Uncover Napoleon’s military conscription system, motivations behind his conquests, and how his ambitions shaped France and Europe, leading to his defeat at Waterloo.

The Conscription System under Napoleon

• The Conscription System under Napoleon
  • The Napoleonic regime, building on the Directory’s conscription law of September 1798, created a comprehensive system for imposing military service on French citizens and those in annexed territories.
  • The Ministry of War Administration assigned quotas of conscripts for each département.
  • The mayor of each commune compiled lists of 19-year-old men from communal birth registers.
  • A lottery was held to select conscripts, with doctors determining medical exemptions later on.
  • Some men could avoid service by purchasing a replacement or fleeing, though married men were not exempt.
  • By 1810, the annual quota grew to 120,000 men, with Napoleon instituting "supplementary levies" for earlier classes.
  • After the Russian disaster in 1813, Napoleon called up the class of 1814 a year early and repeatedly issued supplementary levies.
  • Despite drafting large numbers, Napoleon’s conscription system broke down after the Battle of Leipzig in 1813.
  • Napoleon called for 300,000 more men in November 1813, but his call went largely unfilled. Despite this, he continued to fight until his abdication in 1814.
  • Nearly 2.5 million Frenchmen were drafted by Napoleon, with half of them either killed, imprisoned, or missing.
• Napoleon's Aggression and Motivations
  • Some explanations suggest Napoleon’s aggression was due to his antagonism with Britain, while others argue it was to create a new version of Charlemagne’s empire.
  • Napoleon’s "imperial design" became clear by 1810, though earlier conquests were more opportunistic than part of a larger strategy.
  • Napoleon’s personality, a mix of pragmatism and ambition, was key to his rise, but his reign also symbolized both the Revolution’s ideals and his authoritarian rule.
• Napoleon and the French Revolution
  • Napoleon benefitted from the Revolution's abolition of feudalism, seigneurialism, and privileges of the ancien régime.
  • Despite becoming more aristocratic, Napoleon remained a proponent of the Revolution's principles of civil equality and merit-based opportunities.
  • He centralized power and suppressed electoral processes, reinforcing his authority by eliminating partisan politics.
  • Under Napoleon, France became the base for his military ambitions, transforming it into a militarized state.
• The Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon’s Final Defeat
  • Napoleon’s abdication led to the return of the Bourbon monarchy under Louis XVIII, who ruled with a constitution but faced resistance from royalists and citizens.
  • During the Hundred Days in 1815, Napoleon returned to France, rallying support and reclaiming power until the allies united against him.
  • At the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, Napoleon was decisively defeated by British and Prussian forces.
  • Napoleon was exiled to the island of St. Helena, where he died in 1821, and the "Napoleonic legend" was created, enhancing his image in France.