What changes did Napoleon implement once in power, and what did he maintain?

When Napoleon Bonaparte came to power in France, he implemented a series of reforms and also maintained certain aspects of the pre-existing system. Here are some key changes Napoleon enacted and what he maintained:

1. Legal Reform: Napoleon's most famous and enduring reform was the establishment of the Napoleonic Code, or the French Civil Code, in 1804. It established a uniform set of laws that applied equally to all citizens, eliminated feudal privileges, asserted the principle of the equality of men (although it did not apply to women in the same way), and guaranteed civil liberties like the right to own property and the right to a fair trial.

2. Administrative Changes: Napoleon centralized the French government and created a more efficient administrative structure. He streamlined the tax system, which allowed for more effective tax collection and minimized corruption. He also established the Bank of France to stabilize the currency and to help control the economy.

3. Military Reforms: Napoleon built a strong centralized military, creating the Grande Armée, which was based on merit, training, organization, and loyalty to him. His military innovations led to numerous successes on the battlefield and allowed France to control much of Europe for a time.

4. Education Reforms: He reformed the education system, aiming to create a centralized system that could produce qualified administrative and military personnel to serve the state. This included the creation of lycées, or secondary schools, which were intended to be training grounds for civil servants and military officers.

5. Religious Policy: Napoleon maintained a policy of religious tolerance and restored relations between France and the Catholic Church with the Concordat of 1801. Although he did not restore full power to the Church and kept it under state control, he recognized Catholicism as the preferred religion of the French people while allowing freedom of worship for others.

6. Social Hierarchy: While Napoleon did away with the old aristocracy, he created a new imperial nobility based on merit and service to the empire. This helped to secure the loyalty of his generals and administrators.

What he maintained:

1. Revolutionary Ideals: Napoleon maintained some of the ideals of the French Revolution, such as equality for all citizens before the law, secularism, and merit-based advancement in civil and military careers.

2. Centralized Government: He kept the centralized government structure that had been developing during the Revolution, which allowed for more efficient governing but also contributed to the concentration of power in his own hands.

3. Property Rights: Napoleon upheld the revolutionary sales of confiscated church and noble lands, securing property rights for the new owners and ensuring that the land reforms of the Revolution were irreversible.

Overall, Napoleon's reforms modernized France and had a long-lasting impact on French society and governance, though his authoritarian rule laid the foundations for the eventual return of monarchy and the limitations of certain civil liberties.