To determine whether Napoleon is a hero or a tyrant, it is necessary to clarify the definition of the terms above. For a leader to be classified as a hero, he must always act in the best interests of his people. A hero would also recognize, understand, and obey the law. Making decisions for personal gain or goals and bringing suffering to one's people would identify a leader as a villain. A villain would also willingly place himself above the law, to achieve his own personal goals. Napoleon Bonaparte, who came to power in 1804, has been associated with both of these terms. His domestic policy aimed to bring equality and economic stability to France, according to the promises of the revolution. His foreign policy aimed to spread the democratic ideals of the revolution to other European countries through military conquest. Napoleon would be considered a hero due to his egalitarian domestic policy and his necessary reform to the French economy, however, his foreign policy would be considered evil. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Napoleon's domestic policy involved the full implementation of his code, which would ensure equality among all Frenchmen and could be considered a heroic action. As First Consul, Napoleon had the ability and opportunity to resolve the chaos in France. He was able to effectively recognize the core of the problem and come up with a plan to solve it. “More than any other man in France, he saw that the greatest need was a thorough revision and unification of its legislation.” The Napoleonic Code was introduced by the Convention and then completed and implemented by Napoleon in 1804. The code remained true to the revolution's promise of equality and was the first of its kind in the history of France. He clearly addressed the laws on private property, individual freedom, the separation between institutions and the Church and criminal law. “This plan was notable for its excessive brevity; there was only one article for civil status certificates, only one for domicile, and the rest in proportion; the whole consisted of six hundred and ninety-five articles. “The code also allowed for the formation of an efficient bureaucracy as it abolished the legacy of nobility and class discrimination and made opportunities available to all classes of society. The code allowed all job positions to be assigned based on the education of an individual rather than his pedigree. This included all positions in the government and provided Napoleon with the opportunity to be able to build an efficient and effective bureaucracy. “Bonaparte had come to power without an organized faction of supporters in filling key positions he had sought only talent and energy and had ostentatiously ignored the political background of those who served him. The vast increase in the number of candidates for each government post allowed Napoleon to elect the most competent and reliable men. The Napoleonic Code granted many freedoms to the French and it allowed the French to have control over important matters, which were previously determined by the State or the Church. Through the establishment of his code, Napoleon was able to tame much of the chaos that had ensued and accumulated due to the French government's inconsistent laws. Napoleon's eradication and replacement of France's failing economy played an important role in France's ability to regain stability and thus ranks him as a hero. Napoleon understood the terrible state of the pitiful French economy. Used effectivelyhis authoritarian government to implement effective changes to solve this problem. “Bonaparte found the treasury practically empty and the government desperately dependent on loans from private bankers. He encouraged his experts to renew the system of direct taxation and, through his national bureaucracy, managed to enforce the collection." Napoleon handed over the reins of the French credit system to the Bank of France and ensured that the bank was brought under control by financiers with in-depth knowledge of the economy. The financiers were also personally involved in the success of the French economy, which ensured the success of the Bank. This system, although rigorous, served its purpose well: “in the next century the franc would become l 'the most stable monetary unit in Europe'. This system helped stabilize the currency and improve the process of lending money by the government. Napoleon's system brought economic stability back to France. Napoleon's foreign policy and the methods by which he was able to carry it out were evil by definition. Napoleon wanted to "liberate" other European countries and introduce them to the ideals of the revolution. This goal, in itself, would be considered heroic. However, the implementation of his foreign policy violated multiple laws of the Westphalian system. Its expansion neglected the neutrality of small states and the rule of non-intervention. Napoleon also used unethical tactics to force states to adopt his foreign policy and maintain control over them. “Who commanded his generals and satraps to use pre-emptive terror to control their dominions; who not only conquered and suppressed the war of other states, but also used tactics of bullying, manipulation and extortion against them in peacetime, almost without regard to whether they were hostile or friendly.” Napoleon's contempt for the law and his willingness to resort to violence to maintain control would be considered evil actions. Although Napoleon was able to spread equality in Europe, he failed to secure freedom. Napoleon overstretched and conscripted his empire to provide sufficient financial means to maintain it and maintain control of it. It is evident that Napoleon not only broke the law to grant freedom to other states, but also used states for personal gain. This negates any aspect of heroism that might previously have been found in Napoleon's foreign policy. Numerous states that originally welcomed Napoleon with open arms began to resist his control after his invasion, starting with Spain in 1808, followed by Russia in 1812 and Russia in 1813. It was Napoleon's humiliation and exploitation that prompted Spain and Russia resisted because they were satisfied with the democratic reform initially brought by Napoleon. This would result in more wars that would put a strain on Napoleon's empire. Napoleon's foreign policy did not benefit his empire but only fueled his ambition. The continuous chain of wars put France to the test. After a while, France also grew tired and resentful of Napoleon, who was bleeding his resources dry by maintaining a constant state of war. In 1813 “there was open dissension in France and a dangerous restlessness in Europe.” Also in 1813, after losing a large number of men at the Battle of Borodino, Napoleon abandoned the rest of his men to rush back to Paris and raise another army of men. This would mean another round of conscription by an already disgruntled France. It is clear that Napoleon's foreign policy brought little or no benefits to France and was not a strategy that..