Napoleon Military 1795-1799

Question 1

How was Napoleon’s career briefly threatened?

Answer 1

Fall of Robespierre
Under Robespierre appointed as commander of Artillery in army 1794

Question 2

How did Napoleon redeem himself following Robespierre’s downfall ?

Answer 2

Involvement suppressing the Vendemiare rising 5th October

Question 3

What was Napoleons main aim within Italy?

Answer 3

Transform + modernise the french army of Italy

Question 4

How did Napoleon go about transforming the army?

Answer 4

Paid the troops in silver
Modernised strategies

Question 5

Success of transformation of army

Answer 5

Contributed towards victory against Piedmont Sardinia during Montenotte Campaign

Question 6

What and when was the Armistice of Cherasco

Answer 6

April 1796
Piedmont Sardinia withdrew from war of first coalition

Question 7

Benefits to France as a result of Armistice of Cherasco

Answer 7

Boost to republic + Napoleon
Gained territories eg. Nice and Savoy
Gained munitions + supplies
Gained route through Piedmont Sardinia

Question 8

Battle at Lodi

Answer 8

Napoleon against the Austrians
10th May 1796

Question 9

Outcome of Battle of Lodi

Answer 9

Napoleon bravery was well publicised
Milan occupied and it’s treasures were pillaged
Napoleon persuaded the pope and king to sign treaties paying indemnities to the french to avoid french takeover

Question 10

How much did the pope pay as an indemnity ?

Answer 10

21 million livres

Question 11

Client states established Following battle of Lodi 1796

Answer 11

-Cispadane Republic
-Transpadane Republic

Question 12

How did the client states evolve?

Answer 12

Merged in June 1797
Cisalpine republic
Capital based in Milan

Question 13

Ligurian republic

Answer 13

June 1797 around Genoa

Question 14

Treaty of Campo Formio

Answer 14

17th October 1797
Negotiated by Napoleon without seeking permission from Directory

Question 15

Terms of treaty of Campo Formio

Answer 15

1. Austrian Recognition of French Gains:
   - Austria recognized French control over the following territories:
   >The Austrian Netherlands (modern-day Belgium), which France had already annexed.
   >The Cisalpine Republic (Northern Italy, including Lombardy and parts of Emilia-Romagna), a French client state.
   >The Ligurian Republic (formerly the Republic of Genoa), another French-aligned state.
2. Austria’s Compensation:
   -In exchange for its territorial losses in the west, **Austria was compensated with most of the territory of the former Republic of Venice, including:
   >Venetia, Istria, and Dalmatia.
   >Venice itself had been neutral, but Napoleon allowed Austria to divide and absorb it to ensure peace.
3. French Frontier Along the Rhine:
   -Austria recognized the Rhine River as the eastern border of France, significantly expanding French territory eastward.
   -This was a long-standing French goal, dating back to the Ancien Régime.
4. Mediterranean and Adriatic Gains:
   -France retained control over several islands in the Mediterranean and Adriatic, which had previously belonged to Venice.

Question 16

Why was Napoleons ending of the war of first coalition only a partial success?

Answer 16

No final peace was made between HRE and France
War of 2nd coalition broke out in 1799

Question 17

Napoleons position in 1797

Answer 17

• Independent Diplomacy: In 1797, Napoleon confidently conducted his own foreign policy, ignoring the Directory’s instructions, including negotiating terms at Leoben and signing the Treaty of Campo Formio without approval from Paris.
• Strong Leadership Belief: Napoleon was convinced of his superior leadership abilities and acted with growing autonomy from civilian government.
• Political Intervention: In September 1797, he supported the Coup of Fructidor by sending General Augereau to purge royalists from the Council of Five Hundred, reinforcing his influence over domestic politics.
• Rising Power and Prestige: These bold actions elevated Napoleon’s status as a national hero and demonstrated the increasing political power of the army in France.

Question 18

How was Napoleon becoming a more prominent figure in society?

Answer 18

Shown himself to be a military commander and a diplomat
New republics in Italy gave him a taste of political leadership
Steadily created his own image through shaping propagandist reports
Only general to rival him - Hoche - died in September 1797

Question 19

What were Napoleon’s main goals in launching the Egyptian Campaign?

Answer 19

To undermine British trade routes to India, spread French influence, and boost his own reputation

Question 20

When did the Egyptian Campaign begin?

Answer 20

July 1798, when Napoleon landed in Alexandria with a large expeditionary force.

Question 21

What was the result of the Battle of the Pyramids

Answer 21

July 1798
A major French victory over the Mamluks, allowing France to take control of Cairo.

Question 22

Battle of the Nile

Answer 22

August 1798
Admiral Nelson destroyed the French fleet, stranding Napoleon’s army in Egypt.

Question 23

Why was the destruction of the French fleet a turning point?

Answer 23

It cut Napoleon off from France and weakened his strategic position in the Mediterranean.

Question 24

What was Napoleon’s approach to governance in Egypt?

Answer 24

He tried to win over the local population by respecting Islam and presenting himself as a liberator.

Question 25

What military failures did Napoleon face after taking Cairo?

Answer 25

Resistance from local forces, a failed invasion of Syria, and defeat at Acre (1799).

Question 26

What was the outcome of the Siege of Acre

Answer 26

1799 A French failure; the city, aided by the British, held out against Napoleon’s forces.

Question 27

Why did Napoleon abandon the Egyptian Campaign?

Answer 27

: He received news of political instability in France and left his army behind to return to Paris in August 1799.

Question 28

How was the Egyptian Campaign viewed in France at the time?

Answer 28

Despite its failures, Napoleon used propaganda to present it as a success, maintaining his heroic image.