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

Abstract

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.