Napoleon

By gomezfrittelliv24

  • The Italian Campaign (green)

    The Italian Campaign (green)
    Napoleon set out to conquer northern Italy, and succeeded. This made him a popular and influential figure in the public eye.

  • Egyptian Campaign (yellow)

    Egyptian Campaign (yellow)
    Napoleon attempts to invade Egypt to block Britain’s trade routes. He is utterly defeated by British Admiral Horatio Nelson, but he deserts his troops and returns to France, where the people greet him enthusiastically. Though the actual battle was a disaster, Napoleon managed to gain public standing from it.

  • Consulate is created (green)

    Consulate is created (green)
    Napoleon overthrows the Directory, which had little governing prowess, and forms the Consulate, drafting a new constitution in the process. This increase in a central government provided much-needed security to France in the aftermath of the Revolution.

  • Banque de France (green)

    Banque de France (green)
    The founding of a central bank with great authority helped France with its economic problems, like the massive inflation caused by the assignats.

  • Concordat of 1801 (green)

    Concordat of 1801 (green)
    Stated that Catholicism would be the religion of the majority of Frenchmen. Also formalized the pope’s acceptance of the lost land from the assignats and made bishops subservient to Napoleon’s regime. This was a success for Napoleon since he conceded virtually nothing in the “majority of Frenchmen” case, but gained the church’s support.

  • Napoleon declares himself “Consul for Life” (green)

    Napoleon declares himself “Consul for Life” (green)
    By cementing himself in the government, Napoleon guarantees himself some lasting power, and the French people have some assurance of a stable government.

  • Napoleon declares himself Emperor (yellow)

    Napoleon declares himself Emperor (yellow)
    With an elaborate ceremony and visit from the Pope, Napoleon hoped to demonstrate his own grandeur. However, the French people were not impressed, and the Pope demanded that Napoleon have a church wedding first.

  • Napoleonic Code (yellow)

    Napoleonic Code (yellow)
    Established a new common law for France and all the countries Napoleon conquered. It included some Enlightenment principles but also took away many of the rights women had earned during the Revolution.

  • Battle of Trafalgar (red)

    Battle of Trafalgar (red)
    Napoleon sends a fleet from Spain to invade Britain. He is defeated soundly by the same admiral who defeated him in Egypt: Horatio Nelson. This established Britain’s complete naval dominance over France.

  • Continental System (red)

    Continental System (red)
    Napoleon decides to attempt economic warfare against Britain by barring European ports from trading with Britain. This policy never actually stopped British trade and instead garnered anger from European people.

  • Holy Roman Empire abolished (yellow)

    Holy Roman Empire abolished (yellow)
    Napoleon wins control of the Holy Roman Empire, but he decides to dissolve it. Instead, he leaves behind some smaller states that also are ruled by his loyalists. This removed a historical country from the map, but it would also lead to the creation of Germany.

  • Resistance in Spain (red)

    Resistance in Spain (red)
    The Spanish people, with the aid of Portugal and Britain, rebel against invading French troops. This was an utter failure for Napoleon as he never managed to take the Iberian peninsula and was forced to retreat.

  • Invasion of Russia (red)

    Invasion of Russia (red)
    Napoleon decides to bring up to 600,000 troops into Russia, but the Russians retreated towards Moscow, burning fields and razing villages as they moved. This was Napoleon’s most disastrous campaign, and the one that brought back a weakened emperor to France, with the rest of Europe ready to be rid of him.

  • Battle of Nations at Leipzig (red)

    Battle of Nations at Leipzig (red)
    Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Britain join together to defeat France after its humiliating losses in Russia. Napoleon was already losing his impeccable reputation, and this really knocked him down.

  • Napoleon abdicates (red)

    Napoleon abdicates (red)
    After his losses in Russia and Leipzig, Napoleon relinquishes his power and is exiled to Elba. This led to Louis XVIII being made king of France, which was very unpopular with many who feared a return to pre-Revolution days.

  • Hundred Days (green)

    Hundred Days (green)
    Napoleon escapes his exile and returns to France with immense popular support, and King Louis XVIII flees

  • Battle at Waterloo (red)

    Battle at Waterloo (red)
    British and Prussian forces defeat Napoleon for the last time in a battle that lasts a day. Napoleon is again forced into exile and is never seen in France again.