Was Napoleon's policy of reinstating Catholicism the reason for his success?

Napoleon realized that the importance of religion and he reinstated Catholicism as a means to increase the obedience of the people and his control over the French. His aim for reinstating Catholicism is to increase his power over the people.

This led to the Concordat of 1801 negotiated by Ercole Consalvi, the Pope’s secretary which created a link between the French church and Rome.

This reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church as the majority Church of France and restored some of its civil status and ended the breach caused by the church reforms and confiscation enacted during the French Revolution.

No. Napolean, the 'little Corsican', was tremendously successful and perhaps the main reason was his willingness to fight alongside his men and share the same dangers. This inspired and motivated them, enabling this army to ride more fearlessly and confidently. He innovated both strategies and technical improvements.

His policy of divide and rule: that is, seeking to separate the enemy into two parts, weakened them considerably. He facilitated organizational and technical advances. These brought about his military and popular success. His mother was a catholic but like his father, Napolean was an aetheist.

During the French Revolution he joined the Jacobins, a political movement hostile to Christianity and especially the Catholic Church.

However, as his campaigns proceeded, Napolean recognised that Catholicism was too powerful for him to eradicate it. When the pope sued for peace, Napolean was perhaps relieved and he accepted. This was tactical, not an action in support of Catholicism.