Rançois Guizot vs Napoleon Bonaparte: Two “ heroes” of national history

The article is devoted to the comparative analysis of two French politicians of the 19th century, François Guizot and Napoleon Bonaparte. At first glance, Guizot — a scholar-intellectual, a liberal, a convinced pacifist, a well-known historian and one of the most unpopular French politicians — is the...

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Main Author: N. P. Tanshina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. RANEPA 2023-06-01
Series:Шаги
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Online Access:https://steps.ranepa.ru/jour/article/view/206
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author N. P. Tanshina
author_facet N. P. Tanshina
author_sort N. P. Tanshina
collection DOAJ
description The article is devoted to the comparative analysis of two French politicians of the 19th century, François Guizot and Napoleon Bonaparte. At first glance, Guizot — a scholar-intellectual, a liberal, a convinced pacifist, a well-known historian and one of the most unpopular French politicians — is the complete opposite of Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the most controversial, but at the same time one of the most popular heroes of French history: an anti-liberal and authoritarian ruler, a general who tried to conquer Europe with fire and sword. However, a careful comparative analysis shows that they had a lot in common. Their destinies were inextricably linked with the Revolution, both of them attached great importance to educational policy, both understood the importance of the religious factor, and both stood at the origins of a united Europe, although they proposed to act in completely different ways. Both have had a very difficult historiographical fate. Guizot and Napoleon are also brought together by very contradictory assessments in historical science. The careers of both Napoleon and Guizot ended in a defeat. However, Guizot, a brilliant historian and pacifist, a theorist of the parliamentary regime, who tried to combine the idea of freedom with the idea of order, remained in history as an unpopular and unsuccessful minister. As for Napoleon, he triumphed even after his defeat. He may have won his most important battle, that is, the battle for historical memory. For all his ambiguity, Napoleon remains one of the main national heroes of France. These important questions are the focus of this article.
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spelling doaj-art-5ec32d9244f8499f9bbfa71ff52c6a4f2025-08-20T03:51:13ZengRussian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. RANEPAШаги2412-94102782-17652023-06-019217118610.22394/2412-9410-2023-9-2-171-186205Rançois Guizot vs Napoleon Bonaparte: Two “ heroes” of national historyN. P. Tanshina0Российская академия народного хозяйства и государственной службы при Президенте РФThe article is devoted to the comparative analysis of two French politicians of the 19th century, François Guizot and Napoleon Bonaparte. At first glance, Guizot — a scholar-intellectual, a liberal, a convinced pacifist, a well-known historian and one of the most unpopular French politicians — is the complete opposite of Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the most controversial, but at the same time one of the most popular heroes of French history: an anti-liberal and authoritarian ruler, a general who tried to conquer Europe with fire and sword. However, a careful comparative analysis shows that they had a lot in common. Their destinies were inextricably linked with the Revolution, both of them attached great importance to educational policy, both understood the importance of the religious factor, and both stood at the origins of a united Europe, although they proposed to act in completely different ways. Both have had a very difficult historiographical fate. Guizot and Napoleon are also brought together by very contradictory assessments in historical science. The careers of both Napoleon and Guizot ended in a defeat. However, Guizot, a brilliant historian and pacifist, a theorist of the parliamentary regime, who tried to combine the idea of freedom with the idea of order, remained in history as an unpopular and unsuccessful minister. As for Napoleon, he triumphed even after his defeat. He may have won his most important battle, that is, the battle for historical memory. For all his ambiguity, Napoleon remains one of the main national heroes of France. These important questions are the focus of this article.https://steps.ranepa.ru/jour/article/view/206françois guizotnapoleon bonapartecomparative studiesthe french revolutionthe first empirethe restoration and the july monarchy in france
spellingShingle N. P. Tanshina
Rançois Guizot vs Napoleon Bonaparte: Two “ heroes” of national history
Шаги
françois guizot
napoleon bonaparte
comparative studies
the french revolution
the first empire
the restoration and the july monarchy in france
title Rançois Guizot vs Napoleon Bonaparte: Two “ heroes” of national history
title_full Rançois Guizot vs Napoleon Bonaparte: Two “ heroes” of national history
title_fullStr Rançois Guizot vs Napoleon Bonaparte: Two “ heroes” of national history
title_full_unstemmed Rançois Guizot vs Napoleon Bonaparte: Two “ heroes” of national history
title_short Rançois Guizot vs Napoleon Bonaparte: Two “ heroes” of national history
title_sort rancois guizot vs napoleon bonaparte two heroes of national history
topic françois guizot
napoleon bonaparte
comparative studies
the french revolution
the first empire
the restoration and the july monarchy in france
url https://steps.ranepa.ru/jour/article/view/206
work_keys_str_mv AT nptanshina rancoisguizotvsnapoleonbonapartetwoheroesofnationalhistory