[Luojia Lecture] British Professor Doyle Talks about Napoleon and the End of French Revolution

On October 25, the 266^thLuojia Lecture invited William Doyle, professor of history at the University of Bristol, UK, to give a report entitled "Napoleon: How to End a Revolution".

The end of the French Revolution, which began in 1789, has always been a matter of debate among scholars. In his report, Doyle put forward his views on when did the Great Revolution come to an end. He believes that the French Revolution did not end in 1794 as traditionally believed. When Roberspierre stepped down and the terror rule ended, the three major problems facing the French Revolution were religious differences, internal and external wars, and the fight between republicanism and monarchy, so in 1794, the French Revolution had not yet completed its mission. These problems were actually solved one by one after Napoleon came to power.

Doyle believes that Napoleon had nothing to do with the outbreak of the French Revolution, but he was the terminator of the French Revolution. Through the "Coup of 18 Brumaire" in 1799, Napoleon overthrew the old government and established a new one. When he became a governor in 1802, he had initially achieved domestic political stability. The French welcomed this until 1810. It has enabled France to maintain stability and ensure its hegemony in Europe. Doyle believes that it was a series of measures taken after Napoleon took office that have solved the three major problems that the previous government failed to solve. Therefore, 1802 should be regarded as the end of the French Revolution.

Doyle graduated from the University of Oxford, UK and is currently a professor of history at the University of Bristol, UK. His works include theOrigins of the French Revolution, The Oxford History of the French Revolution, andVenality. The Sale of Offices In Eighteenth Century, and many works have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, French, Italian and Portuguese.