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"When people talk about Napoleon plublicly (on TV for example), it is still very political" There is a short piece on the BBC News website about how France vie

"When people talk about Napoleon plublicly (on TV for example), it is still very political" There is a short piece on the BBC News website about how France views Napoleon. Do you feel it's an accurate description? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-eu-33169050 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-eu-33169050

mercurial 11y ago
I'd say it's not wrong, though the "providential man" idea is more closely linked to De Gaule than Napoleon. I think there is still some pride at the brilliant military successes he gave France, and his important reforms (like the Civil Code) but at the same time imperialism has really gotten out of fashion. So a mix of embarrassment and pride. Paris still has a lot of Napoleonic traces (eg, the Arch of Triumph, the Vendome column, the Invalides, the ring of boulevards named after his marshals...). Personally, I don't give a damn about nationalism. People taking pride from the actions of long-dead folks happening to be born roughly at the right location, or holding grudges because their country lost territory decades ago leave me cold.
- vmorgulis 11y ago
  Gare d'Austerlitz. I've read recently that Rome was the 131th french district at that time. I've also seen on Arte a documentary with a positive point of view about the french administration in Germany during that time (maybe in Munich).
  - mercurial 11y ago
    I don't think Spain has kept such a positive image of the French occupation, though.
    - raphar 11y ago
      But Spain occupation set in motion all the revolutionary movements in (latin) America. From 1808-1810 most spanish colonies claimed their independence.
vmorgulis 11y ago
The current president is from the socialist party. This party takes its roots in the III Republic. The first republic is the French Revolution. Their thinkings always refer to the Age of Enlightenment, the III Republic and a little bit to marxism. They are not comfortable with kings and emperors. A lot of french people carry a kind of collective inconscious shame around the history of the country. It can be about the Kings, Napoleon, the colonization of Africa, or the collaboration of the french governement with the nazis. It can also come from the failure against the Great-Britain during the carribean wars in the 16th century. France lost the battle, lost Haiti and Napoleon sold La Louisiane... English is the new latin not french. France is an outsider.

mercurial 11y ago

I'd say it's not wrong, though the "providential man" idea is more closely linked to De Gaule than Napoleon. I think there is still some pride at the brilliant military successes he gave France, and his important reforms (like the Civil Code) but at the same time imperialism has really gotten out of fashion. So a mix of embarrassment and pride. Paris still has a lot of Napoleonic traces (eg, the Arch of Triumph, the Vendome column, the Invalides, the ring of boulevards named after his marshals...). Personally, I don't give a damn about nationalism. People taking pride from the actions of long-dead folks happening to be born roughly at the right location, or holding grudges because their country lost territory decades ago leave me cold.

vmorgulis 11y ago
Gare d'Austerlitz. I've read recently that Rome was the 131th french district at that time. I've also seen on Arte a documentary with a positive point of view about the french administration in Germany during that time (maybe in Munich).
- mercurial 11y ago
  I don't think Spain has kept such a positive image of the French occupation, though.
  - raphar 11y ago
    But Spain occupation set in motion all the revolutionary movements in (latin) America. From 1808-1810 most spanish colonies claimed their independence.

vmorgulis 11y ago

The current president is from the socialist party. This party takes its roots in the III Republic. The first republic is the French Revolution. Their thinkings always refer to the Age of Enlightenment, the III Republic and a little bit to marxism. They are not comfortable with kings and emperors. A lot of french people carry a kind of collective inconscious shame around the history of the country. It can be about the Kings, Napoleon, the colonization of Africa, or the collaboration of the french governement with the nazis. It can also come from the failure against the Great-Britain during the carribean wars in the 16th century. France lost the battle, lost Haiti and Napoleon sold La Louisiane... English is the new latin not french. France is an outsider.