Did Napoleon Believe in the Main Ideas of the French Revolution - Essay Example

The changes can be summarized as meeting the demand of “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity”. Revolutionaries aimed at a more centralized government, more independence of the individual irrespective of his or her lineage, equal treatment before the law, a more tolerant outlook on religious beliefs, and recognition of merit in work.

            Georges Lefebvre noted historian and chronicler of the French Revolution has called Napoleon a hater of feudal privileges, inequality among citizens, and bigotry based on religion. In these sentiments, Napoleon was in agreement with the principles of the Revolution. For instance, his code of governance (or the Code civil des Français) provided the bourgeoisie with more jobs. One was not required to be born of a noble family to earn a respectable status in society any longer. The Legion of Honor that Napoleon established also recognized and rewarded handsomely merit and talent in individuals. This anti-aristocratic ideal was again exemplary of the Revolution’s propaganda.

            Napoleon did have other features in common with the Revolution too. His outlook resembled that of the Jacobins’ in its emphasis on nationalism. He sought to consolidate the gains of the Revolution by urging the citizens to preserve their nationalist loyalties. A centralized state would also bring France the stability it was desperately looking for.

            In his tolerance towards all religions, Napoleon reflected the Revolution again. The Revolution had gone as far as to abolish all organized religion. Napoleon, for his part, conceded some of the Church’s powers back to the clergy but retained most of them. He was equally disposed towards all religions and did not have any prejudices based on these differences. The Church had been previously above the State, but the Revolution reversed this situation, making way for a much more secular France.

            Napoleon was above all a very practical ruler. He would adopt strategies and policies as he saw fit from either the Revolution or the Old Regime. He cannot be therefore called a blind follower of the revolutionary ideals. He used his own, keen sense of governance to style his Code and rule. Neither did he make the Revolution his unquestionable mentor, nor did he ignore it. He did draw heavily from the basic revolutionary principles and strengthened the overthrow of the oppressive monarchy, making him an apparent heir to the Revolution.

            However, Napoleon himself made the claim of having buried the Revolution. By consolidating its achievements and re-fashioning them into his Code Napoleon,  he can be seen as having preserved the Revolution by ending it. Had he not stepped in when he did, the state would have possibly reverted to the ancien regime under the Bourbons. He is also often criticized for ignoring one of the three ideals of the Revolution: that of “Liberty”. In his defense, it can be argued that when he came to power, individual liberty in France was not in existence.

            In conclusion, it is true that Napoleon was the “heir” of the French Revolution of 1789 after a fashion, especially since he himself claimed to be one; but it is not entirely true that he followed every article of the Revolutionary doctrine.