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Napoleon Invades Italy
In 1796, Napoleon was chosen to lead French troops into Italy. There, the French defeated the Austrians, who ruled Italy at that time. As a result of this victory, France acquired Belgium from Austria. France also acquired hundreds of art treasures from Italy, which were placed in the Louvre. -
Egypt
Napoleon sailed for Egypt, where British forces were stationed. He won a great land victory there, but the British fleet destroyed the French fleet. The French succeeded in establishing their influence in Egypt.The Soldiers accompanying Napoleon discovered the Rosetta Stone. Meanwhile, Austria, Russia, and Great Britain defeated French forces in Europe. He then saw his chance to gain more power. He and two members of the Directory plotted to take over the government. -
The Consulate
Napoleon set up a new government called the Consulate. He placed himself at its head and took the title of First Consul. By this time, Russia was no longer at war with France. -
Austria
Napoleon led French forces to victory over Austira. -
Peace Treaty with Great Britain
Napoleon arranged a peace treaty with Great Britain. -
First Consul
Because Napoleon brought peace and order, he was very popular. In 1802, he asked the people to elect him First Consul for life. They did so in a plebiscite. Two years later, the French made Napoleon emperor of France. His coronation was held in the Notre Dame Cathedral. the Pope came from Rome for the crowning but didn't have a chance to place the crown on Napoleon's head. Instead, Napoleon took the crwon from the Pope's hands and crowned himself. -
Britain Declares War on France
In 1803, Great Britain, threatened by Napoleon's actions, declared war on France. Great Britain and its allies, however, were not able to stop Naopleon and his soldiers. -
Napolean becomes king of Italy
In 1805, Napoleon had himself crowned king of Italy. -
Confederation of the Rhine
In 1806, Napoleon reformed the confederation. of the Rhine, which consisted of a group of conquered German states. -
Invaded Spain and Portugal
in 1808, Napoleon invaded Spain and portugal. -
Pope in prison
in 1809, Napoleon made the Papal States part of France and put the pope in prison. France's boundaries now included much of Europe. -
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Great Britain
Napoleon forbade the countries in his empire to trade with Great Britain, which he called a "nation of shopkeepers." He organized a Grand Army of about 600,000 soldiers of different nationalities. -
Grand Army Invades Russia
In the summer of 1812, the Grand Army, invaded Russia. Except for one battle, though, the Russians did not fight. Instead, they retreated, drawing the French deeper into Russia. As the Russians retreated, they burned their villages and food supplies, leaving nothing for the advancing French. This tactic is called a scorched-earth policy. -
French Freeze
Napoleon sent several peace proposals to the Russians, but they ignored. He finally gave the order to withdraw. Hundreds of thousands of French soldiers froze to death as temperatures fell to 40 degress below zero. Thousands more died from disease and lack of food. In the end, fewer than 100,000 soldiers made it back to France. -
Moscow
In September, Napoleon reached Moscow, which had been abandoned by the Russians. Shortly after the French arrived, the city caught fire and three fourths of it was destroyed. The French army now had neither food nor shelter. -
Allies Join Together
Napoleon was quick to raise another army, but the new soldiers were not well trained. They were defeated by the allied forces of Austria, Prissia, Russia, and Great Britain. This was the first time four countries had joined together to fight Napoleon. -
Allies take Paris
In 1814, the allies took Paris, and Napoleon was forced to give up the throne. He was sent into exile to the small island of Elba off the coast of Italy. He managed to escape, however, and gathered together enough troops to invade France. For 100 days, Napoleon again reigned as emporer. -
Waterloo
The allies, under the British leadership of the Duke of Wellington, finally defeated Napoleon in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo. -
Napoleon's Death
iAfter the allies defeated him at the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon was sent to the island of St. Helena off the west coast of Africa, were he died in 1821.
