person in France. This power was soon augmented by the inception of the constitution of the Year X, making him First Consul for life.
Soon after, Napoleon schemed to acquire total power over the
Pope and the
Roman Catholic Church. The first step in this plan was implemented at the
Battle of Marengo, causing
Austria to evacuate much of Italy. Napoleon intended to keep the
Duchy of Milan and completely remove any remaining Austrian power over Italy, then begin a new campaign in the East or Egypt. To further his attempt at becoming the master of the Catholic Church, he increased his hold over Italy by uniting
Piedmont and planned to annex
Genoa,
Parma,
Tuscany. and
Naples. In an effort to retain the favor of France's mostly Catholic public, Napoleon instated the
Concordat of 1801; the Catholic Church was now official church of France. This proved a grave error and prevented him from ever having supreme control of the Church.
In January 1804, a plot organised by the European royal
House of Bourbon to overthrow Napoleon was uncovered by his
secret police. As well as arresting and executing
Louis, duc d'Enghien, Napoleon used this to justify the restoration of a hereditary monarchy in France, with himself as Emperor, arguing this would make it impossible for the Bourbons to return. Consequently, the
Senate named him
Emperor 8 May 1804. With
Pius VII's blessing, Napoleon officially crowned himself Emperor and his wife Joséphine Empress on
2 December. Six months later, on
26 May 1805, the
Iron Crown of
Lombardy was placed upon Napoleon's head, making him also
King of Italy.
Then Napoleon undertook four campaigns to transform his feudal empire into one inspired by the
Rome. The first of these four campaigns swept away what remained of the
Holy Roman Empire and created the
Confederation of the Rhine, under Napoleon's control. Napoleon then created the
Kingdom of Italy, annexed
Venetia and its ancient
Adriatic Empire, and occupied
Ancona. He also planned to invade Britain and amassed the best military resources he ever had,
La Grande Armée; this plan was never undertaken. The
Napoleonic Empire had been formed.
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