Timeline of the Napoleonic era

Timeline of the Napoleonic era (1799–1815). The Napoleonic era began in 1799 with Napoleon Bonaparte's coup d'état, that overthrew the Directory and established the French Consulate. It ended in 1815 during the Hundred Days with his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo or a few days later when he abdicated for the second time.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on modern European history. He was a general during the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul of the French Republic, "Emperor of the French", King of Italy, Mediator of the Swiss Confederation and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine.

Born in Corsica and trained in mainland France as an artillery officer, he first rose to prominence as a general of the French Revolution, leading several successful campaigns against the First Coalition and the Second Coalition arrayed against France. In late 1799, Napoleon staged a "coup d'état" and installed himself as First Consul; five years later he became the Emperor of the French. In the first decade of the nineteenth century, he turned the armies of France against almost every major European power, dominating continental Europe through a lengthy streak of military victories—epitomized through battles such as Austerlitz and Friedland—and through the formation of extensive alliance systems. He appointed close friends and several members of his family as monarchs and important government figures of French-dominated states.

The disastrous French invasion of Russia in 1812 marked a turning point in Napoleon's fortunes. The campaign wrecked the "Grande Armée", which never regained its previous strength. In October 1813, the Sixth Coalition defeated his forces at Leipzig and then invaded France. The coalition forced Napoleon to abdicate in April 1814, exiling him to the island of Elba. Less than a year later, he returned to France and regained control of the government in the Hundred Days ("les Cent Jours") prior to his final defeat at Waterloo on 18 June, 1815. Napoleon spent the remaining six years of his life under British imprisonment on the island of St. Helena.

Early years

;1769
*August 15: Napoleon Bonaparte born in Ajaccio, Corsica

;1785
*October 28: Graduates from Ecole Militaire with the rank of second lieutenant in the artillery.
*November 3: Stationed in Valence

;1793
*December 22: For his courage at an internal French battle at Toulon, Napoleon receives the new rank of brigadier general

;1794
*August 9-20: Napoleon is imprisoned under suspicion of being a Jacobin and a supporter of Robespierre and narrowly avoids death.

;1795
*October: Royalist Vendemaire rising put down by Napoleon. Barras helps Napoleon win promotion to Commander of the interior.
*October 15: At the home of Paul Francois Barras, a Directory member, Napoleon meets Rose de Beauharnais (Josephine)
*2 November: Directory established

;1796
*March 2:Napoleon is given command of the French army in Italy
*March 11: Italian campaign against Austria begins
*May 10: Napoleon wins the Battle of Lodi
*November 17: Napoleon wins the Battle of Arcole

;1797
*January 14: Napoleon wins the Battle of Rivoli
*October 17: Treaty of Campo-Formio with Austria.
*December 5: He returns to Paris a hero

;1798
*May 19: Napoleon begins his Egyptian campaign with an army of 38,000
*July 21: Wins Battle of the Pyramids against Mamelukes in Egypt
*July 24: Fall of Cairo
*August 1: Under the command of Admiral Nelson, the British fleet destroys the French navy in the Battle of Aboukir Bay. Napoleon's army is cut off from supplies and communication.

Napoleonic era

;1799
*August 23: Receiving news of turmoil in France, Napoleon abandons Egypt and returns to Paris
*9-10 November: Coup of Brumaire Napoleon overthrows the Directory.
*December 12: Napoleon elected First Consul of the directory.

;1800
*June 14: Battle of Marengo.

;1801
*February 9: Treaty with Austria signed at Luneville: Treaty of Lunéville.
*Concordant of 1801.
*July 8: Battle of Algeciras.
*December 24: Napoleon escapes an assassination attempt

;1802
*March 25: Treaty of Amiens.
*May 1: Napoleon restructures French educational system
*May 19: Legion of Honour established
*August 2: New constitution adopted, plebiscite confirms Napoleon as First Consul for life

;1804
*March 21: Introduction of the Civil Code (also known as Code Napoleon)
*May: Napoleon proclaimed Emperor by the Senate.
*December 2: Napoleon crowns himself Emperor, in the company of the Pope.

;1805
*October 19: Battle of Ulm.
*October 30: Battle of Caldiero.
*October 21: Battle of Trafalgar.:Lord Admiral Nelson Killed.
*December 2: Battle of Austerlitz.

;1806
*March 30: Napoleon names his son, Joseph Bonaparte, king of Naples, and appoints other family members to various other posts
*July 12: Confederation of the Rhine, Napoleon as ‘protector’. Initially had 16 member states, later others added, including kingdoms of Saxony and Westphilia
*Holy Roman Empire abolished
*September 15: Prussia joins Britain and Russia against Napoleon
*October 14: Battle of Jena
*October 14: Battle of Auerstadt.
*November 21: The Berlin Decree (1806), which initiated the Continental System was issued.

;1807
*February 8: Battle of Eylau.
*June 14: Battle of Friedland.
*June 25: Treaty of Tilsit signed between Russia and France.
*October : Napoloeon and Spain divide Portugal through a secret treaty

;1808
*March 17: Imperial University established
*May 2: Spanish people rose up against France. Often referred to as "Dos de Mayo".
*July 7: 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

;1809
*July 5-6: Battle of Wagram - Success for Napoleon, Autria however lose territory and must enforce the Continental System
*April 19: Battle of Raszyn.
*May 22: Battle of Aspern-Essling.
*October 14: Treaty of Schönbrunn signed.

;1811
*March 20: Napoleon's son born, referred to as the "King of Rome"

;1812
*August 4-6: Battle of Smolensk.
*September 1: Moscow evacuated.
*September 7 1812: Battle of Borodino.
*September 14: 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.
*October 19: Beginning of the Great Retreat.
*October 24: Battle of Maloyaroslavets.
*November 1812: Crossing of the River Berezina.
*December : Grand Armée expelled from Russia.

;1813
*April 2, 1813: Battle of Luneburg
*May 2, 1813: Battle of Lützen.
*May 20-21, 1813: Battle of Bautzen.
*June 4-26, 1813: Armistice of Poischwitz.
*June 21, 1813: Battle of Vitoria.
*August 23, 1813: Battle of Großbeeren.
*August 26-27, 1813: Battle of Dresden.
*August 26, 1813: Battle of Katzbach.
*August 27, 1813: Battle of Hagelberg
*August 29-30, 1813: Battle of Kulm.
*September 6, 1813: Battle of Dennewitz.
*September 16, 1813: Battle of the Göhrde.
*October 3, 1813: Battle of Wartenburg.
*October 14, 1813: Battle of Liebertwolkwitz.
*October 16-19, 1813: Battle of Leipzig.
*October 30-31, 1813: Battle of Hanau.
*December 10, 1813: Battle of Sehested.

;1814
*February 10-14, 1814: Six Days Campaign.
*March 30-31, 1814: Battle of Paris.
*April 4: Napoleon abdicates his rule and Louis XVIII, a Bourbon, is restored to the French throne
*May 4: Napoleon is exiled to Elba; his wife and son take refuge in Vienna

;1815:"Main: "
*February 20, 1815: Napoleon escapes from Elba.
*March 20 1815: Napoleon arrives in Paris.:Beginning of the Hundred Days
*June 18 1815: Battle of Waterloo.
*June 28 1815: Restoration of Louis XVIII
*October 16 1815: : Napoleon is exiled to Saint Helena

Exile

;1821
*March 5: Napoleon dies

References

* Jack Allen Meyer (1987). "An Annotated Bibliography of the Napoleonic Era: Recent Publications, 1945-1985" ISBN 0313249016