sylla1

IMHO the elementary first step here would be to define which exactly was or has been any objective impact of Monsieur Buonaparte over Europe...

spellbanisher

That's a good point, although like nappy, Freddy was a conqueror. There does seem to be a bias against German achievements, especially in relation to France whose impact on the world is often overrated. When you consider all of Freddy's accomplishments it is absurd to say that the Napoleonic conquests were necessary to end the old order. Freddy established a modern bureacracy and cvil service system, arguably created the modern welfare state with his granary system, encouraged religious toleration and immigration of oppressed minorities from other countries, reformed the monetary system, promoted the construction of silk and porcelain factories in impoverished areas, helped encourage the introduction of new crops and methds into agriculture, built modern transportation infrastructure, and made the criminal justice system less cruel. Let's not forget how modern the Dutch Republic was. The notion that the Napoleonic Wars somehow represent a sharp break in history between the modern and premodern is just bad history if not mythology.

jdghgh

I don't know how it is going downhill, he is advancing the discussion.

I really have to disagree there. Military wise, while both had significant defeats, its much easier to account for Napoleon's than it is for Frederick. As an administrator, well, Napoleon instituted the first national codification of laws. He reorganized the education system and saved the French financial institution.

Of course I agree, but comparing a man to major world events such as these is a bit unfair.

spellbanisher

Unless you are talking about natural disasters or trends that occur because of weather patterns such as ENSO, events are merely the actions of people; ergo, the people who made these events had just as much impact on Europe as Napoleon. Back to the op, to say that Napoleon "byfar" has had the most impact is hyperbole, and to say that everyone obviously agrees with that false statement is presumptuous..

irishcrusader95

both the french revolution and napoleon had a huge impact on the course of european history, off the top of my head the effects would be-

-new ways of fighting war as it was no longer the slow moving ridged way it used to be
-it effected german nationalism in that there was then a greater desire for unity
-prussia gained further influence in german affairs from the gains it made
-prussian and russian mutual alliance that lasted up till the end of the century
-the civil code that napoleon left created a greater desire for liberty among the people and a desire to be rid of the old regime leading to the revolutions in latter years
-governments found themselves having to consider what the public opinion was when making decisions now as the french revolution showed that the people could rise up
-the egyptian campaign launched egyptology
-old feudal traditions and rules were abolished
-italian nationalism was effected by the brief existence of the italian kingdom
-poland would rebel against russia in 1830 by using the army which had been created from the organisation that napoleon had instituted.

the effects of those 26 years from 1789 to 1815 was massive on european history in effecting the military, social and political areas.

irishcrusader95

no i don't believe you can ever say that any one events had the most impact as its often hard to trace all the exact effects of it and then knock on effects yet there is no denying napoleon and the french revolution had a huge effect.

jeroenrottgering

That''s low dude very low. Do you have no moral sense at all?

jeroenrottgering

Frederick reforms didn't have the infinite legacy as those of Napoleon. Also Frederick was by far not a better soldier then Napoleon. And if you say Frederick did not long for power then your are really biased. The seven years war and the war against Austira are ultime examples for this.

Linschoten

Napoleon's adventures actually had a retarding effect on liberal reform, by leading to the reinforcement of reaction and monarchical authoritianism in Europe; and they encouraged the development of a distinctive kind of militarism in Europe, and of Clausewitzian attitudes and of the romanticization of war, which had most baneful effects. His legacy was a very mixed one, even if one takes due account of his positive contributions through the civil code etc.

gaius valerius

That's rather very very very very very very very debatable.