Napoleon: Hero or Villain?

Did Napoleon have a more positive reputation compared to Louis XVI? Why?

Answer:

The best option is "Napoleon hero vs. Louis XVI".

Explanation:

By looking up "Napoleon Louis XVI" a website titled "From Louis XVI to Napoleon - The French Revolution" pops up. The website details how generous, shy, and easily swayed King Louis XVI was and how he was not suited for the position. It is mentioned how King Louis unintentionally opened the doors to revolution and that France needed a stronger ruler. This is where Napoleon Bonaparte comes in. We are told that Napoleon achieved success in the military at a young age, and the French approved of the constitution that gave real ruling power to Napoleon. One of his most important reforms was his code of laws, referred to as the Napoleonic Code. Napoleon was powerful and expanded his empire over the course of a decade of winning numerous wars, he was the strong and absolute leader that had been needed. However, after the French went to war with Russia during a harsh winter and Napoleon only came back with 30,000 of the 600,000 men that had been taken, Napoleon was exiled. Napoleon came back shortly after to attempt at winning another war in Waterloo. He was exiled again, this time to the island of St. Helena where he died.

There were little other results for this search, if you looked hard enough you could find the websites though. The first website offers quite a bit of information, but since it's so difficult to find other websites to choose from the second option seems better.

Searching "Napoleon hero vs. Louis XVI" brings up a different website called "Napoleon: flawed hero or power-mad tyrant? - Sky HISTORY". This site starts off questioning if Napoleon was "...a flawed but essential visionary who changed Europe for the better" or "...simply a military dictator, whose cult of personality and lust for power set a template for the likes of Hitler". (Sky HISTORY) Napoleons personality is likened to a maddening paradox. The article states that Napoleon was a military genius that led disastrous campaigns. Napoleon reinstated slavery in the French colonies as well. This website claims that the French had to watch as Napoleon crowned himself after they had fought to bring down the monarchy. As an emperor, Napoleon held more power and pageantry than King Louis VXI ever had. Napoleon even created a new aristocracy by appointing his relatives as royals/nobles throughout Europe. After that the site explains in depth how paradoxical Napoleon was, and that the arguments over him and his status will continue, that itself is enough of a testament to his power.

Other websites resulting from this search are "#MWH Napoleon: Hero or Tyrant? - Central Bucks School District", "Napoleon: Hero or Tyrant? - 5-Minute History", "How Effective Is Napoleon A Hero? - 1160 Words - IPL.org". This set of key words pulls up better results that hold enough information to put together a nice essay if needed.

(I would like to note that I only skimmed through the first sites that popped up for each search)

Final answer:

The comparison 'Napoleon hero vs. Louis XVI' is the best set of key words to use when explaining why Napoleon is seen as a hero and not Louis XVI. Napoleon, due to his legal reforms and military victories, is seen as a hero, while King Louis XVI is viewed less favorably due to his reign being marked by socio-economic issues and his inability to handle them.

Explanation:

The key words Napoleon hero vs. Louis XVI would yield better results in answering the question, 'Why was Napoleon seen as a hero and not Louis XVI?' This specific keyword set focuses on the comparison and contrast of these two historical figures, as well as the public perception of them during their respective reigns.

Napoleon is often regarded as a hero because of his transformative reign. He established the Napoleonic Code, which assured political and legal equality for all adult men and became the base of many civil laws in Europe. Furthermore, he won numerous military victories which expanded French territories.

On the other hand, King Louis XVI was often viewed less favorably due to the socio-economic issues present during his reign which eventually led to the French Revolution. His inability to handle these issues paired with his disregard for financial reforms resulted in his negative perception.

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