Napoleonic+Code

=__Napoleonic Code: Audience__= Vanessa Hyde



The Napoleonic Code encompassed a vast audience in Europe, mainly France, based on its purpose and content. According to a History Channel article, " The laws were applied to all territories under Napoleon's control and were influential in several other European countries and in South America" (The History Channel). Napoleon utilized the need for a new set of laws to replace the French and Roman written laws in order to establish his rule and overall dominance of France. The Napoleonic Code was established and as a result "all territories under Napoleon's control" and "other European countries" and "South America" became Napoleon's audience. With such an immense audience to face Napoleon's new laws, there ultimately was disagreement among individuals within his "territories" about the content of the codes. The inequality of the Napoleonic code may not have been apparent at the time it was created (1804), but according to Tom Holmberg's article for The Napoleon Series "The law was the same for all throughout France. But that equality was not absolute. Foreigners, for instance, were not granted civil rights, nor was a wife equal to her husband, nor legitimate and illegitimate children" (Holmberg). Napoleon had a vast audience that had to follow his "code" but not all of that audience was granted the same privileges and rights. Napoleon's code simply excluded half of his "audience"; women. The Napoleonic code established that "a wife" was not "equal to her husband", but instead was property to him and men in general. This code may have been established centuries ago, but the same ideals had been present and influential factors in the years leading up to today. The Napoleonic code may have been revealed and established for countries, but the laws within it were set for the audience of men vs. women and the lack of equality between them.

Works Cited:

“Napoleonic Code.” //The History Channel Website//. 2013. Web. 2 April 2013.

Holmberg, Tom. "The Civil Code: an Overview." //The Napoleon Series.// Research Topics: Government & Politics, 1995 - 2003. Web. 2 April 2013.