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Coup of 18–19 Brumaire
The coup d'état overthrew the Directory which was corrupt and had severe national economic problems. A new form of Republic was established known as the Consulate, which brought General Napoleon Bonaparte to power as First Consul of France, and ended the French Revolution. This occurred on 9 November 1799, which was 18 Brumaire, Year VIII under the French Republican Calendar. -
The Concordat of 1801
The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII, signed on 15 July 1801. It sought national reconciliation between revolutionaries and Catholics and solidified the Roman Catholic Church as the majority church of France, with most of its civil status restored. It stated that Napoleon would appoint church officials, catholicism became the national religion, church officials are to be paid by the state, the pope must stop financing wars. -
Treaty of Amiens
England, abandoned by the countries that supported it during the Second Coalition was forced to sign this treaty in the hopes of reaffirming peace friendship, and good understanding between the British and the French people. The Peace of Amiens only lasted about a year. For short period then, from 1802 to 1803, there was peace - the only period of peace between 1792 and 1814, when no European power was at war with another. -
Napoleons Code
This was the civil code put out by Napoleon that granted equality of all male citizens before the law and granted absolute security of wealth and private property. Napoleon also secured this by creating the Bank of France which loyally served the interests of both the state and the financial oligarchy, a comprehensive and uniform system of laws established for France by Napoleon, Took away many of the rights gained by women, aimed at reestablishing the "family monarchy". -
Napoleon Crowned as Emperor
In 1804, Napoleon decided to make himself emperor, and the French voters supported him. On December 2, 1804, Napoleon walked down the long aisle of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The pope waited for him with a glittering crown. As thousands watched, the new emperor took the crown from the pope and placed it on his head. With this gesture, Napoleon signaled that he was more powerful than the Church, which had traditionally crowned the rulers of France. -
Battle of Trafalgar
On October 21, 1805, the British admiral Lord Nelson destroyed the French fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar off the Spanish coast. Nelson died in battle. Trafalgar ended all French hope of invading Britain and guaranteed British control of the sea for the rest of the war. The battle ended with a clear victory for the British forces. This allowed Britain to become the world's largest sea power for 100 years. The Battle of Trafalgar was the most important sea battle of the 19th century. -
Battle of Austerlitz
Austria refused to declare neutrality in France's conflict with Britain so Napoleon marched to Vienna. On December 2, 1805, Napoleon defeated the combined Austrian and Russian forces at Austerlitz. The Treaty of Pressburg that followed won major concessions from Austria. The Austrians withdrew from Italy and left Napoleon control of everything north of Rome, where he was recognized as the king of Italy. This battle is considered one of Napoleon's greatest victory. -
Treaty of Pressburg
Following Austerlitz, Napoleon took Venetia from Austrians who'd received it in 1797 and he annexed it to his recently acquired kingdom in Italy. This kingdom included much of Italy north of Rome. The Adriatic port cities of Venice and Trieste started building up Napoleon's fleet. Austria withdrew with the Third Coalition, paid indemnities to France. Austria also gave land to German allies as well as Venice to Italy. -
The Berlin Degree
Issued by France, the Berlin Decree forbade English ships from entering French ports and placed England under a blockade. The Continental System was Napoleon's attempt to economically strangle England by stopping trade and closing European ports to the English. The Berlin and Milan Decrees were part of the Continental System. -
Treaty of Tilsit
Napolean convinced Alexander that Britain was the major enemy and suggested that Russia's future lay toward Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan, and India. This treaty was signed in July 1807 and it was the high point of Napolean's success. For five years, France and Russia would-be allies. Alexander accepted Napolean as Emperor of the West, French-occupied Berlin with an army, and Prussia lost all territory west of Elbe and the new kingdom of Westphalia became part of the Confederation of the Rhine. -
The Peninsular War
This war can be defined as a major conflict in the Napoleonic Era. It was fought on the Iberian Peninsula. It was fought by the Spanish-British alliance against the French. The Peninsular war was caused by the French invading Portugal and later Spain to enforced the Continental System. In August the English and the Spanish working together were able to drive out the French out of Portugal. -
French Invasion of Russia
After Russia withdrew from the Continental System, Napoleon prepared to invade Russia to subdue their powers and eliminate the country as a potential threat. They underestimated Russia, Russian citizens had fled for cover in the countryside. The city was set on fire by the remaining inhabitants, employing the Scorched Earth Policy. There was little left for the French army in terms of provisions so they suffered from disease and great loss. -
Battle of Leipzig
In October 1813, Napoleon's forces and the army of the new alliance met at Leipzig, in Saxony. The allies beat the French decisively, and Napoleon retreated into France. He gave up all of his claims to the throne for himself and his family. The allies granted him a pension and allowed him to retire to the small island of Elba off the west coast. -
Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon escaped from Elba's exile and made a final attempt to regain power and his former empire. He marched with an army into Paris. King Louis XVIII fled, but eventually, it ended with the defeat of Napoleon's army at Waterloo by the Alliance of Great Britain, Austria, Russia, Prussia, Sweden, the Netherlands, and several German states. Finally forcing Napoleon's surrender and later exiled to the island of St. Helena in the South Pacific Ocean. -
Napoleon’s Death
On May 5, 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte died at the age of 51 on the island of Saint Helena.
Napoleon was a French Military General, the first emperor of France, and one of the most brilliant military tacticians and strategists of his time. Napoleon was very successful for a variety of reasons. He revolutionized military organization and training, created Napoleonic Code, reorganized education, and established concordat. He won numerous battles and stabilized France from the revolution and the war.
