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Self-Crowning Spectacle
- On December 2, 1804, half a million Parisians crowd Notre-Dame to witness Napoleon crown himself Emperor.
- He abruptly takes the crown from the pope and places it on his own head, signalling personal supremacy.
Restoring Prestige Through Rapid Victory
- After returning from Egypt, Napoleon used a swift Italian campaign and Alpine crossing to restore his reputation with a decisive victory at Marengo.
- That victory forced Austria to negotiate and reset France's strategic position in Europe.
Peace As Political Breather
- The Peace of Amiens briefly recognised revolutionary France as an equal power and returned many colonies to France.
- The pause gave Napoleon time to centralise power and enact domestic reforms that strengthened his rule.