What made Napoleon an enlightened despot?

Question

I always wondered what made Napoleon an enlightened despot. What policies or accomplishments prove that he was in fact an enlightened despot.

Answer 1

http://www.slashdoc.com/documents/76037

Answer 2

His reorganisation of his armies provided him with a vast advantage over his contemporary continental enemies. Napoleon invented the 'corps d'armee'.

Essentially he shrunk huge infantry units into smaller ones, promoted commanders, and sent them marching in different directions. This meant his armies moved much faster than the Prussian, Austrian or Russian armies and he could take them by surprise.

This wasn't his idea though, it was about thirty years old and was pushed by his generals. It came to fruition because of the French Revolution (which chucked out all the noble officers) and because he adopted it rather boldly.

Great Britain won though.

Answer 3

He wasn't enlightened he was just a despot.  His code napoleon deprived women of any rights and reduced them to the status of minors.  He introduced imprisonment without trial, stifled the freedom of the press, and made himself all-powerful.  he tried to reintroduce slavery in Haiti, and imprisoned the rebel slave leader toussaint l'ouverture, who died in prison.  he then tried to conquer all of Europe.  He ws basically power mad

Answer 4

Napolean made Napoleon and "enlightened despot".   haha