-
Napoleon attempts to conquer Egypt and cut off English trade lines and is defeated by Horatio Nelson
In August 1798, Napoleon landed in Egypt with 400 ships and 54,000 men and proceeded to invade the country, as he had recently invaded Italy. But this Egyptian invasion was to be different. Napoleon commences a campaign in Egypt to protect French trade interests by attempting to cut off English trade lines.The Battle of the Nile led to Napoleon's defeat by British navy under control of Horatio Nelson. -
Napoleon's coup d'etat, overthrowing the Directory
In November 1799, in an event known as the coup of 18 Brumaire, Napoleon was part of a group that successfully overthrew the French Directory. Napoleon helped to overthrow the Directory, establishing himself as First Consul of France. Cambaceres and Lebrun also were given power, but Napoleon quickly became the most powerful of the three. -
Napoleon is declared First Consul
In November 1799, Napoleon was established as First Consul of France, part of a triumvirate that included Cambacérès and Lebrun. Although the plan was for the three to have equal power, Napoleon quickly became the most powerful. Napoleon as first consul imposed increasing restrictions on freedom of expression in France, with provisions that were then extended throughout his conquered domains. -
Battle of Trafalgar
In October 1805, The British Royal Navy defeated French and Spanish ships. However, Napoleon still defeated the Third Coalition at the Battle of Austerlitz.The Battle of Trafalgar was a naval engagement fought by the British Royal Navy against the combined fleets of the French and Spanish Navies, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars. -
The Continental System is implemented
In November 1806, The Continental Blockade is implemented. This was a foreign policy put into place by Napoleon that forbade allies and conquests from trading with the British. He ordered all European nations and allies to follow this, as well as threatened Russia if they did not follow. It was designed by Napoleon to paralyze Great Britain through the destruction of British commerce. -
Napoleon is declared Emperor
In May 1804, Napoleon proclaimed himself Emperor of the French. He was crowned at the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. -
Napoleon is defeated in Russia
In June 1812, Napoleon amassed a huge army&marched to Moscow, not recognizing the challenges of supplying a large army such a long way from home. As the Russian army retreated, they applied a scorched earth policy, destroying anything that might be useful. As they retreated, they set it on fire. Napoleon had counted on billeting his troops in the city during the long Russian winter, but no shelter was left standing. As a result, the French army suffered terribly from starvation&cold. -
Spanish nationalists overthrow Napoleon
In June 1813, Napoleon established his brother, Joseph Bonaparte as king of Spain. Spanish nationalists remained loyal to Ferdinand VII and with help from the Allies (Britain), they overthrew the French in the Battle of Vitoria and brought back Ferdinand VII with the Treaty of Valençay. -
Napoleon is defeated at Leipzig (Battle of the Nations)
In October 1813, Napoleon’s army regrouped in German territory, and battled the Coalition successfully in several locations before suffering a decisive defeat in the Battle of the Nations (Leipzig) at the hands of Germany’s General Blucher. This was the first time that Napoleon was really defeated in battle. After this he returned to France, while the Allies continued to attack. Eventually this caused his exile to Ebla. -
Napoleon is exiled to Elba
In April 1814, Napoleon abdicated as emperor, and was sent into exile on the Mediterranean island of Elba. He was given “sovereignty” over the island, and actually had his own navy.
Napoleon became exiled to Ebla under the Treaty of Fontainebleau. He ruled Elba, a small Mediterranean island. Napoleon would later escape and return to France, marking his Hundred Days return. -
Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena
In June 1815, Napoleon was abdicated a second time, and attempted to escape to the United States. He was captured by the British and eventually transported to the island of St. Helena, off the coast of Africa, where he remained for the rest of his life and later died. -
Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo
Napoleon escaped from Elba and marched on Paris, collecting an army as he went. This brief return to power is known as the Hundred Days, but ended definitively with the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815. Napoleon and his army were defeated by the armies of the Seventh Coalition. His defeat caused the end of his rule as Emperor of France. This was also the end of his 100 day return from exile. His defeat caused his exile to St. Helena.
