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Italian Campaign (Green)
Napoleon and 38,000 men moved to Italy greatly outnumbered. The opposing forces had an extra 25,000 troops. Napoleon’s first stop was Piedmont, which lasted 2 weeks and ended in French victory. Tactics used by Napoleon were unorthodox because he attacked at all angles instead of straightforward like in most combat situations back then. After Piedmont Napoleon moved towards the retreating Austrians until they left Italy, claiming eastern Italy. -
Egyptian Campaign (Red)
The beginning of the campaign was going smoothly, quickly defeating anything thrown at them. After these few victories Napoleon got cocky, dreaming of an empire. Soon after British Admiral Horatio Nelson caught the French in a captivating naval battle, trapping French troops in Egypt. Napoleon returned to France after his troops were stuck in Egypt to bring the good news of his “victory”. Up to the Egyptian campaign Napoleon had a undefeated record, after returning he lied about their loss. -
Consulate (Green)
The First Consul was Napoleon, and he had the real power while the other two, Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès and Pierre-Roger Ducos, were just names in government. The executive branch in the Consulate was the most powerful because they could draft laws. The legislative branch was almost useless because the 3 consuls decided people’s fate. Elections to elect consuls were useless for 2 reasons, people had no power in elections and the Consulate only lasted for 5 years. -
Banque de France (Green)
The national bank of France was probably one of the best things that happened during this time. The French were in extreme financial hardship because of the French Revolution. Once Napoleon became Consul he made the bank saving the people with creating a new and fresh currency that was reliable, unlike their currency of land. The bank he founded was so effective it is still used today. -
Concordat of 1801 (Green)
The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII. This agreement made reforms for the Catholic Church, making the clergy less powerful was the biggest thing. This made Napoleon look better in the eyes in the people, causing him to receive more power because even more people supported him. -
Consul for Life (Green)
Napoleon becoming Consul for Life ended almost every revolutionary views. With becoming Consul for Life he created a regime in his own way, specifically recovering rights for a male heir to rule even though he didn’t have one. Napoleon also become an extremely aggressive ruler with only condoning armed alliances with other countries. -
Napoleonic Codes (Yellow)
The Napoleonic Codes were French civil laws, what was special about these laws was they could be changed. The best laws in history are ones that can change with time, which is why the Napoleonic Codes are still seen today. What these codes did were strengthened law branches, make households stronger giving more power to men. At the time the laws deprived women of power which they gained during the revolution, making that a very bad part of the codes. -
Declared Himself Emperor (Green)
Napoleon was crowned emperor by the Pope, where he took his crown from the Pope and crowned himself. With becoming emperor he became an absolute ruler giving him almost all power. After he became emperor he waged war on most of Europe taking over nation after nation, building a vast empire that he soon loses. -
Battle of Trafalgar (Red)
The Battle of Trafalgar was a naval battle between Emperor Napoleon and Spain pinned up against the most powerful navy, the British navy led by the Admiral Horatio Nelson. The French and Spanish had 33 combined ships against Britain’s 27. This was Napoleon’s first major setback of the war and in this battle he realized he could never invade England. The British had lost 1500 seamen but not a single ship -
Abolishment of the Holy Roman Empire (Green)
With the abolishment of the Holy Roman Empire Napoleon used the land to create the Rhine where he had more land that he controlled. What was good about the abolishment was it obviously became more unified with less city states. What the Holy Roman Emperor was afraid of was Napoleon becoming the Holy Roman Emperor, which instead he made a new state that he ruled over. -
Continental System (Yellow)
The Continental System was a blockade meant to cripple British supply ports. It only made Europe suffer, British could not import or export as effectively. The British had a counter blockade on France making it even worse. The blockade did part of it’s job, while it did make the British weaker, it also made France weaker ultimately accomplishing nothing. -
Invasion of Russia (Red)
Napoleon’s invasion of Russia was the start of his demise. He had an army of 600,000 called the Grand Army fighting Russia’s 200,000 men. The Grand Army was not used to the harsh weather conditions found in Russia. The Russians used the tactic of scorched earth, burning everything in their wake so the French had no supplies. Once troops reached Moscow they found Moscow was burned as well, and the French lost 500,000 men in their embarrassing retreat of Russia back to France. -
Battle of Nations at Leipzig (Red)
The Battle at Leipzig was another defeat of the French. They lost the Rhine to Austrian, Prussian, Russian, and Swedish forces. The allied army almost doubled Napoleon’s and had him on the retreat from Berlin until they actually reached Leipzig and battled it out. Becoming a bloody turning point in the war, due to the French losing faith in their all powerful ruler . -
Resistance in Spain (Red)
The Spanish used an unusual tactic of guerrilla warfare, or quick raids against and enemy. The French having larger forces means that they could battle the Spanish without an issue head on, but because of guerrilla warfare they made their small number numbers count. The Spanish hit vital supplies trains giving soldiers resources, an added bonus of this tactic made the French distracted in Spain making Napoleon’s troops more spread out because of the lump sum fighting in Spain. -
Hundred Days (Yellow)
Napoleon was exiled to Elba for a short while after his string of losses. He eventually escaped back to France taking rule from Louis XVIII, during that time he raised a new Grand Army and waged war again. The event is called “Hundred Days” because he only ruled for hundred days, meaning a complete failure In his return. -
Battle of Waterloo (Red)
This was the final defeat of Napoleon, Allied forces of almost 800,000 men struck his new Grand Army down ending any pipe dream to rule Europe. Once he mustered enough men he invaded Wellington and Blücher (modern day Belgium). Napoleon was betting on Austria and Russia being unprepared for the attack, unknown to Napoleon there were untrained troops that gave resistance until the real armies came. Once that happened Napoleon was crushed and was defeated for the last time. -
Napoleon's Abdication (Red)
Due to Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo he abdicated the throne, being exiled with his and generals and their wives to St. Helena. Of course he never accomplished the goal of ruling Europe. He was aggravated that he never saw himself as a supreme ruler of Europe. He was also frustrated with Marie-Louise never sending him letters, and soon finding out she married somebody else. Napoleon died on St. Helena due to stomach cancer.