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Napoleon is born
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Napoleon's chance to prove himself
The French captain was wounded while trying to retake the port of Toulon, and Napoleon was chosen to take his place. He forced British troops out of the port by surrounding it with 80 cannons. -
Napoleon faced royalists
A mob of royalists were trying to regain power in Paris. He used artillery to shoot the mob causing them to flee. -
The First Italian Campaign
The Directory placed Napoleon in command of French forces invading Italy. Despite low supply, Napoleon won battles against the Austrians and Italians. It helped win territory for France. -
The Egyptian Expedition
Napoleon wanted to go to Egypt to disrupt the valuable trade between Great Britain and India. He defeated the ottoman defenders and took control of much of Egypt however British Admiral Horatio Nelson was onto him and destroyed his ships (Battle of the Nile). -
Napoleon takes control of the French government
The Directory ended when he took over as he had caused a forced transfer or power (coup d'état). The Consulate would replace the Directory. Napoleon Bonaparte had created a structure of a republic but became a dictator. He strengthened the central government, some examples: reform of church-state relations, economic reforms, and legal and educational reforms. He helped the spread of nationalism. -
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The Napoleonic Wars
These wars were an extension of the ones fought between France and other European nations during the French Revolution. France became the dominant European power. Great Britain remained France's greatest enemy. -
Napoleon crowns himself emperor of the French
He submitted a plebiscite (question you put before all voters): Did they want to declare France an empire? French voters supported him and voted yes therefore he became emperor. -
The Continental System
Napoleon wanted to disrupt trade between Great Britain and other nations, planning a blockade, using the plan: The Continental System, prohibiting the French or allied ships from trading with Britain. Britain responded similarly however their plans drawn into other conflicts. -
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The Peninsular War
Portugal refused to comply with the Continental System since they depended on trade with Britain. Napoleon sent French troops intro Portugal and drove the king out. He put his brother on the throne but the Spanish resented having a foreign ruler and revolted. Great Britain sent military forces to Spain. Although Napoleon was able to fight back, the Spanish people began a guerilla war. The French slaughtered many innocent Spanish people causing Napoleon pulling his troops out of Spain -
Napoleon dominates most of Europe
Despite the Peninsular War, Napoleon managed to conquer most of Europe. The only nations out of his control were Great Britain, Sweden, Portugal, and the Ottoman Empire. He mainly put his relatives in power of the nations he conquered. -
Napoleon returns home
The Russians had forced Napoleon and his troops to return the same way they came causing the journey to be worse. They were also attacked by Russian peasants. He went from having 600,000 troops to 94,000. -
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Napoleon invades Russia
Napoleon set troops up in the West originally but then saw the czar gathering troops so he moved to the West and began to move into Russia. Although he had 600,000 men, they were new and unloyal to him, and supplies were lost or spoiled, therefore many men suffered from hunger, disease, or desertion. During August, he moved toward Moscow however the city was left torched. In October, Napoleon was left with men he could not supply during winter overall causing him to retreat. -
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Napoleon's exile to Elba
Napoleon being defeated from Russia caused an opening to his enemies. Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Great Britain allied themselves against France and defeated Napoleon in a battle. Napoleon surrendering caused him to give up the throne. He got to keep the title of emperor however he only owned a small Mediterranean island, Elba, where he went into exile with a small pension and 400 guards. -
Hundred Days
Napoleon hired a ship to take him and his supporters back to France, landing him on the north coast and headed for Paris. Some French people were unhappy hearing of his return, others excited. The troops sent to arrest him instead pledged their loyalty to him. On March 20th, Napoleon arrived in Paris with cheering crowds, beginning the Hundred Days- a period of glory for Napoleon. -
Allied forces defeat Napolean at the Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon's enemies were gathering troops to face against Napoleon. The final confrontation was between Napoleon's troops and troops led by Duke of Wellington. The armies met on June 18th, and Napoleon's army was no match against Wellington's troops. He was defeated and this was the end of the Napoleonic Wars. -
Napoleon dies in exile
Napoleon never escaped from his remote prison. He dies on the island of St. Helena at the age of 51.
