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Napoleon invades Italy
Napoleon was chosen to lead France into Italy. There, they defeated Austrians, who ruled Italy at the time. As a result, France acquired Belgium from Austria. France also acquired hundreds of art treasures from Italy. -
Egypt
Napoleon sailed for Egypt, where British forces were stationed. He won a great lnd victory there, but the British fleet destroyed the French fleet. Nevertheless, the French succeeded in establsihing their influence in Egypt. Another important outcome of the French campaign was that soldiers accompanying Napoleon discovered the Rosetta Stone. When Napoleon learned that Austria, Russia, and Great Britain defeated French forces in Europe, he saw his chance to gain power. He left his troops in Egypt -
The Consulate
In 1799, Napoleon and two members from the Directory plotted to take over the government. They put their plan into effect and met with success. Napoleon set up a new government called the Consulate. He set himself at its head and took the title of First Consul. At this time, Russia was no longer at war with France, However, Austria and Great Britain were. -
Peace Treaty with Great Britain
In 1801, Napoleon led his forces to victory over Austria. In 1802, he arranged a peace treaty with Great Britain. -
First Consul
France was now at peace so Napoleon turned his attention to the affairs at home. Napoleon set out to make the Consulate strong and rich. He took away the people's right to choose their own local officials and gave that powere to the national government. He prohibited local governments from collecting taxes and assigned all tax collection to the national government. The French government was able to collect more taxes and in a few ears, Frances debt was paid, and its economy had improved. -
Britain declares war on France
Being empereor of France was not enough for Napoleon. He wanted to build a Grand Empire that would take place of the Holy Roman Empire. Great Britain, threatened by Napoleon's actions, declared war on France. -
Emperor
Great Britain and iits allies were not able to stop Napoleon and his soldiers. Napoleon had himself crowned king of Italy. -
Napoleon crowned himself king of Italy
In 1805, Napoleon had himself crowned of Italy after he defeated Great Britain. -
Confederation of the Rhine
In 1806, Napoleon formed the Confederation of the Rhine, which consisted of a group of conquered German states. -
Invaded Spain and Portugal
In 1808, he invaded Spain and Portual. -
Papal states, Pope in prison
in 1809, Napoleon made the Papal states part of France and put the pope in prison. Frances boundaries now included much of Europe. -
Great Britain
Only Great Britain and Russia remained undefeated by Napoleon. Since the French could not defeat the British navy, Napoleon tried to obtain victory in a different way. He forbade the countries in his empire to trade with Great Britain, which he called "nation of shopkeepers." His order, however, was hard to enforce, and it proved unsuccessful. -
Invaded Russia
Napoleon organized a Grand Army of about 600,000 soldiers of different nationalities to invade Russia. It was the largest army the world had yet seen. In the summer of 1812, the Grand Army invaded Russia. Except for one battle, though, the Russians did not fight. Instead, they retreated, drawing the French deeper into Russia. As the Russians retreated, they burned their villages and food supplies, leaving nothing for the advancing French. This tactic is called scorched-earth policy. -
Moscow
In September, Napoleon reached Moscow, which had been abandoned by the Russians. Shortly after the French arrived, the city caught fire and three fourths of it was destroyed. The French army now had neither food nor shelter.Napoleon sent several peace proposals to the Russians, which they ignored. He finally gave the order to withdraw. -
French Freeze
By now the bitter Russian winter had started. Hundreds of thousands of French soldiers froze to death. Thousands more died from disease. -
Allies Join Together
Napoleon quickly raised another army, but the new soldiers were not well trrained. They were defeated by the allied forces of Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain. This was the first time the four countries had joined together to fight Napoleon. -
Allies take Paris
In 1814, the allies took Paris, and Napoleon was forced to abdicate, or give up the throne. He was sent into exile to the small island of Elba off the coast of Italy, He managed to escape, however, and gathered together enough troops to invade France. -
Waterloo
For 100 days, Napoleon again reigned as emperor. The allies, under the British leadership, of the Duke of Wellington, finally defeated him in 1815 at the battle of Waterloo. -
Death
Napoleon was sent to the island of St. Helena off the west coast of Africa, where he died in 1821.