One of the relevant executions, part of Napoleon's terror, that is worth examining is the execution of the Duc d'Enghien. The execution of the member of the Bourbon family was motivated by the need to consolidate the newly established Napoleonic hereditary monarchy. As any act of terror, it was also meant to frighten away any potential individuals willing to contest the act itself, notably members of the Bourbon family who were still armed to support the right of their family to the throne. The act of terror was thus also a political act.
At the same time, one needs to mention some of Napoleon's closest collaborators to understand how closely Napoleon was influenced by Terror during his reign. One of them is Fouche, the chief of police and, during the French Revolution, one of the key instrument of applying terror throughout the country. As a Jacobin, his activity in Lyon marked one of the bloodiest campaigns of the period of terror. While his methods may have been adapted during Napoleon's reign to better fit the times, there is no doubt that some of the key elements used previously, most notably instruments aimed at ensuring a state of uncertainty and fear with the population, remained...
During the 1814 invasion of France, as well as during the 100 days, many of his closest collaborators, including Carnot, suggested that a new Terror was the only way that the French population could be sufficiently galvanized to be able to fight the invader. The solution was refused. Even more so, during the 100 days, Napoleon preferred a liberal approach (inspired by the Liberal Revolution), but one totally inadequate for the respective times, when the military dictatorship was most needed to save the country.
A military dictatorship is the best term to describe Napoleon's reign as First Consul and Emperor. This type of government implies limiting the individual freedoms and imposing this through the support of the army. Considering this brief description of Napoleon's governmental approach, it is clear that he was more influenced by the Terror than by the Liberal Revolution, although his application did not actually reach the levels of the period from 1792 to…
