Caesar And Naopoleon Essay Example For Students

Caesar And Naopoleon Essay Bonapartes success as a military leader and conqueror can also be seen in another great leader, Julius Caesar. Both Napoleon and Caesar achieved great glory by bringing their countries out of turmoil. It was Caesar, that Napoleon modeled himself after, he wanted to be as great, if not greater than Caesar. Looking to the past, Napoleon knew what steps to take in order to achieve success Napoleon devoured books on the art of war. Volume after volume of military theory was read, analyzed and criticized. He studied the campaigns of historys most famous commanders;   Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Frederick the Great and his favorite nd most influential, Julius Caesar (Marrin 17). Julius Caesar was the strong leader for the Romans who changed the course of history of the Greco Roman world decisively and irreversibly. Caesar was able to create the Roman Empire because of his strength and his strong war strategies (Duggan 117). Julius Caesar was to become one of the greatest generals, conquering the whole of Gaul. In 58 BC, Caesar became governor and military commander of Gaul, which included modern France, Belgium, and portions of Switzerland, Holland, and Germany west of the Rhine. For the next eight years, Caesar led military campaigns involving both the Roman egions and tribes in Gaul who were often competing among themselves. Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman whose dictatorship was pivotal in Romes transition from republic to empire (Duggan 84). Caesars principles were to keep his forces united; to be vulnerable at no point, to strike speedily at critical points; to rely on moral factors, such as his reputation and the fear he inspired, as well as political means in order to insure the loyalty of his allies and the submissiveness of the conquered nations. He made use of every possible opportunity to increase his chances of victory on the battlefield and, in rder to accomplish this, he needed unity of all his troops (Duggan 117). From the time that he had first faced battle in Gaul and discovered his own military genius, Caesar was evidently fascinated and obsessed by military and imperial problems. He gave them an absolute priority over the more delicate by no less fundamental task of revising the Roman constitution. The need in the latter sphere was a solution which would introduce such elements of authoritarianism, which were necessary to check corruption and administrative weakness (Grant, Caesar 61). The story of all his battles and wars has been reserved in Caesars written account, Commentaries on the Gallic Wars, originally published in 50 B. C. For this period, Caesar is the only existent source providing first-hand descriptions of Britain. While no doubt self-serving in a political sense when written, Caesars account is nevertheless regarded as basically accurate and historically reliable (Frere 68). Caesar was appointed dictator for a year starting in 49 B. C. , for two years in 48 B. C. , for ten years in 46 B. C. and finally dictator for life in 44 B. C. Taking over as Dictator for life, enabled Caesar to gain unrestricted   power. He was ble to run a strong military and even though he was considered only a dictator he wrote laws that actually made him have the same powers as a king. The conspirators saw the problem that had arised and so they planned the murder of Caesar on the Ides of March. Caesar was killed and there was another triumvirate (government ruled by three) formed. Caesar was a strong military leader that had showed strength and courage to take over the town and he was able to form a civilization that was strong militarily and politically (Grant, Caesar 187). Minimum Wage Legislation EssayNapoleon and Caesar took their struggling nations out of turmoil andgavethem order, and for that the people loved them. Caesar put an end tothe Gallic and Civilwars that Rome was involved in, with that, he enteredinto power . Napoleon took Franceout of the French Revolution by overthrowingthe then government, the Directory. Napoleon instated a new government theConsulate and crowned himself first Consul andthree years later, Consul forlife, Caesar became all powerful when named dictator for life. Both men knewin order to be a successful leader, they had to have the full support of themilitary. Power and territory were increased, because there armies were always thebiggestand responsible for putting down any revolts that might occur. Caesar introducedpropagandaand Napoleon followed his lead. Favorable accounts were written whichprovedto give them a political edge, and the support of the people. Caesar was afriendof his people and gave many lands to his soldiers and to the poor,he built bridges, roadsand waterworks. Napoleon was also civil in the beginningof his reign, abolishingserfdom, passing laws and granting universal malesuffrage. Both men were well likeduntil they abused there powers and privileges. They fell for the same reason, too muchpower. Caesar was murdered becausehis role as dictator came to close to being a kingand Napoleon did not knowwhere to draw the line and his army eventually turned againsthim. NapoleonBonaparte was able to rise to power because of another great generalthatcame before him, Julius Caesar. Napoleon was a success because he looked tothepast, and emulated Caesar; he built up his army, conquered most of Europe,became adictator for life and eventually fell from power, because like Caesar,he did not knowwhere to draw the line. BIBLIOGRAPHYCarlyle,Thomas. The French Revolution Complete and Unabridged. New York: RandomHouse, Inc., 1837. Castelot, Andre. Napoleon. New York: Harper RowPublishers Inc., 1971. Duggan, Alfred. Julius Caesar A Great Life in Brief. New York: Borzoi Books,1996. Ellis, Peter Berrsford. Caesars Invasionof Britian. New York: New YorkUniversity Press, 1978. Frere, Sheppard. Britannia: A History of Roman Britain (3rd edition). London:Routledge ;Kegan Paul, 1987. Grab, Walter. The French Revolution The Beginning ofModern Democracy. London: Bracken Books, 1989. Grant, Michael. JuliusCaesar. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1969. Grant, Michael. Caesar. Chicago: Follett Publishing Company, 1975. Herold, J. Christopher. TheAge of Napoleon. New York: American HeritagePublishing Co., Inc., 1963. Herold,J. Christopher and Marshall B. Davidson. The Horizon Book of The AgeofNapoleon. New York: American Heritage Publishing Co., Inc., 1963. Lawford,James. Napoleon The Last Campaigns 1813-1815. New York: CrownPublishersInc., 1977. Marrin, Albert. Napoleon and The Napoleonic Wars. New York:PenguinBooks, 1991. Weidhorn, Manfred. Napoleon. New York: MacmillianPublishing Company,1986.Words/ Pages : 1,646 / 24