Propaganda and the Legitimation of Power in Napoleonic France
Alan Forrest
French History, Volume 18, Issue 4, 1 December 2004, Pages 426–445

Abstract

Throughout his career Napoleon made careful use of a wide range of media to project the political images he wished to convey. The genius for self-publicity which had served him so well in the Army of Italy—the image of Bonaparte as hero and saviour which Philip Dwyer analyses in this issue—did not desert him after Brumaire. As First Consul and as Emperor, Napoleon continued to demonstrate an unparalleled concern for the construction and projection of particular images of his rule. The power he wielded meant that he enjoyed unrivalled control of a wide range of media—art, music, theatre and popular festivals, as well as the printed word. He used propaganda as those in need of legitimation always do, seeking constant reassurance that his power, and the institutions he had created, basked in the approval of the nation. Much remained constant across this period, including the prestige attached to a victorious general, but, this article argues, the image he chose to present of himself did evolve as he became older, more statesmanlike, more concerned with the governance of his Empire.

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