By the end of his reign, the once popular Napoleon Bonaparte could do little to avoid exile. For the romantically inclined, you might say Napoleon lived a tragic hero’s tale; he rose above the French Revolution, crowned himself emperor, and reformed an unstable nation. Napoleon’s conquests, however, alarmed neighboring European leaders. Following a string of defeats in Spain, Russia, and Waterloo, Napoleon could not reinvigorate the popular support that previously emboldened the Grand Armee.

Making Connections

Before you start exploring the Congress of Vienna, consider the following questions and watch the video to help you contextualize a post-Napoleon Europe:

1. What were the causes of Napoleon’s decline?
2. How did the French Revolution impact Europe?
3. How did Napoleon’s reforms and military campaigns impact Europe?