Changes

In 1789 the French revolution broke out and in 1792 the war between France and Europe started.  Many aristocratic French officers fled the country, leaving many positions that needed to be assumed by younger French republican army officers, including Napoleon who took more than his share.  After this France broke into a great civil war.  The government was bankrupt and 1792 France declared war on Austria.  The British Fleet was now in control of the great naval base of Toulon.  The French military sent an army to besiege the port.  Napoleon was now a captain and he attended this battle, but when the general of the artillery was badly wounded he took full control of the guns and used them so strategically he was promoted to Brigadier General at the age of 23.

In 1789 the French revolution broke out and in 1792 the war between France and Europe started.  Many aristocratic French officers fled the country, leaving many positions that needed to be assumed by younger French republican army officers, including Napoleon who took more than his share.  After this France broke into a great civil war.  The government was bankrupt and 1792 France declared war on Austria.  The British Fleet was now in control of the great naval base of Toulon.  The French military sent an army to besiege the port.  Napoleon was now a captain and he attended this battle, but when the general of the artillery was badly wounded he took full control of the guns and used them so strategically he was promoted to Brigadier General at the age of 23.

In 1795 a new constitution was made which was governed by five directors appointed by two elected councils.  Paul Barris, who was one of the new directors, appointed Napoleon to be in command of the army in Paris.  On October 6th, 1795 a mob attacked Paris. Napoleon was once again in charge of the cannons and quickly dissolved the attackers with what he called “a whiff of grapeshot”.  For this he was promoted to a Major General.

In 1795 a new constitution was made which was governed by five directors appointed by two elected councils.  Paul Barris, who was one of the new directors, appointed Napoleon to be in command of the army in Paris.  On October 6, 1795 a mob attacked Paris. Napoleon was once again in charge of the cannons and quickly dissolved the attackers with what he called “a whiff of grapeshot”.  For this he was promoted to a Major General.

In 1796 Napoleon took his first wife, Josephine Beauharnais and two days later he was appointed to be a commander of the army of Italy.  With this army he displayed ingenious strategy which made him almost unbeatable on the field.  He believed that mobility was the most important part of a battle and he could organize lightning moves very effectively.  Napoleon became very popular with his soldiers as he would pay them in silver instead of the French Paper money.  At this time Napoleon was repelling Austrian forces at a very quick rate.  When he reached the border Napoleon started negotiating for an Austrian peace treaty. This treaty Involved Austria being forced to surrender the province of Belgium to France and to recognize the Cisalpine Republic which had been created by Napoleon in 1796.

In 1796 Napoleon took his first wife, Josephine Beauharnais and two days later he was appointed to be a commander of the army of Italy.  With this army he displayed ingenious strategy which made him almost unbeatable on the field.  He believed that mobility was the most important part of a battle and he could organize lightning moves very effectively.  Napoleon became very popular with his soldiers as he would pay them in silver instead of the French Paper money.  At this time Napoleon was repelling Austrian forces at a very quick rate.  When he reached the border Napoleon started negotiating for an Austrian peace treaty. This treaty Involved Austria being forced to surrender the province of Belgium to France and to recognize the Cisalpine Republic which had been created by Napoleon in 1796.