Napoleon Bonaparte Timeline

By marisaferrara

  • Joins French Military

    Napoleon Bonaparte joins the French military after completing his education. He becomes an artillery officer.

  • French Revolution Begins

    When the Revolution begins,Napoleon sides with the Revolutionaries. He eventually is promoted to brigadier general in 1793.

  • Siege of Toulon

    The Siege of Toulon is Bonaparte's first victory. During this battle he successfully forces British troops out of the port of Toulon.

  • Command of French Interior

    Bonaparte forces royalists to flee after a mob tried to regain power in Paris. For his efforts he is put in charge of defending the French interior despite only being 26 years old.

  • French Directory

    Napoleon gains command of French forces invading Italy by the French Directory. After proving his loyalty to the directory, he becomes a respected advisor of military matters.

  • Bonaparte Overthrows Directory

    After Napoleon gains popularity and the Directory grows weak, there is a coup d’eatat. Armed Napoleon supporters surround the Directory legislature and force members to turn the government over to him. The Consulate, a new form of government, is set up in France, and Bonaparte becomes one of three consuls (leaders)

  • The Bank of France

    Napoleon establishes the Bank of France in order to regulate the economy and create a more efficient tax collection system

  • Emperor Napoleon I

    Napoleon becomes Emperor Napoleon I by submitting a plebiscite because he wants to make his own power permanent and hereditary

  • Napoleonic Code

    Napoleonic Code is established for male citizens, which uniformly creates laws across the nation and gets rid of many injustices. But the code takes away many women’s rights and allows for husbands to hold authority over their wives

  • Battle of Austerlitz

    Napoleon recovers from his loss to Britain at the Battle of Trafalgar by winning at the Battle of Austerlitz against Russia and Austria

  • The Continental System

    Napoleon puts a plan called the Continental System into place which prohibits French or other allied ships from trading with Britain in order to disrupt Great Britain’s trade with other nations

  • The Peninsular War

    The Peninsular War starts when Napoleon sends French troops into Portugal after they refuse to comply with the Continental System. Napoleon gains control of Spain and gives his brother Joseph the throne.

  • Sumer of 1812

    The Russian Campaign; Napoleon and his men invade Russia in June. Later in August, Napoleon’s troops finally clash with Russian troops after marching towards Moscow, resulting in French victory.

  • Fall of 1812

    The Russian Campaign; In September, Napoleon and his men are pushed into Moscow where they find the city in flames, he has no choice but to retreat as he cannot support his troops through a harsh winter in the destroyed city. Later in October, the french army's journey home is not pleasant: they cross scorched fields while being attacked by Russian peasants.

  • Winter of 1812

    Harsh Russian winters kill off many of Napoleon’s men: only 94,000 of the 600,000 men make it home. Napoleon does not travel back with his men, he rushes to Paris by sleigh.

  • Defeat and Exile to Elba

    Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Great Britain form an alliance against the French. In October 1813 they storm Napoleon's troops in Germany, a major loss for Napoleon.

  • Napoleon Surrenders the Throne

    The allies enter Paris in triumph, Napoleon has to give up his throne though he is still emperor. After surrendering, Napoleon only rules over a tiny empire off the coast of Italy known as the Elba. He goes into exile with a small pension of 400 guards.

  • Napoleon Heads For Paris

    By exiling Napoleon, the allies believe they have ended him as a threat, though after about a year in exile, Napoleon hires a ship that takes him back to France as he heads for Paris.

  • The Hundred Days

    Much chaos is caused in France as people hear of Napoleon's return. The troops that were sent to arrest Napoleon pledge their loyalty to him instead. In March, Napoleon arrives in Paris to cheering crowds, this begun the Hundred Days (A brief. Period of renewed glory for Napoleon and of problems for his enemy)

  • Napoleon's Military Career Ends

    British troops gather to defeat Napoleon once and for all; the battle takes place near Waterloo in Belgian. Prussia comes in aid of Britain; there is no way Napoleon can defeat the strength of the two armies. This is the end of Napoleon's military career and the Napoleonic Wars ended

  • Napoleon Bonaparte Dies in Saint Helena

    Napoleon flees to a port trying to escape America in 1815 but he is soon captured. He is then exiled to Saint Helena.
    On May 5, 1821, Napoleon dies in Saint Helena after being in prison for 6 years, and the cause of his death is never determined.