Was Napoleon the 'heir' of the French Revolution, the great consolidator of its reforms, or did he distort and even abandon its principles? What were the aims and effects of Napoleonic rule in France and in conquered Europe more widely?

This second edition of The Napoleonic Empire offers a critical reassessment of these central issues and provides a fresh synthesis of the most important research during the past forty years. Beginning with Napoleon's inheritance, Geoffrey Ellis balances the conflicting evidence for change or continuity over the years from the Revolutionary upheaval to the height of the 'Grand Empire'.

The new edition:

• covers the administrative, military, social and economic aspects of the subject
• redefines the whole impact of Napoleonic imperialism in both the short and longer term
• offers more extensive coverage of Napoleon's treatment of the annexed lands and subject states of his Empire, as well as of military conscription, desertion, and the role of the Gendarmerie in the war against brigands and military defaulters

• provides an expanded discussion of the institutional legacy of Napoleonic rule in France and Europe

  With an up-dated and more comprehensive bibliography, this thoroughly revised text is an invaluable guide to Napoleon's Europe and is ideal for specialist and general readers alike.

  A thoroughly revised second edition which provides an uptodate synthesis of recent research into the aims and effects of Napoleonic rule in Europe
  Provides greater coverage of many issues, such as Napoleon's treatment of the annexed lands, and the institutional legacy of Napoleonic rule in France and Europe
  Features a more comprehensive bibliography which now includes the most recent works in English

  Autorentext

  GEOFFREY ELLIS is Fellow and Tutor in Modern History at Hertford College, Oxford, UK.

  Inhalt
  Editor's Preface.- A Note on References.- Preface.- Preface to the Second Edition.- Introduction: Napoleon in Historiography.- The Inheritance.- The Civil Foundations of the Napoleonic State.- The 'Grand Empire' and the 'Grand Army'.- The Formation and Endowment of an Imperial Élite.- The Imperial Economy.- The Legacy.- Appendices.- Maps.- Glossary.- Select Bibliography.- Index.