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 (French: Napoléon Bonaparte [napoleɔ̃ bɔnɑpaʁt], Italian: Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the latter stages of the French Revolution and its associated wars in Europe.

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.


 * 1795
 * October: Royalist 13 Vendémiaire rising put down by Napoleon. Barras helps Napoleon win promotion to Commander of the Interior.
 * October 15: At the home of Paul François 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: Napoleon returns to Paris as 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 2: 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.

Napoleonic era

 * 1799
 * August 23: Receiving news of turmoil in France, Napoleon relinquishes command in Egypt and returns to Paris, a so-called Coup d’état
 * November 9–10: Coup of Brumaire Napoleon overthrows the Directory.
 * December 12: Napoleon elected First Consul of the Directory.


 * 1800
 * June 14: Battle of Marengo.
 * December 24: Napoleon escapes an  assassination attempt


 * 1801
 * February 9: Treaty with Austria signed at Lunéville: Treaty of Lunéville.
 * Concordant of 1801.
 * July 8: Battle of Algeciras.


 * 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 21: Battle of Trafalgar.
 * Lord Admiral Nelson Killed.


 * October 30: Battle of Caldiero.
 * December 2: Battle of Austerlitz.


 * 1806
 * March 30: Napoleon names his brother, 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 Westphalia
 * 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 : Napoleon and Spain divide Portugal through a secret treaty


 * 1808
 * March 17: Imperial University established
 * May 2: Spanish people rise up against France. Often referred to as Dos de Mayo Uprising.
 * 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
 * April 19: Battle of Raszyn.
 * May 22: Battle of Aspern-Essling.
 * July 5–6: Battle of Wagram - Success for Napoleon, Austria loses territory and must enforce the Continental System
 * October 14: Treaty of Schönbrunn signed.


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


 * 1812
 * July 22: Battle of Salamanca
 * 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: Crossing of the River Berezina.
 * December: Grande Armée expelled from Russia.


 * 1813
 * April 2: Battle of Luneburg
 * May 2: Battle of Lützen.
 * May 20–21: Battle of Bautzen.
 * June 4–26: Armistice of Poischwitz.
 * June 21: Battle of Vitoria.
 * August 15: Siege of Danzig.
 * August 23: Battle of Großbeeren.
 * August 26–27: Battle of Dresden.
 * August 26: Battle of Katzbach.
 * August 27: Battle of Hagelberg
 * August 29–30: Battle of Kulm.
 * September 6: Battle of Dennewitz.
 * September 16: Battle of the Göhrde.
 * September 28: Battle of Altenburg.
 * October 3: Battle of Wartenburg.
 * October 14: Battle of Liebertwolkwitz.
 * October 16–19: Battle of Leipzig.
 * October 30–31: Battle of Hanau.
 * December 7: Battle of Bornhöved.
 * December 10: Battle of Sehestedt.


 * 1814
 * February 10–14: Six Days Campaign.
 * March 30–31: Battle of Paris.
 * April 4: Napoleon abdicates his rule and Louis XVIII, a Bourbon, is restored to the French throne
 * April 11: Treaty of Fontainebleau (1814) Napoleon agrees to exile in Elba, the allies agree to pay his family a pension.
 * May 4: Napoleon is exiled to Elba; his wife and son take refuge in Vienna


 * 1815
 * Main: Hundred Days: Timeline


 * February 20: Napoleon escapes from Elba.
 * March 20: Napoleon arrives in Paris.
 * Beginning of the Hundred Days


 * June 18: Battle of Waterloo.
 * June 28: Restoration of Louis XVIII
 * October 16: : Napoleon is exiled to Saint Helena


 * 1821
 * May 5: Napoleon dies