Certain sex acts, specifically sodomy, were legalized by the Revolution even before Napoleon seized power, but as a professional soldier, he recognised that paid sex would always exist, and provided for it in the Code Napoleon. Sex workers had to register with the police and submit to regular medical checks. Any found infected with an STD could be imprisoned until they recovered. Brothels were permitted, but with stringent rules about location, advertising etc. If you don't know it already, the depiction of a regional brothel in Maupassant's THE HOUSE OF MADAME TELLIER gives an accurate picture of how such places fitted into the social fabric.
Certain sex acts, specifically sodomy, were legalized by the Revolution even before Napoleon seized power, but as a professional soldier, he recognised that paid sex would always exist, and provided for it in the Code Napoleon. Sex workers had to register with the police and submit to regular medical checks. Any found infected with an STD could be imprisoned until they recovered. Brothels were permitted, but with stringent rules about location, advertising etc. If you don't know it already, the depiction of a regional brothel in Maupassant's THE HOUSE OF MADAME TELLIER gives an accurate picture of how such places fitted into the social fabric.
Fascinating. For one thing, I didn't know Napoleon legalized "the world's oldest profession"!