The Age of Napoleon Podcast Episode 68: The Eagle and the Owls
May 26, 2020
Napoleon's efforts to reconcile with counter-revolutionaries and address religious conflict in France, emigres' mistaken beliefs about his intentions, Napoleon's response to the restoration proposition and the church, the conflict between the revolutionaries and the Vatican, the captivity and controversial funeral of Pope Pius VI.
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Napoleon's Strategy Of Reconciliation
- Napoleon pursued reconciliation with conservatives to build a broad national coalition.
- He combined symbolic gestures and concrete concessions to win right-wing support.
Use Amnesty Paired With Force
- Offer amnesty to insurgents who lay down arms while backing it with military pressure.
- Use a mix of carrots and sticks to force reconciliation or defeat remaining rebels.
Emigres Were Not A Monolith
- Emigres were diverse and not uniformly royalist or dangerous.
- Napoleon recognized many exiles wanted to return and could be reconciled if given legal pathways home.