Cruel conqueror or modern visionary? How is France commemorating the bicentenary of Napoleon’s death?
Louis Brettkelly
Napoleon Bonaparte, leader of France from 1799-1814 and Emperor of the French from 1804-1814, still divides opinion in France today, exactly 200 years on from his death in exile on the South Atlantic island of St Helena.
Former Emperor of the French, Napoleon Bonaparte, on his deathbed in exile on the island of St Helena in 1821 (Image Credit: Wellcomeimages via Wikimedia Commons)
As Emperor, he unified Europe and rebuilt the French state in the aftermath of the French Revolution of 1789 and the tumultuous years that followed. In fact, many of his legal and financial reforms still form the basis of the French administration today. He is remembered as one of the greatest military commanders in history who by force established France as the most dominant power in mainland Europe.
Yet the ethics of his legacy are often questioned in France, and rightly so. Napoleon used excessive force and violent aggression to conquer foreign lands, he then plundered and pillaged these lands for resources and art. He ordered mass censorship of the French press, relied on corrupt plebiscites to maintain power and reinstated slavery in the French colonies. Many politicians are weary of this legacy and in the past have been avidly neutral in the debate surrounding the dictator. But today, 200 years after his death, French President Emmanuel Macron will lay a wreath at his grave in Les Invalides as a form of “commemoration”.
“Napoleon Crossing the Alps” by Jacques-Louis David. Napoleon is famed for his military skill and coordination, skill that allowed him and his army to conquer Europe and Egypt (Image Credit: WikiImages via Pixabay)
It can be said that there are many similarities between the current French president, the youngest leader of the country since Napoleon, and the dictator that reigned over 200 years ago. Both men are well-read and have high intellect, both young, provincial upstarts, both defeated a far-right group to ascend to power, both wished to put France at the centre of a united Europe. But Macron is certainly taking a risk in commemorating Napoleon. His critics say he is playing into the hands of the supporters of far-right figurehead, Marine Le Pen and that the ceremony is a facade to pacify her supporters as the upcoming 2022 presidential election looms. Macron is also risking breaking away from the actions of former presidents. In 2005, the bicentenary of Napoleon’s coronation as emperor, both the President, Jacques Chirac, and his Prime Minister weren’t even in France. Chirac also refused to acknowledge the bicentenary of Napoleon’s victory at Austerlitz, Nicolas Sarkozy took caution to appear neutral and Françoise Hollande openly shunned Bonaparte.
Current French President Emmanuel Macron is similar to Bonaparte in many ways, most notably in their passion for a united Europe (Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons)
It’s not just the leaders of France that are divided on Napoleon, there are also divisions amongst the French people. Typically, those on the right of the political spectrum view the emperor and his reign, where France was at its peak in power, with nostalgia and Napoleon is often viewed through a patriotic and overly-romanticised lens. Leader of the right-wing party Le Rassemblement national, Marine Le Pen, told French radio that she “regret[s] that the President is commemorating Napoleon in a hurry”. Le Pen will not be attending Macron’s ceremony, instead laying a wreath at a memorial in the Place Vendôme in central Paris. She believes that Napoleon “did so much for the country, and gave so much to the world”.
Marine Le Pen, leader of Le Rassemblement national and Macron’s biggest rival, believes that Napoleon’s legacy ought to be openly appreciated. Her supporters are among the most fervent admirers of Napoleon (Image Credit: Blandine Le Clain via Wikimedia Commons)
To a certain extent, this is true. The Napoleonic Code still forms the foundations of French law and the country’s legal system. This code extended equality before the law and established religious tolerance, meritocracy and secular education in the lands in which it was established. Napoleon is seen as a key figure in pioneering the modern day European educational system and he played an important role in the consolidation of French universities. He also revolutionised the French financial system in establishing the Bank of France. It is evident that his legacy is still present in France and in mainland Europe today.
Yet this nostalgic view is not shared with those on the left of the political spectrum who view Napoleon as a raging, colonising, warmonger; which again, is not a misplaced judgement. Left wing political leaders have since attacked Macron for his commemoration of Napoleon. Member of La France Insoumise Alexis Corbière wrote in French newspaper Le Figaro: “The Republic should not pay an official homage to the person who buried the first republican experience of our history by installing an authoritarian regime”.
Indeed, Napoleon was by no means a charitable leader. He chose to reinstate slavery in the French colonies after its abolition, he had no qualms with plundering conquered lands, ordering his men to rape and kill any remaining survivor on numerous occasions during his campaign in Italy. Likewise, he gleefully stole artefacts from Egypt to bring back to France, many of which still remain in French or British hands. He was often incredibly misogynistic, treating his wife Josephine with little to no respect, expecting her to remain a loyal, domestic housewife whilst he fought on campaigns. He eventually tossed Josephine aside, whom he later admitted was the love of his life, and quickly married the young Austrian princess Marie-Louise after Josephine repeatedly failed to give him an heir.
Macron will be laying a wreath at the base of Napoleon’s tomb (pictured above) in Les Invalides. Napoleon was at first buried in St Helena but his body was exhumed and returned to France in 1840 (Image Credit: SnappyGoat)
Napoleon has always been a contested figure, but tension surrounding him has become increasingly heightened in recent months and with the growth of the Black Lives Matter movement, there has been a stronger scrutiny of his racial policies and convictions. His legacy as one of the founding fathers of modern France has certainly been tarnished due to his record as both coloniser and enslaver. Some politicians have even called for the removal of his remains from Les Invalides, much like Spanish dictator Francisco Franco who had his remains removed from the Valley of the Fallen outside Madrid in 2019. Macron has proven that he is staunchly against this and has promised that he will never “shy away” from the controversy surrounding Napoleon, as proven by the exuberant tour of Napoleon’s tomb he gave to former US President Donald Trump in 2017.
The prominence of the Black Lives Matter movement has made many French people reconsider their history and their historical icons, now reflecting on individuals such as Napoleon with a more balanced and critical lens (Image Credit: Jeanne Monjoulet via Wikimedia Commons)
Macron has repeatedly denounced the defacing or attempted removal of statues of colonisers or slave trade benefactors and he is a firm believer of “look[ing] history in the face”, avoiding judging historical figures by modern standards. The president is certainly treading a fine line and attempting to find a middle ground in breaking the mould by being the first French leader in recent memory to be so forgiving of Napoleon.
It is true that in recent months there has been an increased focus on and interest in Napoleon; books about the emperor have flourished in number, French TV channels have aired new and old documentaries and his name has been more and more mentioned in political circles. Yet, the narrative surrounding the dictator is becoming increasingly more critical, especially amongst young French people. However, growing discontent with Macron’s politics and ‘cancel culture’ embodied by the discrediting of Bonaparte’s name, is causing a stir that could potentially topple the incumbent and instate a far right government headed by Marine Le Pen.
200 years on from his death on a virtually deserted and isolated island, Napoleon’s name and legacy could certainly still shape the future of France.
