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Napoleon's Origins
Napoleon was born in August 15th 1769 in Ajaccio, the french island of Corsica. His family was composed of low economic status italian nobles. When he was 9 his parents send him to a military school. He was recognized as a poor, ambitious soldier, however outstanding at artillery. -
Napoleon gets recognized
In October 1795 royalist rebels marched to the National convention. Napoleon wa expecting them with a cannonade, forcing them to retreat. From this day onward he was recognized as a capable soldier. -
Napoleon gains Commander Status
In 1796 the directory appointed Napoleon to command the French force against Austria and the Kingdom of Sardinia. While crossing the alps a young Napoleon had a lot of victories in Italy. Next he lead an expedition to Egypt to avoid Britain and India to do trade, which he lost due to Horatio Nelson's leadership in naval battles. -
Coup'd'etat
In November 1799 Napoleon lead troops to surround the national legislature and drove out its members. Due to this lawmakers decided to break the national legislature and decided to make a group of consuls. Napoleon was one of this consuls and this type of event came to be known as a coup’d'etat. During that year France was still at war and Britain, Australia, and Prussia united to remove Napoleon. -
Napoleon as a Consul
In the year 1800 Napoleon established a stable way of collecting taxes and a national banking system. Besides that he eliminated corrupt government officials. He provided suitable replacements by setting government run schools(Lycees). -
Attempting to take Saint Domingue
In 1801 Napoleon decided to take back the colony of Saint Domingue. The French were struck by disease and thus defeated. -
Concordat
Napoleon restored the power of the church by signing the concordat. The concordat was signed on july 15th, in 1801. The concordant gave the church power in all form except political. -
Napoleon cuts Losses
1803 Napoleon sold Louisiana to the US. He did this with the intention of cutting losses by gaining $15 million. -
Napoleon's Coronation
In December 2, 1804 Napoleon got crowned. Instead of the pope crowning him Napoleon crowned himself, meaning that he was more powerful than the church. The French supported him even though it was the same thing as gaining another monarch. -
The Battle of Trafalgar
In 1805 Napoleon was defeated in the Battle of Trafalgar. He was defeated by British general Horatio Nelson. He captured some french ships and destroyed the rest. This lead to Napoleon to discard the invasion of Britain. -
The Continental System
In November 21,1806 Napoleon set up a blockade forcing the closing of ports.To prevent the trade of the British, only allowing trade through land. This was known as the Continental System -
The Peninsular War
In 1808 Napoleon sent an invasion through Spain to to get Portugal to accept the Continental System. Napoleon replaced the king of Spain with his brother, and because of this the Spanish feared for the church. Spanish guerillas began to rise,marking the beginning of the Peninsular War. -
Napoleon's Empire
By 1812 the only areas free of Napoleon’s control were Britain,Portugal,Sweden and the Ottoman Empire.He had puppeted Spain,the duchy of Warsaw, and some Germanic kingdoms. -
Napoleon Attacks Russia
Napoleon attacks Russia on June 24,1812 but there was a scorch party on the way to Moscow. Due to the rough weather and the fact they were wearing summer clothes they would freeze to death and starve. -
Defeat in Leipzig
In October 1813 allied forces easily defeated the French army in Leipzig.They were also unprepared due to their defeat in Russia. -
Napoleon is exiled to Elba
In 1814 Prussia and Russia invaded Paris and triumphed. Despite Napoleon wanting to battle his generals refused making him surrender the throne. Due to this he was exiled to Elba -
Napoleon Returns
In 1815 Louis XVIII is dethroned by Napoleon. This is due to peasants disliking the idea of a new king. Napoleon eventually tried to take Belgium, but was defeated in Waterloo. -
Napoleon Dies
Napoleon Bonaparte died on May 5, 1821. He died of a stomach ulcer or cancer. On the island of Saint Helena.
