From 1802 to 1815, Napoleon was so dominant in Europe and he
was able to consolidate his power due to several factors;
In the first place, Napoleon used force to dominate the
affairs in France and Europe. He had a large well motivated army that he used
to conquer states like Italy, German, Holland etc. he also relied on the same
army to consolidate his power in such conquered states. The army was yet useful
in maintaining law and order and suppressing resistance
Napoleon also used his close relatives and friends to
administer the conquered states e.g. Joseph Bonaparte in Spain, Louis Bonaparte
in Holland, Jerome Bonaparte was made king of West Phalia and sister Caroline,
Queen of Naples. By using his brothers and sisters and closed friends, Napoleon
was able to use loyal and trusted
administrators who maintained effective
control in their areas and avoided any sabotage against him
Napoleon dubiously used the revolutionary doctrines of
equality, liberty and fraternity in Europe to win support as a liberator. He
falsely preached such ideas to cool down resistance in the conquered states and
consolidated his power much as later he violated such principles through
oppression and exploitation, he had already consolidated himself in power
Napoleon also used marriage as a political tool to gain a
natural alliance. In 1810, he divorced Josephine because she was barren and
married Marie Louise from Austria. This improved on the diplomatic relationship
between France and Austria which explains why Austria remained a friendly ally
until 1813 hence consolidating his power
Treaty signing also helped Napoleon to consolidate his
power. He concluded his military victories by signing treaties ie forcing the
defeated states to sign e.g. Austria signed Luneville treaty (1801), Russia
signed the treaty of Tilsit (1807), Britain signed the Amien treaty(1802).
These treaties enabled Napoleon to consolidate his power.
Napoleon established firm control over the press and
education since they were potential departments that could be used by his
opponents to undermine his power in Europe. In the conquered states such as
Italy, German and Spain, he censored the press and the journalists who publish
articles against him were arrested, tortured, and killed. The teaching of
liberal subjects like history was abolished
Napoleon signed a concordat with the Pope to consolidate his
influence in Europe. He believed that the friendly relation with the Pope was a
friendly relationship with the Catholics in France and the whole Europe and
behind the Catholics had the majority. He brought reconciliations between the
church and the state. That is why the Catholics supported him up to 1808 when
he violated the treaty
Napoleon’s social, economic and political achievements in
France were so great that made the French to given him solid support in his
conquest and domination. He modernized France, improved on education, codified
the law, centralized administration and improved the army etc
Similarly, Napoleon embarked on socio-economic development
in the conquered states which made him to be welcomed as a liberator e.g. he
constructed and improved roads, railways, ports and harbors in the Italian and
German states. He also limited inequality and destroyed the privileges of the
nobles and clergy. This made Italian and German peasants to support Napoleon
Napoleon also resorted to over taxation as a strategy of
domination European conquered states. By overtaxing the conquered states,
Napoleon made them so poor and submissive that they could not finance
resistance against him. He also used the money for further conquests
Napoleon adopted forceful conscription into the army in all
the conquered states. This enabled him to have enough troops for his war of
conquests.
more should have been said
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