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Napoleon attempts to conquer Egypt and cut off English trade lines and is defeated by Horatio Nelson
The battle was the climax of a naval campaign that had ranged across the Mediterranean during the previous three months, as a large French convoy sailed from Toulon to Alexandria carrying an expeditionary force under then General Napoleon Bonaparte. In the battle, the British forces, led by Horatio Nelson (later Lord Nelson), defeated the French. -
Napoleon's Coup d'etat overthrowing the Directory
The coup d'etat brought General Napoleon Bonaparte to power as First Consul of France, and ended the French Revolution. The coup d'état overthrew the Directory, replacing it with the French Consulate. -
Napoleon is declared First Consul
Napoleon is appointed First Consul in the new government under the Constitution of Year VIII. -
Napoleon is declared emperor
In Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte is crowned Napoleon I, the first Frenchman to hold the title of emperor in a thousand years. Pope Pius VII handed Napoleon the crown that the 35-year-old conqueror of Europe placed on his own head. In 1804 he established the French empire and became the head, thus becoming emperor. -
Battle of Trafalgar
A British fleet under Admiral Lord Nelson defeats a combined French and Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar, fought off the coast of Spain. Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar ensured that Napoleon would never invade Britain -
The Continental System is implemented
It was the foreign policy of Napoleon in his struggle against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland during the Napoleonic Wars. As a response to the naval blockade of the French coasts enacted by the British government, Napoleon issued the Berlin Decree, which brought into effect a large-scale embargo against British trade. -
Spanish nationalists overthrow Napoleon
There is a revolt in Madrid against Marshall Joachim Murat's troops. This marks beginning of Spanish revolt against French rule, called the Spanish War of Independence. -
Napoleon Leaves Spain
Napoleon is defeated in Spain and leaves. -
Napoleon is defeated in Russia
Through the campaign, Napoleon's army shrank further and on 14 December 1812 it left Russian territory. According to the popular legend only about 22,000 of Napoleon's men survived the Russian campaign. -
Napoleon is defeated at Leipzig (Battle of the Nations)
The Battle of Leipzig or Battle of the Nations was fought by the coalition armies of Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Sweden against the French army of Napoleon at Leipzig, Saxony. Napoleon's army also contained Polish and Italian troops as well as Germans from the Confederation of the Rhine. The battle involved over 600,000 soldiers, making it the largest battle imaking it the largest battle in Europe at the time.
This was the first time Napoleon was decisively defeated in battle. -
Napoleon is exiled to Elba
In the Treaty of Fontainebleau, Napoleon was exiled to Elba, an island of 12,000 inhabitants in the Mediterranean. He had sovereignty over the island and retained his title of emperor. In the first few months on Elba he created a small navy and army, developed the iron mines, and issued decrees on modern agricultural methods. -
Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo
At Waterloo in Belgium, Napoleon Bonaparte suffers defeat at the hands of the Duke of Wellington. The defeat at Waterloo ended Napoleon's rule as French Emperor. -
Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena
Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena off the coast of Africa. The living conditions were poor and Napoleon often complained about his captors.