Indeed we mostly hear about his campaigns and conquests. This is the result of his written legacy built during his reign and after it, we call it La Légende Napoléonienne (Napoleonian Legend).

But he was not only a general, he was the head of state. And he had impactful policies, some still active today.

What’s important to keep in mind is that Napoleon went to power in a very troubled time. After the revolution, under the Directoire (the governement), the political landscape was really divided, and people did not trust politicians because of their corruption. Napoleon gain access to power by a coup in 1799 and kept it by his charisma, he was the victor of Italy, and a promising officer. He knew that if France continued to be divided, he wouldn’t last long. So he changed the form of the government to create the Consulat in 1799 (strong executive and deeply centralized, its under the Consulat that most of the policies will be created) and managed to please everyone (keeping the revolution’s legacy, spirit and achievement), but especially the monarchists and religious.

That takes us to one of his major policy : Le Concordat (1801). This treaty with the Vatican reorganize the religious (Christian) life and ensure that priests and religious people won’t be harassed or mistreated as they were during the revolution. This treaty also recreate relations between France and the Pope.

To make sure France is at peace inside (to manage outside wars better) Napoleon created the Code Civil in 1804 (also called Code Napoleon). This represent all the civil right for French people (property rights, family rights, personal rights, contracts rights, general rights etc...) this is inspired by the revolution achievements especially equality. The Code can be ahead of its time for some rights, for exemple the right to divorce. The Code Civil is the basis of today’s laws and rights in most of European countries (those who had been under Napoleon domination) and still used in France. It will be later completed, under the Empire, by the Code Penal in 1810, which creates sanctions for each crimes etc.. the Code Penal will be modernized in 1994 ! Napoleon will also reform the judiciary system creating different courts and law schools (still active today)

France was in a really bad state economically, so in 1802, Napoleon reintroduce slavery (which was abolished in 1794 during the revolution) to make more profits. Two years before, in 1800, he created the Banque de France (still active today). His reform of the administration will also help France to make more profits and in 1802 he will create the Chambres de Commerce (public organization to represent commercial and company’s interests, still active today). The next year he also create a new currency, the Franc Germinal and finally in 1807 he will start the construction of the Bourse de Paris (still active today) and the creation of a new public organization charged of controlling state treasury, La Cour des Comptes (still active today)

Concerning education, Napoleon created high schools (1802) and a national diploma (1808), the baccalauréat, at the end of high schools. He will also create what will become modern universities (1806). All three still existing today.

But Napoleon is not only a brilliant general and a creative head of state, he is also a despotic leader. Freedom of speech, of press, of meeting are repressed or abolished. Only four newspaper are allowed and Napoleon personally write some of the articles inside (he will use this as a propaganda weapon especially against the British public opinion). Each constitution created by himself and his ministers will give him more and more power. But people liked him, he made France better than before, he defended the revolution against European monarchies. Strong of his popular support, he will drift away from the revolution’s spirit and strengthen his power at the head of the state to finally name himself Emperor in 1804.

To conclude, as Napoleon said himself « My glory is not that I have forty victories, what will never be erased, what will survive eternally, is my Code Civil ». He did a lot of reform and brought a lot of change in France administration, education, laws, society and almost all of them are still used today and influenced most of European societies. That’s the true legacy of Napoleon.