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Napoleon's Birth
Napoleon was born on August 15, 1769, at Ajaccio, France. -
Start of the French Revolution
The start of the French Revolution marks the begining of a new age in French Government and national representation. A remarkable chain of events was woven together to create the perfect storm, so that the third estate could sucessfully overthrow the government. -
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Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was a time period shortly after the French Revolution. During this time, Robespierre, who represented the Jacobin party at the time, came into power. He quickly began executing nobles, claiming that they were traitors to France. Eventually, Salem Witch Trials-esque politics began to take hold, when anybody who was accused of being unpatriotic was executed at the guillotine. Soon thereafter, Robespierre himself was executed by the Comittee of Safey, ending his reign. -
Battle of Toulon
One of the first notable battles of Napoleon, the Battle of Toulon was fought to help restore order after the French Revolution. The control over the Port of Toulon was given to the British and their naval commands by frenchmen who wanted the revolution undone. Napoleon retook the key town of Toulon, and returned control to the people of France. -
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Egyptian Campaign
Napoleon urged the French to invade Egypt in the hopes that it would help divert trade from England. At first, Napoleon won many decicive battles, after his forces managed to sail past English ships. Soon thereafer, the English navy attacked Napoleon's ships with a vengance. This left Napoleon and his men stranded in Egypt. Despite this, Napoleon continues his attempt at conquering Egypt, eventually to return to France defeated, with his army decimated. -
18 Brumaire Coup
The coup overthrew the Directory, instituting the Colsulate in its place. This allowed Napoleon to secure his seat as head consul for life, ensuring his lasting power. -
First Consul for life Plebiscite
Napoleon was named the first consul for life, meaning that he would remain in power for the duration of the Consolate system. -
Napoleonic Code
On this day, Napoleon's new code of law is passed. This code of law took away the individual rights of women, divided civil law into family and property matters, and gave France its first set of clear laws regarding matters of property since the revolution. -
Napoleon's Coronation
In the presence of the current pope, Napoleon crowns himself Emperor of France. -
Battle of Trafalgar
During this battle, Napoleon attempted to fight the royal navy, in an attempt to pave the way for his conquest of England. However, the royal navy easily defeated that of Napoleon, leading him to the conclusion that he would not be able to conquer England through a direct assult, thus, the instituted the Continental System. -
Battle of Austerlitz
In this battle, Napoleon defeated the 90,000 Austrian and Russian army with only 68,000 troops. The victory of this battle put Austria in a position where they had to make peace with France, and helping to keep Prussia out of the growing anti-france alliance. -
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Continental System
The Continental System was designed by Napoleon in an attempt to throttle the English trade networks. However, the English empire continued to trade with itself, making the system largely ineffective. Alternatively, however, French business profited greatly, as one of its main trade competitors was taken offline. -
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Peninsular War
Napoleon led troops through Spain, under the guise of invading Portugal. However, he instead usurped the Spanish King, putting his brother in power. This led to an uprising of the Spanish People against their new king. In turn, this gave England a new ally, one that they found in the People of Spain. -
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Invasion of Russia
At the begining of Napoleon's Russia Campaign, he only brought enough supplies for a few weeks, with the plan to resupply by raiding Russian villages. However, the Russians instituted the Scorched Earth Policy, burning down villages before Napoleon arrived, leaving his stranded in Russia. Despite this, he continnued to march towards Moscow, losing many men along the way. Then, during the fall, he began his long march back to France, losing even more soldiers to starvation and Cossacks. -
Retreat from Moscow
On this day, Napoleon begins his long march back home to Paris. Along the way, many of his men will die to starvation and Russian Cossacks, with many others deserting. -
Battle of Leipzig
The nations who opposed France (Austria, Prussia, Russia, Sweden, and Bohemia) gathered in the town of Saxony, soon defeating Napoleon's grand army. -
Exiled to Elba
Napoleon abdicates, leaving power to his son, and agreeing to be exiled to the island of Elba -
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Hundred Days
On March 20, 1815, Napoleon arrived in Paris, returning from his exile. He immediately gained power again, and attempted to lead another campaign against the enemies of France. However, he was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, ending his second reign. -
Battle of Waterloo
Towards the end of his hundred years in power, Napoleon fought a battle against the allied forces, consisting mostly of Britain and Prussian forces. After this battle, Napoleon was forced to give up power for a second time, never to be seen in France again. -
Exiled to St. Helena
Napoleon is exiled for a second time, this time to St. Helena island, a small, remote pice of land located in the South Atlantic. -
Death
On May 5, 1821, Napoleon dies on St. Helena Island.
