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Napoleon Birth
Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica. Which was a French-ruled island in the Mediterranean in 1769. -
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Ages 9-20
When he was 9 he was sent to France. There he was trained for the military. When he was 16 he became the artillery officer in the French army. At age 20 he was ambitious and wanted to make a name for himself. -
Taking over Toulon
Napoleon Bonaparte chose to take the side of the victorious, that devastates. He drove British forces out of the French part of Toulon and won several fantastic victories versus the Austrians. Then captured most of Northern Italy. This forced the Hapsburg emperor to make peace. -
Hiding Stories of Losses
He led an expedition in Egypt hoping to interfere with with British trade to India. The campaign was a disaster but Napoleon with the help of spies ans censoring the press managed to hide the worst losses from his admirers. -
Becoming A Political Leader
Napoleon became a political leader. He overthrew weak Directory and made a 3 man government. (Coup d’état) -
Napoleon Code
Napoleon made many reforms and restored order to France he developed Napoleons code which embodied equality to all citizens, religious tolerance and abolition of feudalism. Women lost most of their rights(males as the head of the house had authority over wife and children.) -
Napoleon named himself Consul
Napoleon has himself named Consul for life. -
Napoleon´s Coronation
Napoleon had enough power to have the title Emperor of France. He invited the Pope to his coronation and during the ceremony took the Pope´s crown and put it on his head showing he owned his thrown. -
The Battle of Trafalgar
In the battle of Trafalgar Napoleon waged economic warfare through the ¨continental system¨ and closed European ports to British trade. The British responded by attacking American ships which resulted in the war of 1812. Napoleon won the battle of Austerlitz and made a generous gesture to adopt all the children of French soldiers killed in war. He allowed ¨his children¨ to add the name Napoleon to their´s -
The Throne
Napoleon controlled much of Europe with forceful diplomacy. He put friends and family on thrones. He unseated the King of Spain and placed his brother Joseph Bonaparte on the Throne. -
The Battle of Wagram
The Austro-Russian sought revenge but Napoleon triumphed at the battle of Wagram. A peace agreement followed and Austria surrendered. -
Napoleon Invades Russia
Napoleon invaded Russia with about 600,000 soldiers and 50,000 horses because the tsar withdrew from the continental system. To avoid battle with Napoleon the Russians burned crops, villages, and retreated Eastwood. It was called the Scorched-Earth policies. Napoleon retreated because he knew he could not feed and supply his soldiers during the long winter in Russia. In October he turned homeward. -
Battle of the Nations at Leipzig
The retreat from Russia turned into battles for survival. Napoleon´s success was shattered, fewer than 200,000 soldiers of the once grand army survived. They were conquered by famine and winter, not Russian bullets. Russia, Britain, Austria, and Prussia defeated the weakened France and the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig. -
Napoleon Exiled
Napoleon relinquished power and was exiled to Elba by his victors. Luis XVIII was then made King of France. -
Saint Helena
The French were crushed by apposing armies near the town of Waterloo in an agonizing day long battle. Napoleon was forced into exile on Saint Helena. This time he did not return -
Napoleon Dies
Napoleon died at 52 years old. His legend lived on in France but his legacy is debated as to whether he was a revolutionist or a trader. However, his impact on France and Europe is never questioned.