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 -Napoléon Bonaparte
France
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It's in Brienne-le-Château (1779 - 1784), that Bonaparte starts his military training . Nurtured with philosophers and history , he is revealed, from the siege of Toulon and Italy campaign, as a leader with a prodigious ascendancy and an inspired strategist.
His glamour facilitates his coup d'etat
(18 brumaire- 11/9/1796). He becomes first Consul with exorbitant powers.
He very quickly restores economy, reorganizes and centralizes administration (prefects) , justice, and finance.
After Marengo victory - which eliminates the Austrian threat - and the Amiens peace (1802) with England , he can devotes himself to continuing the reforms : civil code, Bank of France, concordat with the pope.
Monarchical Europe sees him as an heir to the Revolution. So war starts again .
He replies by having himself crowned as Emperor Napoleon the 1st (December 2nd 1804).
His reign begins with brilliant issues, extension of the Empire, an even more overbearing power.
But this hugeness ends in wearing him : plots , resistance of Spain, bogging down in the England continental blocus , disastrous campaign of Russia.
He abdicates after Waterloo defeat (06/18/1815). Run away from his exile in Elbe island he reigns anew during les Cent-Jours (100 days).
It's once more around Brienne-le-Château that - after a series of victories over the coalition - Paris' surrender compels him to abdicate.
He ends his life in Sainte-Helena accompanied
by his faithful companions.
Lots of French institutions still remain nowadays such as Napoleon established them. |
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