When Napoleon invaded Germany, it had not yet acquired a
national identity. The country was a hodgepodge of kingdoms and
principalities. Napoleon and the ideas of the French Revolution
transformed the country and its culture. In reducing radically
the number of independent states within Germany, Napoleon
streamlined governance and prepared the country for nationhood
and unity. His introduction of his law code also abolished the
hundreds of judicial systems that then were operative. Many
admired him for the introduction of the ideals of liberty and
equality, such as Beethoven. The tide turned, not only because
of French troops occupying German territory and French
governance, but also because of Napoleon’s ambition to set
himself up as emperor. This clearly contradicted the ideals of
liberty and equality. Beethoven turned against Napoleon.
Nationalism awoke in a country that had known allegiance only to
a principality or, more broadly, to cosmopolitan culture. The
fervor led to a blossoming of literature and m