Civil Code

Napoleon had many impact on Europe and the World. Napoleon's greatest impact was The Civil Code in my perspective. Napoleon considered the Civil Code to be the most significant of his achievements. Napoleon himself appears to have regarded the Civil Code of 1804 as the masterpiece of his reign, "My true glory". The Code represented a comprehensive reformation and codification of the French civil laws. Under the ancient regime more than 400 codes of laws were in place in various parts of France, with common law predominating in the north and Roman law in the south. The Revolution overturned many of these laws. Five attempts were made to codify the new laws of France during the periods of the National Convention and the directory.

Through the effects of Napoleon the drafting the new Civil Code in an expert commission, in which it took place in 1801. Napoleon attended many of the commissions. Although the draft was completed at the end of 1801, the Code was not published until 21 March 1804. "With the exception of fatherhood, Civil Code was where he endured most". The Civil Code represents a typically Napoleonic mix of liberalism and conservatism, although most of the basic revolutionary gains equality before the law, freedom of religion and the abolition of feudalism were consolidated within its laws. The Code also reinforced patriarchal power by making the husband the ruler of the household. "Civil Code bolsters paternal power over wives, children, and workers" (p.144). The Napoleonic Code was to be promulgated, with modifications, throughout the Empire. The Civil Code was followed by a Code of Civil Procedure in 1806, a Commercial Code in 1807, a Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure in 1808 and a Penal Code in 1810. A Rural Code was debated, but never Promulgated. The Code Napoleon, renamed the Civil Code, was retained in its majority after the restoration of the Bourbons in 1815. "Under the Code all citizen are equal". The Civil Code has served as the model for the codes of law of more than twenty nations throughout the world including, Italy, Germany, and parts of United States.

In Conclusion, Acknowleding that Napoleon and the Grande Armee changed warfare forever, Napoleon's greatest achievements were in the field of law, the arts, government, and civil reform. Wherever the writ of the French Empire ran, there was basic civil rights, freedom of religion, hospitals and orphanages. The Code Civil, Also called the Code Napoleon has survived to this day, and gave France its first written code of law. The Code was to design forever, which quotes, "What nothing can efface, what will still endure forever" (p.144). He revamped French education, reestablished the church, granted full citizenship to the Jewish people, encouraged industrialization and agriculture, balance his budget, etc. Napoleon succeeded in outsmarting all his fellow consuls and is indeed a triumph worthy of mention. Furthermore, the fact that he managed to unite so many people under one form of government and rules is extraordinary. His success in establishing some order made him a great leader.