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Birth of Carlo Buonaparte at Ajaccio, Corsica
Napoleon's father, Carlo, was a tall, charismatic, handsome young lawyer. He had fought wth the famous Paoli to gain Corsica's independence, before accepting French rule and attaining modest success in island politics. But regrettably for the Buonapartes, the intensely sociable Carlo was free with his money at the best of times and trips away on family business ate away at his finances. Carlo's health grew weak, and died at the age of 37, leaving his wife with eight children to care for alone. -
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Births
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Letizia Ramolino born in Ajaccio, Corsica
Born on the island of Corsica to a noble family, Napoleon's mother, Letizia, was a natural beauty of Italian descent. A strong woman indeed, she possessed native wit, and an unusually perceptive mind, Napoleon always said that it was to her, and her upbringing, a careful mix of strictness and tenderness, whom he owed everything that he became. Although well-born, like other Corsican girls, she had received no formal education, and her modesty endured until the last day of her long life... -
Josephine born at Trois-Ilets, on the tropical island of Martinique
Charming, kind-hearted and graceful, Josephine, the love of Napoleon's life, was born on the exotic Caribbean island of Martinique, then a French possession, to a noble family of sugar plantation owners. After a young and unhappy marriage to a French nobleman, which brought two children, Josephine was imprisoned during the Terror for her noble birth, and awaiting the guillotine, before she met and married young Napoleon, and her place in history was assured. -
Marriage of Carlo and Letizia, at Ajaccio Cathedral
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Joseph (Guiseppe) Bonaparte born st Corte, Corsica
Napoleon shared a great emotional connection with his mild oldest brother, Joseph, who was his close confidant. Though lacking in vigour, he was a skilled lawyer, poltician and diplomat, and during his brother's reign, was made king of Naples, and then king of Spain. After Napoleon's defeat, Joseph moved to the United States, where he entertained many of the leading intellectuals and politicians of his day at his house. He returned to spend his final years in Europe, and died in Italy in 1844. -
Corsica Becomes a Part of France
The Republic of Genoa cedes Corsica to King Louis XV of France, meaning the Napoleon is born a French subject. -
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Napoleon's Childhood
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Birth of Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte is born in the seaport of Ajaccio, Corsica, on a small island nestled in the Meditarranean between France and Italy. His family was of noble Italian ancestry, but France owned the island, so Napoleon was a French citizen by birth. -
Louis XVI is proclaimed King of France
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Lucien (Lucciano) Bonaparte, Born at Ajaccio
Napoleon and Lucien, both strong characters, had a notoriously rocky relationship. A diehard Jacobin, talented Lucien was said to have been an even better public speaker than Napoleon, who he was a great help to, but they had many political/personal disagreements. Spurning imperial honors, he became estranged from his brother and went into self-imposed exile, but offered Napoleon his help during the Hundred Days, was among the last to stand by his side. He spent the rest of his life in Italy. -
Elisa (Maria Anna) Bonaparte Born at Ajaccio
Elisa was Napoleon's eldest sister, and it is fair to say that they didn't quite see eye to eye, because, he said, of her sharp tongue. Not as beautiful as her sisters, she was, however, an intelligent and cultured woman, and when Napoleon, confident of her ability to rule, gave her Piombino and Lucca, he was so impressed that he later made her grand duchess of Tuscany. Patroness of the arts, she did much to develop the resources of the country. After Napoleon's fall, she was exiled. -
Louis (Luigi) Bonaparte Born at Ajaccio
Louis was Napoleon's favourite brother, but he suffered from emotional problems that limited his accomplishments. He received a military education, and followed his brother into the army, joining him in Egypt. The arranged marriage between him and Josephine's daughter, Hortense, led to dreadful results. Napoleon made him King of Holland, but really intending that he would serve as no more than the Dutch governor. But Louis rebelled, Napoleon removed him from the post, and he settled in Rome. -
Napoleon prepares to leave Corsica for the first time
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Napoleon first sets foot on French soil, at Marseilles
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Napoleon and Joseph enter the college at Autun
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Napoleon Enters the Brienne Military Academy
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Pauline (Maria Paola) Bonaparte born at Ajaccio
Beautiful and capricious Pauline, was Napoleon's favourite sister, and developed a reputation independent of him. Playful and charming, she early attracted a legion of admirers, and soon married General Leclerc, whom she joined in Haiti before he died, and she remarried Prince Borghese, one of - if not the - richest man in Italy, eight months later. She had a string of lovers, was know for her broader love of sensual and material pursuits, but wasn't power-hungry, and remained loyal to Napoleon. -
Eugene de Beauharnais born
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Caroline (Maria Annunziata) Bonaparte, born at Ajaccio
Caroline was Napoleon's youngest sister, beautiful, extravagant, and ambitious. She secured for herself and her husband, Murat, many benefits, including the Kingdom of Naples, as a result of her intriguing nature. Her relations with Napoleon became strained as she associated herself with the shifting allegiances of her husband, and supported his decision to abandon Napoleon to save the throne for themselves. Her husband was executed by the Allies, and she died in exile in Florence. -
Hortense de Beauharnais born in Paris
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Napoleon has left Brienne and arrives in Paris, to attend the Ecole Militaire
Napoleon completes his studies at Ecole Militaire in Paris, one of the best military schools in Europe. He was interested in a naval career, but as there was no intake for the navy, his flair for mathematics was such that he was assigned to the artillery upon graduation. -
Jerome (Girolamo) Bonaparte born at Ajaccio
Jerome was the wild brother of the Bonapartes, and closely resembled in looks and nature, his father. His family were indulgent to the little charmer, and he joined the navy, where he met his first wife in America. But Napoleon did not approve, and Jerome rejected her in order to partake of the advantages of empire. Napoleon made him King of Wurttemberg, but they had a fair few to-do's on account of his extravagance, He showed his military talent at Waterloo, and later re-entered politics. -
Napoleon's father, Carlo Buonaparte, dies of stomach cancer
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Napoleon becomes an officer at the age of sixteen
At sixteen, he graduates as a humble second lieutenant. -
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Dawning Greatness
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Napoleon posted to the La Fere Regiment, in Valence
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Marie Walewska born in Poland
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Napoleon's first time with a Parisienne prostitute
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Napoleon is posted to Auxonne
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Fall of the Bastille
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Napoleon returns to Corsica on leave
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Napoleon politically active on Corsica
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Napoleon rejoins his Regiment
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Napoleon returns to Corsica
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Marie-Louise of Austria, future wife of Napoleon, born in Vienna
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Ajaccio Revolt
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Napoleon returns to Paris to clear his name
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Storming of the Tuileries
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The Storming of the Tuileries and massacre of the Swiss Guard
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French Royal family imprisoned
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Prussian and Austrian troops invade France
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French Republic proclaimed
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Napoleon returns to Corsica
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King Louis XVI guillotined
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Napoleon embarks on the Maddalena fiasco
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Accused of being too pro-French, the Bonaparte's flee from Corsica, and arrive in Toulon
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Napoleon takes part in the capture of Avignon
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Napoleon begins the Siege of Toulon
Napoleon first made his name here as a young Captain of Artillery, by spotting an ideal place for the cannons to be set up in such a way that they dominated the city's harbour. -
Napoleon promoted to Major during the seige of Toulon
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Napoleon's victory at Toulon
The English forces which had invaded the city were repelled, and Napoleon was promoted to Brigadier-General, a few days later. -
Napoleon appointed commander of the Army in Italy
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Josephine arrested and imprisoned in Les Carmes
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Alexandre de Beauharnais guillotined
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Robespierre guillotined in the Thermidorian reaction
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Napoleon arrested, and then cleared on all counts just over a week later
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Napoleon's engagement to Desiree Clary
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Vendemiaire
Bonaparte was serving in Paris when royalists and counter-revolutionaries organized an armed rebellion against the National Convention. Bonaparte was given command of the improvised forces defending the Convention in the Tuileries Palace. Using the "whiff of grapeshot" he was able to drive the mob away from the National Convention, and was called the saviour of the Revolution. -
Napoleon first meets Josephine
Within weeks of driving the royalists from the National Convention, Napoleon is romantically linked to Josphine de Beauharnais. -
Napoleon marries Josephine de Beauharnais
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Napoleon appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Italy
Two days after the marriage, Napoleon left Paris to take command of the Army of Italy leading it on a successful attempt to drive the Austrians away from France, and out of Italy. -
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The Italian Campaign
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Montenotte: Napoleon's first victory over the Austrians
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Napoleon's victory at Lodi
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Napoleon enters Milan
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Napoleon wins the Battle of Arcola
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Napoleon wins the Battle of Rivoli
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Mantua surrenders
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Cisalpine Republic proclaimed
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Treaty of Campo Formio ends the first Italian Campaign
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Napoleon returns to Paris as a hero
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Napoleon sets sail for Egypt
In March 1798, Bonaparte proposed a military expedition to Egypt, then a province of the Ottoman Empire, seeking to protect French trade interests and undermine Britain's access to India. The Directory readily agreed so the popular young general would be away from the center of power. -
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Expedition to Egypt
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Malta is occupied
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Alexandria is taken by storm
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Junot tells Napoleon of Josephine's indiscretions
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Wins the Battle of the Pyramids against Mamelukes in Egypt
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Nelson destroys French fleet in the Battle of the Nile
The land battles were a success, but the British Navy continued to control the seas. -
Napoleon marches into Syria
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Malmaison purchased
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Napoleon's failed attempt to capture Acre
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Napoleon defeats the Turks at Aboukir
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Napoleon sets sail for Alexandria
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Napoleon returns to Paris
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A coup d'etat overthrows the Directory and establishes the Consulate
Upon returning from Egypt, Napoleon was able to overthrow the Directory in a bloodless coup d'etat. He created a new consitution and became First Consul of France. -
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The Consulate
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Napoleon as First Consul, establishes himself at the Tuileries
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Napoleon's second Italian Campaign commences
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Napoleon defeats Austrians at Marengo
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Napoleon narrowly escapes a royalist assassination attempt in Paris
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Peace Treaty of Luneville signed with Austria
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Concordat concluded with Pope Pius VII
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Louis Bonaparte marries Hortense de Beauharnais
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Treaty of Amiens signed with Britain
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Napoleon restructures French educational system
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Legion of Honour established
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New constitution adopted, the people vote to appoint Napoleon First Consul for life
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England declares war on France
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Napoleon encounters Madame Georges
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Execution of the Duc d'Enghien
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The Civil Code is proclaimed
Napoleon set out to reform the French legal system in accordance with the principles of the French Revolution. Before the Code, France did not have a single set of laws. Napoleon set out to create a set of laws that were easily accessible, just, and easy to understand. The Napoleonic Code forms the basis of many legal systems in Europe today. -
Napoleon and Josephine's coronation takes place at Notre Dame
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The Empire
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The official title, Madame Mere, bestowed on Napoleon's mother
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Napoleon crowned King of Italy in Milan Cathedral
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Britain, Austria, Sweden and Russia form anti-French coalition
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Napoleon defeats Austrians at Ulm
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French fleet defeated by Nelson at Trafalgar
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Napoleon enters Vienna
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Napoleon triumphs at Austerlitz
One of Napoleon's greatest victories, the Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, effectively brought to an end on Third Coalition against France. -
Joseph Bonaparte becomes King of Naples
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Ths states of southern Germany formed into the Confederation of the Rhine under French protection
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Prussia and Saxony defeated by Napoleon at Jena and Auerstadt
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The Continental System
The Continental System was the foreign policy of Napoleon, to prevent the British from trading on the European continent, in an attempt to force Britain, who had been almost continuously at war
with him and refused to make peace, to come to terms. -
Napoleon's mistress, Eleonore, gives him an illegitimate son, Charles Leon Denuelle
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Napoleon enters Warsaw
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Marie Walewska first meets Napoleon
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Battle of Eylau
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Victory against the Russians at the Battle of Friedland.
The Battle of Friedland saw the French Army's defeat of Russian forces, effectively bringing to an end the Fourth Coalition against France. -
Treaty of Tilsit signed between Russia and France.
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Battle of Aspern-Essling.
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Battle of Wagram - Success for Napoleon, Austria loses territory and agrees to enforce the Continental System
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Treaty of Schönbrunn signed with Austria
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Napoleon tells Josephine that they must divorce
Despite his love for her, Napoleon needed an heir to cement his relatively young empire; but Josephine was now too old to have children. Napoleon told her that they must divorce for the good of France. , despite his love for her, -
The Divorce of Napoleon and Josephine takes place
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Napoleon meets his second wife, Marie Louise of Austria, for the first time
Archduchess of Austria -
Napoleon's son is born, known as the "King of Rome"
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Napoleon Invades Russia
15th Jun, 1812 Napoleon Invades Russia Napoleon's attempts invasion of Russia, when the Tsar fails to keep his promises from a previous treaty. Eventually the Russians "scorched earth policy" and the Russian winter took its toll on the Grand Armee. When Napoleon left Russia, of the 600,000 troops he had at the beginning of the invasion, 500,000 were either killed, captured or deserted along the way. -
Battle of Smolensk
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Battle of Borodino
Borodino The Battle of Borodino was the largest and bloodiest single-day action of the wars, involving more than 250,000 troops and resulting in at least 70,000 total casualties. Still Napoleon was unable to destroy the Russian forces completely. -
Napoleon arrives in Moscow to find the city abandoned and set alight by the inhabitants; retreating in the midst of a frigid winter, the army suffers great losses.
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Beginning of the Disastrous Retreat.
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Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Leipzig.
The Battle of the Nations (or Battle of Leipzig) was one of the most decisive defeats suffered by Napoleon Bonaparte. -
Beginning of the Six Days Campaign.
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Battle of Paris
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Napoleon abdicates his rule and Louis XVIII, a Bourbon, is put on the French throne by the Allies
Napoleon abdicates in favour of his son, but the Allies of the Sixth Coalition refuse. -
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Defeat and Exile
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Treaty of Fontainebleau (1814) Napoleon agrees to exile in Elba
Napoleon abdicates unconditionally on April 11, and is sent into exile on the island of Elba. The Allies allow him to have the title of "Emperor of the isle of Elba", and 1,000 loyal men follow him into exile. -
Napoleon is exiled to the island of Elba; his wife and son are captives in Vienna
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Napoleon leaves Elba, and lands in the South France
He lands in France on March 1, 1815. Marching along the Alps, Napoleon gains support along the way, even turning the troops that Louis XVIII sent out to destroy him , to his side. -
Napoleon arrives in Paris, marking the Beginning of the Hundred Days
Napoleon arrives in Paris and is welcomed with open arms. He has re-conquered France without firing a single shot. -
Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon's forces are defeated near the village of Waterloo in Belgium. The French army, 69,000 strong, which at 7pm. had all but won against an army of 120,000 men, saw victory snatched from it by the untimely arrival of General Blucher with 30,000 fresh Prussian troops. -
Napoleon is exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic ocean
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Napoleon's Death on St Helena
