'Personal ambition was more important than revolutionary principles in Napoleon's consolidation of power in the years 1799 to 1804.' Assess the validity of this view.

The view that Napoleon's consolidation was more influenced by personal ambition than revolutionary principles is largely valid. Whilst Napoleon did continue to implement the principles of 'liberty, equality, and fraternity' in some ways, the power that he obtained through surveillance, coupled with his own self-glorification, point to a consolidation motivated predominantly by the former. 

/Napoleon's handling of the Church is a key area where his personal ambition can be seen. His signing of the Concordat (1801) and later implementation of freedom of religion in the Code Napoleon (1804) might be considered an emphasis of the revolutionary principle of 'liberty'. However, there is much evidence to suggest that Napoleon recognised the anarchy created by preceding atheistic governments, and used religion as a means of obtaining control and power. Priests were forced to swear an Oath of Loyalty to Napoleon, and changes were made to the catechism to the promote Napoleon as a superior (and almost divine) figure. This ensured that the religious, who would not go against the teachings of the Church, respected and obeyed Napoleon as an individual. Furthermore, Napoleon's decision to keep church lands in the hands of lay buyers was, indeed, in keeping with the principles of the revolution, but vitally it was also decided to ensure maximum socioeconomic stability and thus personal stability, for Napoleon. In this way, Napoleon's consolidation of the Church can be seen as primarily motivated by personal ambition.