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1785: Napoleon’s beginning
After finishing military school at 16, Napoleon becomes a lieutenant in the artillery in 1785. While working with the artillery, the French Revolution broke out, making Napoleon join the government's army. This was the start of Napoleon’s work as a member of the army and the rising of his military interest. -
1795: Napoleon becomes a hero
Royalist Rebels march into the national convention. Napoleon and his gunners attacked the royalists with a cannonade. After this, the attackers fled in panic and everyone praised Napoleon. -
1796: Napoleon appointed Leader of the army
Directory appointed Napoleon to lead a French army against Austria and the Kingdom of Sardinia. He was able to cross the French Alps and got into Italy, where he won several important battles. Napoleon later led an expedition to Egypt to improve French trade and disturb the British’s trade. Napoleon manipulated the news and therefore, the French always had a good impression of the army. -
1799: Napoleon takes action
Directory lost control of the political situation and the confidence of the French people. Napoleon took action in early November 1799 to seize political power in Egypt. His troops surrounded the national legislature and drove out most of its members. The lawmakers left, voted to dissolve the directory. They established a group of three consuls, and one of them was Napoleon. -
1800: Napoleon becomes first consul
A plebiscite, or vote of the people, was held to approve a new constitution. People voted in favor of the constitution, since they were desperate for a strong leadership. This gave all real power to Napoleon as first consul. -
1803: Louisiana Purchase
United States President, Jefferson’s administration agreed to purchase the Louisiana territory for $15 million. Napoleon saw a twofold benefit to the sale: He would gain money to finance operations in Europe, and would punish the British. -
1804: Napoleonic Code
Napoleon created created a comprehensive system of laws and eliminated many injustices. He believed that this was his greatest work. However, it limited liberty and gave more authority over the people. -
1804: Napoleon overpowers the church
Napoleon decided to make himself emperor, and the French voters supported him. On December 2, 1804, he walked down the long aisle of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris where he took the crown from the pope and placed it on his own head. Napoleon signaled that he was more powerful than the Church, which had traditionally crowned the rulers of France. -
1805: Battle of Trafalgar
1805: Battle of Trafalgar
Only battle that Napoleon lost. This was a naval defeat and outweighed all of his past victories. Took place in the southwest coast of Spain and his all time rival, Horatio Nelson defeated him. -
1805-forward: Napoleon and his Peace Treaties
After the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, Napoleon issued a proclamation expressing his pride in his troops. Napoleon’s battlefield successes forced the rulers of Austria, Prussia, and Russia to sign peace treaties. This enabled him to build the largest European empire. -
1806- Continental System
System in which Napoleon used to close ports to avoid British ships to come into mainland. This name was due because Napoleon believed that this system was going to make Europe independent. Also it was a strategy to disrupt the British economy. -
1808- Peninsular War
1808- Peninsular War
Napoleon tried to convince Portugal to join the continental system. He also sent an invasion towards Spain, removed the King and placed his brother as king. The threat to the Catholic Church preoccupied the Spanish and caused guerrillas to fight over the French. British aid came into Spain to help the Spanish get the French out of their land. -
June 1812- Invasion of Russia
Napoleon’s worst mistake. Some issues in the Russia-France alliance caused Napoleon to invade Russia. His army marched into Russia and later on clashed in the Battle of Borodino. Napoleon was allowed to move on to Moscow, but Alexander, the Russian ruler, had burned the city. Napoleon retreated and as he did so, Russian raiders attacked his army, leaving only 10,000 soldiers. -
1812: Napoleon has a huge empire
During first decade of the 1800s: Napoleon’s victories gave him mastery over most of Europe. By 1812, the only areas of Europe free from Napoleon’s control were Britain, Portugal, Sweden, and the Ottoman Empire. He managed to do this through “puppets”, which were leaders that he would appoint throughout the countries that he would have direct control over. He also used a lot of military manipulation throughout the empire. -
January 1814- Allied armies push towards Paris
After his army was damaged, Napoleon raised another one in just a few months. However, this army was untrained and not prepared for battle. He decided to face the allied armies of Europe, but these allies defeated his army and marched on to Paris -
April 1814- Napoleon is Banished to Elba
When the allied armies marched on to Paris, Napoleon wanted to keep fighting. However, his generals refused and Napoleon had to give up his throne. After this, Napoleon was exiled to Elba, a small island on the Italian coast. -
March 1815- Napoleon escapes Elba
Louis XVIII assumed throne when Napoleon was gone, but people didn’t like him. Because of this, Napoleon escaped Elba and landed in france in 1815. He became emperor again in some days, with people rejoicing his comeback. -
June 1815- Napoleon’s troops give away
After Napoleon regains power, European allies brought their armies. In 1815, Napoleon attacks, but after two days, his troops give away. This defeat ended Napoleon’s last bid for power, and it’s called the Hundred Days. -
1821- Napoleon died in St. Helena
After Napoleon’s troops give away, he is exiled again, but this time, to St. Helena, an island in the South Atlantic. Here he lived for 6 years, writing memoirs. In 1812 he died from a stomach disease.
