Napoleon Timeline: Napoleon Forges and Empire and Napoleon's Empire Collapses. By: Ana Luque y Melanie Massu
By Melanie_Ana
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1769: Napoleon is born.
Napoleon was born in 1769 on the Mediterranean island of Corsica. His father was part of an Italian noble family but he wasn’t wealthy. He had 8 siblings. -
1778: Napoleon's Childhood
During Napoleon’s childhood, Corsica had actually just come under the control of the French. So in 1778, at the age of 9, his parents decided to send him to a military school. He attended the Royal military academy in Paris. -
1785: Graduation
7 years later in 1785, he graduated from the academy at the age of 16. After graduating he became a lieutenant in the artillery. Later on, the Revolution broke out and Napoleon joined the Army of the new government. -
1795: Hero of the Hour
In 1795 royalists rebels marched on the national convention, this gave Napoleon a chance for glory. He saved the Revolutionary Government in Paris from pro-king loyalist forces. For saving the Revolutionary Government he received the rank of Brigadier General and commander of the army of the Interior. -
1796: Hero of the Hour II
Napoleon was appointed to lead an army against Austria and the Kingdom of Sardinia. He gained many victories, later he led an expedition to Egypt to disrupt British trade routes. He wasn’t successful in Egypt and was defeated by Horatio Nelson’s naval forces, so Napoleon tried to hide this defeat so people would still consider him a hero. -
1799: Dictatorship
The Directory lost control of the political power so Napoleon was urged to take political power. Napoleon and his troops drove out the Directory and he also established the three consuls and then became a dictator. Britain, Austria, and Russia joined forces to defeat Napoleon, but later signed a peace treaty. -
1800: New Constitution
A plebiscite was held to approve a new Constitution. People voted for a new Constitution. This eventually gave power to Napoleon. -
1802: New Constitution
Europe was at peace for the first time in ten years. Napoleon wanted to focus his energies on restoring order in France. Napoleon pretended to be the constitutionally chosen leader of a free republic. -
1804: Emperor Napoleon
Napoleon decided to become emperor and the French supported him. On December 2, 1804, Napoleon walked down the long aisle of Notre Dame Cathedral. He was going to get crowned by the people. -
1806: Continental System
Napoleon set up a blockade to prevent communication and trade between Britain and Europe. Napoleon called it the policy the Continental System. Napoleon intended on destroying Britain’s commercial and industrial economy. -
1808: Portugal Invasion
Napoleon sent an invasion force through Spain in an effort to get Portugal to accept the Continental System. The Spanish protested. Napoleon removed the Spanish King and replaced him with his own brother. -
1811: Napoleon's Child
Napoleon divorced his ex-wife because she couldn’t bear him any children. He formed an alliance with the Austrian royal family by Marie Louise. She gave birth to a child, it was named Napoleon II. -
1812
Russians refused to stop selling grain to Britain. The French and Russian rulers suspected each other having competing designs on Poland. Breakdown led Napoleon to invade Russia. -
June, 1812: Russian Invasion
Napoleon and his Grand Army marched into Russia. Alexander I (Napoleon’s ally) refused to march into Russia. Russians practised a scorched-earth policy, they burnt food so invaders didn’t have anything to eat. -
Sep 7, 1812
Battle of Borodino in Russia. In battle, the Russians fell back and allowed Napoleon to move to Moscow. Alexander had destroyed Moscow and left nothing for Napoleon. -
1812: Napoleon's Army Retreats
Russian raiders attacked Napoleon’s retreating army. Many were killed or died because of their wounds. Some died of exhaustion. Grand Army had 420,000 soldiers and only 10,000 were fit for battle after the attacks. -
1813: Napoleon's Defeat
Napoleon’s new army was unprepared and untrained. He was to face the allied armies of the European powers in Germany. The allied forces defeated Napoleon and his inexperienced army. -
1814: Napoleon is Exiled
King Frederick William of Prussia and Czar Alexander I of Russia led a triumphant parade through Paris. Napoleon surrendered his throne and accepted the terms of surrender. He was exiled to Elba. -
1815: Napoleon's Emperor Once Again
He escaped Elba on March 1, 1851. Arrived to France and became emperor once again. Once again, Prussia and British joined forces and defeated Napoleon. Napoleon was now exiled to St. Helena.
