"Geschichte des Königreichs Westfalen" by Arthur Kleinschmidt, published by Perthes, is a historical study of the Napoleonic client state, the Kingdom of Westphalia, which existed from 1807 to 1813 under the rule of Jérôme Bonaparte.
The book provides a structured narrative of the kingdom’s political creation, administration, and collapse, beginning with Napoleon’s reorganization of German territories after the Treaties of Tilsit. It examines how Westphalia was designed as a model state intended to spread French revolutionary and Napoleonic reforms into Central Europe.
A central focus is the internal governance of the kingdom, including the introduction of French-style administrative systems, legal reforms such as the Napoleonic Code, fiscal restructuring, and efforts to modernize society through centralized state control.
The work also addresses the military role of Westphalia, particularly its contributions to the Grande Armée and participation in major Napoleonic campaigns. It highlights the challenges of conscription, loyalty, and the integration of diverse German populations into a unified military structure.
Kleinschmidt further explores the tensions between reform and reality, showing how ambitious modernization policies often clashed with local traditions, administrative limitations, and the demands of Napoleonic warfare. These contradictions contributed to the kingdom’s instability and eventual collapse following Napoleon’s defeat in 1813.
