The
Napoleonic era is a period in the
history of France and
Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the
French Revolution, the first being the
National Assembly, the second being the
Legislative Assembly, and the third being the
Directory. The Napoleonic era begins roughly with
Napoleon Bonaparte's
coup d'état, overthrowing the Directory, establishing the
French Consulate, and ends during the
Hundred Days and his defeat at the
Battle of Waterloo (9 November 1799 – 28 June 1815). The
Congress of Vienna soon set out to restore Europe to pre-French Revolution days. Napoleon brought political stability to a land torn by revolution and war. He made peace with the Roman Catholic Church and reversed the most radical religious policies of the Convention. In 1804 Napoleon promulgated the
Civil Code, a revised body of civil law, which also helped stabilize French society. The Civil Code affirmed the political and legal equality of all adult men and established a merit-based society in which individuals advanced in education and employment because of talent rather than birth or social standing. The Civil Code confirmed many of the moderate revolutionary policies of the National Assembly but retracted measures passed by the more radical Convention. The code restored patriarchal authority in the family, for example, by making women and children subservient to male heads of households.