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Napoleon Becomes Emperor
The coronation of Napoleon I as Emperor of France was preceded by a vote on the issue of whether or not Napoleon should be appointed "First Consul for Life", which he won. Napoleon put the crown on his own head at his coronation. -
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Napoleon
Abril Derisio -
Battle of Austerlitz
The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, effectively brought to an end on Third Coalition against France. It is one of Napoleon's greatest victories. -
The Continental System
The Continental System was the foreign policy of Napoleon Bonaparte's in his struggle against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland during the Napoleonic Wars. It was inaugurated on November 21, 1806 and lasted until 1814. It was an attempt to prevent the British from trading on the European continent. -
Battle of Friedland
The Battle of Friedland saw the French Army's defeat of Russian forces effectively bringing to an end the Fourth Coalition against France. -
Napoleon Divorces Josephine
Napoleon Bonaparte divorced his wife, Josephine because she was unable to have any more children. Napoleon desperately wanted to have an heir. He would marry in March 1810 to Marie Louise, Archduchess of Austria. They would have one child together, who would become Napoleon II. -
Napoleon Invades Russia
Napoleon's attempted invasion of Russia began on June 15, 1812. Eventually the Russians "scorched earth policy" and the Russian winter took its toll on the Grand Armee. Napoleon left Russia, of the 600,000 troops he had at the beginning of the invasion 500,000 were either killed, captured or deserted along the way. -
Battle of Borodino
The Battle of Borodino fought on September 7, 1812, was the largest and bloodiest single-day action of the Napoleonic Wars, involving more than 250,000 troops and resulting in at least 70,000 total casualties. Napoleon was unable to destroy the Russian forces completely. -
Napoleon arrives Moscow
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. -
The Battle of Leipzig
The Battle of the Nations (or Battle of Leipzig) which occurred on October 16-19, 1813 was one of the most decisive defeats suffered by Napoleon Bonaparte. -
Napoleon Bonaparte Abdicates
On April 6, 1814, Napoleon abdicates in favor of his son, but the Allies of the Sixth Coalition refuse. Napoleon abdicates unconditionally on April 11, and is sent into exile on the island of Elba. The Allies allow him to keep his title of Emperor, and 1,000 men go into exile with him on Elba. -
The Congress of Vienna Begins
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of the major powers of Europe, chaired by the Austrian statesman Clemens Wenzel von Metternich and held in Vienna from November 1, 1814, to June 8, 1815. The Congress of Vienna was an attempt to turn back the clock in Europe, to a time before the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, to return France to its pre-revolutionary size. The legitimate monarchs of Europe were returned to their thrones, including Louis XVIII to France. -
Napoleon Escapes From Elba
Napoleon saw an opportunity to escape from Elba when the commander went to visit Italy. Napoleon left Elba by sea and arrived in France on March 1, 1815. -
Napoleon Arrives Back In France
Napoleon escaped from the island of Elba and returns to France on March 1, 1815. Marching through the Alps, Napoleon gains support along the way, even turning the troops that Louis XVIII sent out to destroy him to his side. -
Hundred Days
Napoleon's arrival in Paris on March 20, 1815 marks the beginning of the "Hundred Days". -
Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon's forces were defeated near the village of Waterloo in Belgium by the British and Prussian forces. It was the first time that Napoleon had met the Duke of Wellington on the field of battle, and Wellington (who had studied Napoleon's techniques) anticipated his every move, and was able to defeat him. The Duke of Wellington is depicted in the painting on the left. -
Napoleon Surrenders
After his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon took a few days to formally surrender to the Allies. When he does, he will be sent into exile for the second time. -
Napoleon Sent Into Exile on St. Helena
After his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon was sent into exile for a second time, this time to the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic. -
Napoleon Dies
Napoleon dies in exile on the island of St. Helena.
