ABSTRACT
The collection of laws and decrees, as well as documents in the National Archives which indicate the spirit in which these laws were applied, tell us a great deal about Napoleon's aims and achievements. In Napoleon Bonaparte's opinion, the corps of subaltern officers was to be a breeding-ground for war professionals, a group of tacticians and strategists who would lead his troop. The orators of the military schools constantly reiterated to pupils who had gathered for the last parade of the year that the courageous soldier was one who worshipped honour and was ready to sacrifice for it his earthly goods. Napoleon not only welcomed the sons of notables in his military schools, but sometimes forced them to register. Thus the Year II allowed citizen-soldiers to advance socially in their career thanks to their courage. Such men were genuine patriots rather than clever tacticians.
