200px ingres, napoleon on his imperial throne

Timeline of the Napoleonic Era

By Thomas H

  • Napoleon Bonaparte born in Ajaccio, Corsica

  • Graduates from Ecole Militaire with the rank of second lieutenant in the artillery.

  • Stationed in Valence

  • For his courage at an internal French battle at Toulon, Napoleon receives the new rank of brigadier general

  • Period: to

    Napoleon is imprisoned under suspicion of being a Jacobin and a supporter of Robespierre.

  • Royalist 13 Vendémiaire rising put down by Napoleon. Barras helps Napoleon win promotion to Commander of the Interior.

  • At the home of Paul François Barras, a Directory member, Napoleon meets Rose de Beauharnais (Josephine)

  • Directory established

  • Napoleon is given command of the French army in Italy

  • Italian campaign against Austria begins

  • Napoleon wins the Battle of Lodi

  • Napoleon wins the Battle of Arcole

  • Napoleon wins the Battle of Rivoli

  • Treaty of Campo-Formio with Austria.

  • Napoleon returns to Paris as a hero

  • Napoleon begins his Egyptian campaign with an army of 38,000

  • Wins Battle of the Pyramids against Mamelukes in Egypt

    Wins Battle of the Pyramids against Mamelukes in Egypt

  • Fall of Cairo

  • Under the command of Admiral Nelson, the British fleet destroys the French navy in the Battle of the Nile. Napoleon's army is cut off from supplies and communication.

  • Receiving news of turmoil in France, Napoleon relinquishes command in Egypt and returns to Paris

  • Period: to

    Coup of Brumaire Napoleon overthrows the Directory.

  • Napoleon elected First Consul of the Directory.

    Napoleon elected First Consul of the Directory.

  • Battle of Marengo

  • Napoleon escapes an assassination attempt

  • Period: to

    Concordant of 1801

  • Treaty with Austria signed at Lunéville: Treaty of Lunéville

  • Battle of Algeciras

  • Treaty of Amiens

  • Napoleon restructures French educational system

  • Legion of Honour established

  • New constitution adopted, plebiscite confirms Napoleon as First Consul for life

  • Introduction of the Civil Code (also known as Code Napoleon)

    Introduction of the Civil Code (also known as Code Napoleon)

  • Napoleon proclaimed Emperor by the Senate

  • Napoleon crowns himself Emperor, in the company of the Pope

    Napoleon crowns himself Emperor, in the company of the Pope

  • Battle of Ulm

  • Battle of Trafalgar. Lord Admiral Nelson Killed.

  • Battle of Caldiero

  • Battle of Austerlitz

    Battle of Austerlitz

  • Period: to

    Holy Roman Empire abolished

  • Napoleon names his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, king of Naples, and appoints other family members to various other posts

  • Confederation of the Rhine, Napoleon as ‘protector’. Initially had 16 member states, later others added, including kingdoms of Saxony and Westphalia

  • Prussia joins Britain and Russia against Napoleon

  • Battle of Jena

  • Battle of Auerstadt

  • The Berlin Decree (1806), which initiated the Continental System was issued

  • Battle of Eylau

  • Battle of Friedland

  • Treaty of Tilsit signed between Russia and France

  • Napoleon and Spain divide Portugal through a secret treaty

  • Imperial University established

  • Spanish people rise up against France. Often referred to as Dos de Mayo Uprising.

  • Joseph crowned King of Spain, after Portugal revolts against the Continental System/Blockade Napoleon had put in place. Napoleon collected 5 armies to advance into Portugal and 'bullied' the Spanish royal family into resigning. Peninsular War

  • Battle of Raszyn

  • Battle of Aspern-Essling

  • Period: to

    Battle of Wagram - Success for Napoleon, Austria loses territory and must enforce the Continental System

  • Treaty of Schönbrunn signed

  • Napoleon's son born, referred to as the "King of Rome"

  • Period: to

    Battle of Smolensk

  • Moscow evacuated

  • Battle of Borodino

  • 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.

  • Beginning of the Great Retreat

  • Battle of Maloyaroslavets

  • Crossing of the River Berezina

  • Grande Armée expelled from Russia

    Grande Armée expelled from Russia

  • Battle of Luneburg

  • Battle of Lützen

  • Period: to

    Battle of Bautzen

  • Period: to

    Armistice of Poischwitz

  • Battle of Vitoria

  • Siege of Danzig

  • Battle of Großbeeren

  • Battle of Katzbach

  • Period: to

    Battle of Dresden

  • Battle of Hagelberg

  • Period: to

    Battle of Kulm

  • Battle of Dennewitz

  • Battle of the Göhrde

  • Battle of Altenburg

  • Battle of Wartenburg

  • Battle of Liebertwolkwitz

  • Period: to

    Battle of Leipzig

  • Period: to

    Battle of Hanau

  • Battle of Bornhöved

  • Battle of Sehestedt

  • Period: to

    Six Days Campaign

  • Period: to

    Battle of Paris

  • Napoleon abdicates his rule and Louis XVIII, a Bourbon, is restored to the French throne

  • Treaty of Fontainebleau (1814) Napoleon agrees to exile in Elba, the allies agree to pay his family a pension

  • Napoleon is exiled to Elba; his wife and son take refuge in Vienna

  • Napoleon escapes from Elba

  • Napoleon arrives in Paris. Beginning of the Hundred Days

  • Battle of Waterloo

    Battle of Waterloo

  • Restoration of Louis XVIII

  • Napoleon is exiled to Saint Helena

    Napoleon is exiled to Saint Helena