Napoleon timeline

Italian Campaign (green)

Apr 2, 1796

Napoleon conquered most of northern Italy, effectively ending the War of the First Coalition. This was the event that got Napoleon’s name on the map.

Egyptian Campaign (yellow)

Jul 1, 1798

Napoleon tried to invade Egypt in an attempt to break trade British trade with India. After being defeated by Admiral Horacio Nelson at the Battle of the Nile, he abandoned his troops and was welcomed back as a hero.

Consulate (green)

Dec 24, 1799

Overthrew the Directory and set up a 3-man government called the Consulate. Napoleon took the title of First Consul. This marked the beginning of Napoleon becoming a political leader.

Banque de France (green)

Jan 18, 1800

Created to restore strength of French economy. Issued notes in return for trade discounts.

Concordat of 1801 (green)

Jul 15, 1801

Established peace with the Catholic Church. It stated that the Church was controlled by the state but Catholics would gain religious freedom. This caused citizens in all classes to support Napoleon.

Consul for Life (green)

Aug 2, 1802

Napoleon names himself “Consul for Life” based on the results of a plebiscite.This gave his title security and increased his power.

Napoleonic Code (yellow)

Mar 21, 1804

French civil law code that used Enlightenment principles and undid reforms of the French Revolution.

Declared Self Emperor (green)

Dec 2, 1804

Napoleon is crowned Napoleon I and given the title of emperor. This also established the French empire.

Battle of Trafalgar (red)

Oct 21, 1805

Naval battle fought off the southwest Spanish coast, in which British Admiral Horacio Nelson was victorious.

Abolished Holy Roman Empire (green)

Aug 6, 1806

Split the Holy Roman Empire into the Confederation of the Rhine and changed part of old Poland into the Grand Duchy of Warsaw. He then put friends and relatives on the thrones.

Continental System (red)

Nov 21, 1806

Closed European ports to British goods in an attempt to drain their economy. It failed due to the strength of the British navy and their connections to the Americas and India.

Resistance in Spain (red)

May 2, 1808

After Napoleon stationed 100,000 troops in Madrid, the Spanish rebelled using guerrilla tactics. After 5 years, they succeeded in driving the French out of Spain.

Invasion of Russia (red)

Jun 24, 1812

Napoleon invaded Russia with 600,000 soldiers and 50,000 horses. When they reached Moscow, they were forced to retreat due to the Russian winter. Less than 20,000 soldiers survived.

Battle of Nations at Leipzig (red)

Oct 16, 1813

Napoleon was defeated by the combined power of Russia, Britain, Austria, and Prussia, which resulted in the loss of French power in Germany and Poland. This led to Napoleon’s abdication and exile.

Abdication (red)

Apr 11, 1814

After being defeated in the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig in 1813, Napoleon was abdicated and then exiled to Elba.

Hundred Days (yellow)

Mar 20, 1815

The period from when Napoleon escaped exile and returned to Paris to his crushing defeat at Waterloo. These were Napoleon’s glory days before being exiled to St. Helena, where he would die.

Waterloo (red)

Jun 18, 1815

In a day-long battle near Waterloo, Belgium, the British and Prussian armies beat the French. This led to the abdication of Napoleon and his exile to St. Helena island.