[ZeroGravitas]

A coalition of monarchies did gang up and wage war on the French republic, to stop their crazy ideas from spreading.

Kind of parallel to France demanding Haiti pay them compensation for slaves being freed.

In both cases we'd generally look more kindly on republics and freeing slaves from the modern perspective, and maybe put more blame on the people trying to undermine them.

[thrance]

Slight nitpick, but France was no longer a Republic in Napoleon's time. It had become the First French Empire.

[dragonwriter]

The Empire was formed after Napoleon's success in the wars of the Republican era, which occurred exactly because "A coalition of monarchies did gang up and wage war on the French republic".

Napoleon did not just emerge from the head of Zeus as a fully-formed Emporer.

And, technically, Napoleon headed the French government first while it was still nominally a Republic, under the Consulate of the Constitution of Year VIII.

[ethbr1]

Napoleon was a French military officer from 1785 to 1800.

During that time, France was a monarchy and republic, before becoming an empire when he rose to political power and directed its military as ruler.

So, all of the above in his time?

[thrance]

Ok but as a French, we don't really think as 1789-1804 as "Napoleon's time". His empire was and remains what he his most remembered for. He's literally referred to as "l'empereur" (the emperor).

I don't think I need to expand on how his Empire wasn't really democratic, or a republic.

[DiogenesKynikos]

Napoleon is definitely remembered for his military campaigns and political actions before 1804.

Napoleon's Italian campaign of 1796-97 is one of the most brilliant campaigns in history.

Napoleon's legendary (and disastrous) Egyptian campaign took place from 1798-1801.

The 18th of Brumaire, Year VII (9 November 1799) is an extremely famous date in history, as the date that Napoleon overthrew the Directory.

Napoleon's crossing of the Alps and the crucial Battle of Marengo occurred in 1800.

If Napoleon had retired in 1803, he would still be one of the most famous figures in French history.

[Tainnor]

That's not a "slight" nitpick. While we can be grateful to Napoleon to bring modern law and scientific advances to the rest of Europe, he certainly didn't conquer it in the interest of democracy.

[ZeroGravitas]

It's an incorrect nitpick.

The post I replied to said Napolean ruined France compared with nearby empires.

I said the nearby empires were hostile to revolution and so keen to keep a Franch Republic down.

Wikipedia says:

> As early as 1791, the other monarchies of Europe looked with outrage at the revolution and its upheavals; and they considered whether they should intervene, either in support of King Louis XVI to prevent the spread of revolution, or to take advantage of the chaos in France. Austria stationed significant troops on its French border and together with Prussia issued the Declaration of Pillnitz, which threatened severe consequences should anything happen to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette.

[thrance]

Ok but did he have to go as far as Russia? Couldn't he just consolidate his forces instead of getting drunk on conquest and waging war all the way to eastern-most Europe?