Military career of Napoleon Bonaparte

The military career of Napoleon Bonaparte spanned over 20 years. As emperor, he led the French Armies in the Napoleonic Wars.

Early career
1769

August 15 - Napoleon born Nabulione di Buonaparte in Ajaccio, Corsica.

1778

December 15 - Napoleon leaves Corsica for mainland France.

1779

January 1 - Napoleon enters religious school at Autun.

May 15 - Napoleon enters cadet school at Brienne-le-Château.

1784

October 30 - Napoleon enters École Militaire in Paris.

1785

September 1 - Napoleon graduates from École Militaire and is commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant of Artillery.

October 30 - Napoleon reports to first posting with the La Fère Artillery Regiment at Valence-sur-Rhône.

1786

September 1 - Napoleon goes to Corsica on long furlough until June 1788.

1788

June - Napoleon rejoins his regiment at Auxonne, attached to School of Artillery.

1789

September 15 - Napoleon goes on second leave to Corsica, becomes involved in revolutionary activities and attempts to gain favour with Pasquale Paoli.

1791

February 10 - Napoleon returns from Corsica to regimental duty at Auxonne.

April 1 - Napoleon promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

September 1 - Napoleon's third furlough to Corsica.

1792

February 6 - Napoleon promoted to Captain (antedated).

April 1 - Napoleon is elected Lieutenant Colonel, 2nd Battalion, Corsican Volunteers. Is implicated in a riot in Ajaccio.

May 28 - Napoleon returns to Paris, instead of rejoining his regiment.

September 15 - Napoleon escorts his sister, Elisa, back to Corsica.

1793

February 22–25 - Napoleon commands artillery during an abortive French landing on Maddalena Island, Sardinia.

March 3 - Napoleon breaks with Paoli, blaming the failed landing on him.

June 13 - Napoleon and his family arrive in Toulon, having been banished from Corsica by Paoli.

August 27 - Toulon handed over to the British by Royalists.

September 16 - Napoleon given command of artillery besieging Toulon.

October 18 - Napoleon promoted to Major.

December 17–19 - Successful recapture of Toulon from British and Royalists.

December 22 - Napoleon promoted to Brigadier General.

Battles
Victories Defeats
 * Siege of Toulon (1793)
 * 13 Vendémiaire (1795)
 * Montenotte (1796)
 * Second Dego (1796)
 * Mondovì (1796)
 * Lodi (1796)
 * Lonato (1796)
 * Castiglione (1796)
 * Bassano (1796)
 * Rovereto (1796)
 * Bridge of Arcole (1796)
 * Rivoli (1797)
 * Mantua (1796-1797)
 * Chobrakit (1798)
 * Pyramids (1798)
 * El Arish (1799)
 * Jaffa (1799)
 * Mount Tabor (1799)
 * Abukir (1799)
 * Marengo (1800)
 * Ulm (1805)
 * Austerlitz (1805)
 * Jena-Auerstedt (1806)
 * Poland Uprising (1806)
 * Eylau (1807)
 * Friedland (1807)
 * Somosierra (1808)
 * Teugn-Hausen (1809)
 * Abensberg (1809)
 * Landshut (1809)
 * Eckmühl (1809)
 * Wagram (1809)
 * Smolensk (1812)
 * Borodino (1812)
 * Berezina (1812)
 * Lützen (1813)
 * Bautzen (1813)
 * Dresden (1813)
 * Hanau (1813)
 * Brienne (1814)
 * Champaubert (1814)
 * Montmirail (1814)
 * Château-Thierry (1814)
 * Vauchamps (1814)
 * Mormans (1814)
 * Montereau (1814)
 * Craonne (1814)
 * Reims (1814)
 * Saint-Dizier (1814)
 * Ligny (1815)
 * Caldiero (1796)
 * Second Bassano (1796)
 * Acre (1799)
 * Aspern-Essling (1809)
 * Berezina (1812)(it can be seen both ways)
 * Krasnoi (1812)
 * Leipzig (1813)
 * La Rothière (1814)
 * Laon (1814)
 * Waterloo (1815)