Napoleon Timeline

By sarahbiasura

  • Napoleon Bonaparte born in Ajaccio, Corsica

  • Graduates from Ecole Militaire with the rank of second lieutenant in the artillery.

  • For his courage at an internal French battle at Toulon, Napoleon receives the new rank of brigadier general

  • Period: to

    Napoleon is imprisoned under suspicion of being a Jacobin and a supporter of Robespierre

  • October: Royalist 13 Vendémiaire rising put down by Napoleon. Barras helps Napoleon win promotion to Commander of the Interior.

    October: Royalist 13 Vendémiaire rising put down by Napoleon. Barras helps Napoleon win promotion to Commander of the Interior.

  • At the home of Paul François Barras, a Directory member, Napoleon meets Rose de Beauharnais (Josephine)

  • Directory established

  • Napoleon is given command of the French army in Italy

    Napoleon is given command of the French army in Italy

  • Italian campaign against Austria begins

  • Napoleon wins the Battle of Lodi

    Napoleon wins the Battle of Lodi

  • Napoleon wins the Battle of Arcole

    Napoleon wins the Battle of Arcole

  • Napoleon wins the Battle of Rivoli

    Napoleon wins the Battle of Rivoli

  • Treaty of Campo-Formio with Austria.

  • Napoleon returns to Paris as a hero

  • Napoleon begins his Egyptian campaign with an army of 38,000

  • Wins Battle of the Pyramids against Mamelukes in Egypt

    Wins Battle of the Pyramids against Mamelukes in Egypt

  • Fall of Cairo

  • Under the command of Admiral Nelson, the British fleet destroys the French navy in the Battle of the Nile. Napoleon's army is cut off from supplies and communication.

  • Receiving news of turmoil in France, Napoleon relinquishes command in Egypt and returns to Paris

  • Period: to

    Coup of Brumaire Napoleon overthrows the Directory.

  • Napoleon elected First Consul of the Directory.

    Napoleon elected First Consul of the Directory.

  • Battle of Marengo.

    Battle of Marengo.

  • Napoleon escapes an assassination attempt

  • Treaty with Austria signed at Lunéville: Treaty of Lunéville.

  • Battle of Algeciras.

  • Treaty of Amiens.

  • Napoleon restructures French educational system

  • Legion of Honour established

  • New constitution adopted, plebiscite confirms Napoleon as First Consul for life

  • Introduction of the Civil Code (also known as Code Napoleon)

    Introduction of the Civil Code (also known as Code Napoleon)

  • Napoleon proclaimed Emperor by the Senate.

  • Napoleon crowns himself Emperor, in the company of the Pope.

  • Battle of Ulm.

  • Battle of Trafalgar.

    Battle of Trafalgar.

  • Lord Admiral Nelson Killed

  • Battle of Caldiero.

    Battle of Caldiero.

  • Battle of Austerlitz.

    Battle of Austerlitz.

  • Napoleon names his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, king of Naples, and appoints other family members to various other posts

  • Holy Roman Empire abolished

  • Confederation of the Rhine, Napoleon as ‘protector’. Initially had 16 member states, later others added, including kingdoms of Saxony and Westphalia

  • Prussia joins Britain and Russia against Napoleon

  • Battle of Jena

    Battle of Jena

  • Battle of Auerstadt.

  • The Berlin Decree (1806), which initiated the Continental System was issued.

  • Battle of Eylau.

    Battle of Eylau.

  • Battle of Friedland.

  • Treaty of Tilsit signed between Russia and France.

    Treaty of Tilsit signed between Russia and France.

  • Napoleon and Spain divide Portugal through a secret treaty

  • Imperial University established

  • Spanish people rise up against France. Often referred to as Dos de Mayo Uprising.

    Spanish people rise up against France. Often referred to as Dos de Mayo Uprising.

  • Joseph crowned King of Spain, after Portugal revolts against the Continental System/Blockade Napoleon had put in place. Napoleon collected 5 armies to advance into Portugal and 'bullied' the Spanish royal family into resigning. Peninsular War

  • Battle of Raszyn.

    Battle of Raszyn.

  • Battle of Aspern-Essling.

    Battle of Aspern-Essling.
  • Period: to

    Battle of Wagram - Success for Napoleon, Austria loses territory and must enforce the Continental System

  • Treaty of Schönbrunn signed

  • Napoleon's son born, referred to as the "King of Rome"

  • Period: to

    Battle of Smolensk

  • Moscow evacuated.

  • Battle of Borodino

  • Napoleon arrives in Moscow to find the city abandoned and set alight by the inhabitants; retreating in the midst of a frigid winter, the army suffers great losses.

  • Beginning of the Great Retreat.

  • Grande Armée expelled from Russia

    Grande Armée expelled from Russia

  • Battle of Luneburg

  • Battle of Sehestedt

  • Period: to

    Six Days Campaign.

  • Period: to

    Battle of Paris.

  • Napoleon abdicates his rule and Louis XVIII, a Bourbon, is restored to the French throne

  • Treaty of Fontainebleau (1814) Napoleon agrees to exile in Elba, the allies agree to pay his family a pension

  • Napoleon is exiled to Elba; his wife and son take refuge in Vienna

  • Napoleon escapes from Elba.

  • Napoleon arrives in Paris

  • Battle of Waterloo.

  • Restoration of Louis XVIII

  • Napoleon is exiled to Saint Helena