Napoleon Sighting #003: The Legal Code

“My real glory is not the 40 battles I won—for my defeat at Waterloo will destroy the memory of those victories. . . . What nothing will destroy, what will live forever, is my Civil Code.” Napoleon I

    In today's Napoleon Sighting, we shall briefly examine what is often considered to be L'Empereur's greatest legacy. As he personally said, his military achievements can arguably be dispelled by his ultimate defeat. What Waterloo can never steal, however, is the legal reform that Napoleon enacted.

    Upon gaining the consulate in 1799, one of Napoleon's first goals was to reorganize and reform France's legal system. Like many facets of the state under the Directory, France's legal system was poorly designed, and in many cases failed to provide the Republican values of liberty, equality, and fraternity. In fact, the Revolution had largely failed to remove the confusing and ineffective laws of the Ancien Régime. In fact, over 15000 regional codes existed in France when Napoleon took power. Largely, the provinces of southern France had codes based upon Roman law, while northern France did not. Many laws experienced conflicts among different regions and national law. In fact, French citizens were often concerned about breaking laws while traveling because of the many disparities between regional legal codes. Napoleon even said, "We are a nation with three hundred books on law, yet without laws!" The Emperor (then Consul) became determined to remedy this.

    Under the Code Napoleon, the law was divided into three separate sections. These sections, the laws of persons, the laws of property, and the laws of the acquisition of property, essentially covered every aspect of life. Under these sections, Napoleon established several radically new principles. The following are several examples:

• Freedom of religion


• Freedom to choose one's occupation

• Universal male suffrage

• The separation of Church and State

• Equality before the law

• The right to divorce

• The abolishment of the feudal order


    While these items may not seem too radical for the modern era, Europe and the world during the Napoleonic Age was an entirely different matter. In fact, these provisions were almost entirely absent. France and the United States were the only countries that largely supported democracy during the Napoleonic Age. While Great Britain utilized constitutional monarchy, their King still held sway. As seen through the spread of these ideals, the Code Napoleon is highly influential in the modern world. As such, this Napoleon Sighting can be seen around the world.

Louisiana

Supreme Court

    Over seventy modern countries utilize the Code as their principal legal document or have based their own codes on the Code Napoleon. Obviously, France remains as the foremost. Other countries include Chile, Puerto Rico, Morocco, Egypt, and even the U.S. state of Louisiana. While Waterloo may have lessened Napoleon's martial glory, his Code remains as a legacy of renown.

Napoleon Sighting #002: The Little Corporal

   While the Emperor carried various names, perhaps his most satirized title is "le Petit Corporel" or the Little Corporal. The name was gained during his first Italian campaign. One of the jobs of an artillery corporal was to sight the guns. However, Napoleon was so meticulous in his work that he insisted on performing the task himself. His men honored him with the title as a result.
   In today's Napoleon Sighting, we see that name utilized in a comically negative sense. During the 42nd Super Bowl, I was quite pleased to see an advertisement that exhibited Napoleon as its main character. However, it also displayed some of the common misconceptions surrounding the man.

   The advertisement, which can be viewed above, is under several false impressions that many people hold today. In the commercial, Napoleon is shown flying around the streets of Paris in a small compact automobile. However, as he emerges from his car, the audience gains a view of three Napoleonic stereotypes. First, he is incredibly short. So short, in fact, that his height remains lower than even the top of his vehicle. Additionally, the man wears the iconic bicorn hat so often attributed to the Emperor. Finally, he quickly thrusts his hand into his shirt. While many firmly believe that Napoleon was like this, that notion remains inaccurate.
   Initially, we will examine his height. If people are asked to describe the height of Napoleon, the answer is almost invariably "very short." It is easy to see how they gained this thought when one examines the media at the time of Napoleon's reign. The English of the Napoleonic Age were entirely guilty of demonizing the man. They ridiculed any facet of his person they found available, even his stature. Napoleon measured 5 feet and 2 inches. However, the measurement was conducted in French inches, not the English (and consequently, American) inch standard of measurement. In English measurements, Napoleon was 5 feet and 6.5 inches, a perfectly average height for the era. As a result of disparity between the inches, the English incorrectly labeled Napoleon as short. Furthermore, they used cruel, entirely unrealistic images of the man to deface him. Their mistake has been allowed to progress through history causing the modern perception that the Emperor was of short stature.

   In addition to his lack of height, the advertisement shows him donning his traditional hat. While the man wore this hat on occasion, especially on campaign, it was by no means constantly adorning his head. Many of the painted images of the Emperor show his head unadorned.

   Finally, Napoleon is seen to place his hand inside his shirt. Modern misconception holds that the man walked around with his hand positioned thus. Again, this remains a falsehood. This error was gained by examining period paintings of the man. Indeed, in many of these, he poses with his hand inside his shirt. However, if one also examines other paintings of important figures of the time, it becomes apparent that the pose is common. Even George Washington is seen to pose this way.
  
   While the advertisement remained comical, its misplaced ideas of the Emperor offer a view into the modern perception of the man.

Napoleon Sighting #001: The Napoleon of Crime

   Although a wonderful musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats remains ambiguous in much of its subject matter. Not surprisingly, this ambiguity is present in our first Napoleon Sighting as well. The following are some of the lyrics from my favorite piece from the work, "Macavity":

Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity
There never was a cat of such deceitfulness and suavity
He always has an alibi and one or two to spare
Whatever time the deed took place, Macavity wasn't there!

And they say that all the cats whose wicked deeds are widely known
(I might mention Mungojerrie, Rumpelteazer, Griddlebone)
Are nothing more than agents for the cat who all the time
Just controls the operations
The Napoleon of Crime!

   And there it is. Macavity, the only true villain of the show, is compared to Napoleon. Yet, is it a negative reference or a positive one?

   Napoleon was often referred to by his fellow monarchs as the "Great Thief" or the "Great Usurper." They felt that, because he lacked any connection to the royal bloodline, he had stolen and usurped the French throne. They refused to accept the principle that a people ought to be governed by their collective choices. The overwhelming support for Napoleon's acquisition of the Imperial title did not matter to them; he was still a thief.

   Yet, the song may also refer to the manifested qualities of L'Empereur. Macavity is the greatest criminal to grace the Jellicle world. And similarly, Napoleon possessed the skills needed to become master of Europe; he was the greatest monarch of his era, the Napoleonic Age.

Welcome

Hello My Friends and Welcome to Napoleon Sightings,
Bonjour Mes Amis et Bienvenu au Napoleon Sightings,

Welcome, welcome! This blog is devoted to the advancement of Napoleonic studies and increasing a love and passion for history. I will post links to articles containing exciting new research and provide several of my own along the way. Additionally, I will offer previews of my short fiction, including an entire story later to be featured in Men of Eagles, a compilation of my short tales on Napoleonic commanders. Further reviews of Napoleonic literature and links to other fun sites will also be included. Finally, there will brief posts of Napoleon Sightings. These sightings will revolve around references to Napoleon in culture, media, literature, and other aspects of modern life. It promises to be an exciting journey, so thank you and enjoy!

Yours,
Michael Seeley