Napoleon Chronology

In graditude for putting down a rebellion in the streets of Paris, France's National Convention appoints Napoleon Bonaparte second in command of the Army of the Interior.

Ref: 2

Oct 26

When General Paul Barras resigns his commission as head of France's Army of the Interior to become head of the Directory, his second-in-command becomes the army's commander-Napoleon Bonaparte

Ref: 2

1796

Mar 09

The future emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, married Josephine de Beauharnais. (The couple divorced in 1809.)

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Apr 13

Battle at Millesimo Italy Napoleon beats Austrians.

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Apr 22

Napoleon defeats Piedmontese at Battle of Mondovi.

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May 10

Napoleon Bonaparte wins a brilliant victory against the Austrians at Lodi bridge in Italy.

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May 15

France & Sardinia sign Peace treaty of Paris; French troops occupy Milan.

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Nov 17

Napoleon Bonaparte defeats an Italian army near the Alpone River, Italy.

Ref: 2

1797

Jan 04

Austrians under Joseph Alvintzi defeated by Napoleon at Rivoli.

Ref: 10

Jan 14

Napoleon Bonaparte defeats Austrians at Rivoli in northern Italy. Napoleon Bonaparte defeats Austrians at Rivoli in northern Italy.

Ref: 2

May 05

Napoleon I's sister Elisa marries Felix Bacciochi.

Ref: 5

1798

Feb 11

French take Rome.

Ref: 10

Jun 11

Napoleon Bonaparte takes the island of Malta.

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Jul 01

Napoleon Bonaparte takes Alexandria, Egypt.

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Jul 07

Napoleon Bonaparte's army begins its march towards Cairo from Alexandria.

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Jul 21

Napoleon Bonaparte defeats the Arab Mameluke warriors at the Battle of the Pyramids.

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Jul 23

Napoleon captures Alexandria, Egypt.

Ref: 5

1799

Jan 02

Napoleon advances into Syria.

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Jan 14

King of Naples flees before the advancing French armies.

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Feb 10

Napoleon Bonaparte leaves Cairo, Egypt, for Syria, at the head of 13,000 men.

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Mar 06

Napoleon captures Jaffa Palestine.

Ref: 5

Mar 07

In Palestine, Napoleon captures Jaffa and his men massacre more than 2,000 Albanian prisoners.

Ref: 2

Mar 12

Austria declares war on France.

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Mar 17

Napoleon Bonaparte and his army reach Mediterranean seaport of St. Jean d'Acra, only to find British warships ready to break his siege of the town.

Ref: 2

Mar 26

Napoleon Bonaparte captures Jaffa, Palestine.

Ref: 2

May 20

Napoleon Bonaparte orders a withdrawal from his siege of St. Jean d'Acre in Egypt.

Ref: 2

Jun 17

Napoleon Bonaparte incorporates Italy into his empire.

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Jul 11

An Anglo-Turkish armada bombards Napoleon Bonaparte's troops in Alexandria to no avail.

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Jul 24

Napoleon defeats Turks at Aboukir.

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Jul 25

On his way back from Syria, Napoleon Bonaparte defeats the Ottomans at Aboukir, Egypt.

Ref: 2

Nov 09

Napoleon Bonaparte participates in a coup and declares himself dictator of France.

Ref: 2

Dec 24

Jakobijns plot against Napoleon uncovered.

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1800

Jan 20

Napoleon I's sister Carolina marries King Joachim Murat of Naples.

Ref: 5

Jun 14

Victory of Napoleon over Austrians at Battle of Marengo

Ref: 10

Dec 03

The French defeat an Austrian army at the Battle of Hohenlinden, near Munich.

Ref: 2

1801

Jun 27

Cairo falls to British forces.

Ref: 62

Oct 06

Napoleon Bonaparte imposes a new constitution on Holland.

Ref: 2

1802

Jan 25

Napoleon elected President of the Italian (Cisalpine) Republic.

Ref: 5

Jan 26

Napoleon becomes President of Italian Republic

Ref: 10

May 19

Napoleon creates the Order of the Legion of Honor.

Ref: 5

Aug 02

Napoleon Bonaparte is proclaimed "Consul for Life" by the French Senate after a plebiscite from the French people.

Ref: 2

1803

May 18

Britain declares war on France after Napoleon Bonaparte continues interfering in Italy & Switzerland.

Ref: 5

May 24

Charles Bonaparte Corsican/French prince of Canino/Musignano, is born.

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1804

Mar 21

After four years of debate and planning, French leader Napoleon Bonaparte enacts a new legal framework known as the "Napoleonic Code." The civil code gives post-revolutionary France its first coherent set of laws concerning property, colonial affairs, the family, and individual rights.

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May 16

Senate & Tribune declare Napolean leader of France.

Ref: 5

May 16

French Senate petitions Napoleon Bonaparte to establish a hereditary dynasty

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May 18

The French Senate proclaimed Napoleon Bonaparte emperor.

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May 28

First Republic of France ends; Era of Napoleon begins.

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Dec 01

Emperor Napoleon marries Jos�phine of Martinique.

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Dec 02

In Notre Dame Cathedral, Napoleon Bonaparte is crowned Napoleon I, the first emperor of France by Pope Pius VII.

Ref: 3

1805

Jan 04

Spain enters the War of the Third Coalition on the side of Napoleon and against the British and their allies.

Ref: 17

May 26

Napoleon crowned King of Italy in Milan Cathedral.

Ref: 70

Aug 09

Austria joins Britain, Russia, Sweden and the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia in the third coalition against France.

Ref: 2

Oct 21

A British fleet commanded by Adm. Horatio Nelson defeated a French and Spanish fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar; Nelson, however, was killed.

Ref: 70

Dec 02

Napoleon Bonaparte celebrates the first anniversary of his coronation with a victory at Austerlitz over a Russian and Austrian army.

Ref: 2

1806

Jan 12

French evacuate Vienna.

Ref: 5

Mar 30

Joseph Bonaparte becomes King of Naples.

Ref: 10

Jun 05

Louis Bonaparte becomes King of newly formed kingdom of Holland.

Ref: 10

Oct 14

Victory of French under Napoleon over Prussians in Battle of Jena and Auerstadt.

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Oct 17

Napoleon Bonaparte arrives at the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, where he has been banished by the Allies.

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Oct 27

Emperor Napoleon enters Berlin.

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Dec 26

Napoleon's army is checked by the Russians at the Battle of Pultusk.

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1807

Jan 07

Responding to Napoleon Bonaparte's attempted blockade of the British Isles, the British blockade Continental Europe.

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Jan 20

Napoleon convenes the great Sanhedrin, Paris.

Ref: 5

Feb 08

At Eylau, Napoleon's Marshal Pierre Agureau defeats Russian forces in the battle of Eylau in a heavy snowstorm.

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Feb 09

French Sanhedrin convened by Napoleon.

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Jun 14

Napoleon victorious over Russians in Battle of Friedland.

Ref: 10

Jul 07

Czar Alexander meets with Napoleon Bonaparte.

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1808

Jan 19

Louis Napoleon signs first Dutch aviation law.

Ref: 5

Feb 02

French forces occupy Rome. Pius VII refuses to join Napoleon's Continental system.

Ref: 10

Feb 16

Napolean enters Spain.

Ref: 3

Mar 01

In France, Napoleon creates an imperial nobility.

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Mar 23

Napoleon's brother Joseph takes the throne of Spain.

Ref: 5

Mar 23

Napolean enters Madrid.

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Apr 09

Mayor Wolters offers French king Louis Napoleon townhall as a palace.

Ref: 5

Apr 17

Bayonne Decree by Napoleon I of France orders seizure of US ships.

Ref: 5

Apr 20

Louis-Napoleon (Napoleon III) emperor of France (1852-71), is born.

Ref: 68

May 01

Napoleon forces both Charles IV of Spain and his son Ferdinand to relinquish the Spanish crown in his favor.

Ref: 17

May 02

Citizens of Madrid, Spain begin war of independence by revolting against French general Murat.

Ref: 2

May 30

Napoleon annexes Tuscany & gave it seats in French Senate.

Ref: 5

Aug 21

Napoleon Bonaparte's General Junot is defeated by Wellington at the first Battle of the Peninsular War at Vimiero, Portugal.

Ref: 2

Dec 03

Madrid surrenders to Napoleon.

Ref: 10

Dec 13

Madrid falls to Napoleon.

Ref: 62

1809

Feb 01

Dutch King Louis Napoleon accepts metric system.

Ref: 5

Apr 14

Napoleon defeated Austria in the Battle of Abensberg, Bavaria.

Ref: 5

Apr 20

Napoleon defeats Austria at Battle of Abensberg, Bavaria.

Ref: 2

Apr 22

Battle at Eckm�hl Napoleon beats Austria arch duke Karl.

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May 01

Napoleon annexes the Papal States; Pope Pius VII is held prisoner at Savona.

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May 17

Papal States annexed by France.

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May 21

Battle at Aspern-Essling: Austrian arch duke Karl beats Napoleon.

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Jul 05

Napoleon defeats Austrians in Battle of Wagram.

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Dec 16

Napoleon Bonaparte was divorced from the Empress Josephine by an act of the French Senate.

Ref: 70

1810

Jan 10

French church annuls marriage of Napoleon I & Jos�phine.

Ref: 5

Feb 11

Napoleon marries Marie-Louise of Austria.

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Mar 11

Emperor Napoleon of France was married by proxy to Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria.

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Apr 02

Napoleon Bonaparte marries 2nd wife- Marie Louise, daughter of Austrian Emperor Francis I.

Ref: 10

Jul 09

Holland is annexed by Napoleon.

Ref: 62

1811

Mar 20

Napoleon II, the Duke of Reichstadt/King of Rome and son of Napoleon Bonaparte, is born.

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May 16

British defeat French in Battle of Albuera (Peninsular War).

Ref: 5

1812

Jan 09

Swedish Pomerania (Germany) seized by Napoleon.

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Feb 09

Swedish Pomerania (Germany) seized by Napoleon.

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Mar 09

Swedish Pomerania is seized by Napoleon.

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Jun 12

Napoleon Bonaparte and his army invade Russia.

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Aug 12

British commander the Duke of Wellington occupies Madrid, Spain, forcing out Joseph Bonaparte.

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Aug 17

Napoleon Bonaparte's army defeats the Russians at the Battle of Smolensk during the Russian retreat to Moscow.

Ref: 2

Aug 26

Battle of Borodino (Russia and Napolean).

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Sep 07

On the road to Moscow, Napoleon wins a costly victory over the Russians at Borodino.

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Sep 14

Napoleon enters Moscow which is set afire by fleeing Ruskies and burns for the next five days.

Ref: 89

Oct 19

Napoleon Bonaparte begins his retreat from Moscow.

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Nov 06

The first winter snow falls on the French Army as Napoleon Bonaparte retreats form Moscow.

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Nov 14

As Napoleon Bonaparte's army retreats form Moscow, temperatures drop to 20� below zero.

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Nov 26

Napoleon Bonaparte's army begins crossing the Beresina River over two hastily constructed bridges.

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Nov 27

One of the two bridges being used by Napoleon Bonaparte's army across the Beresina River in Russia collapses during a Russian artillery barrage. Napoleon's costly retreat from Moscow.

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Nov 29

The last elements of Napoleon Bonaparte's Grand Armee retreats across the Beresina River in Russia.

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Dec 06

The majority of Napoleon Bonaparte's Grand Arme� staggers into Vilna, Lithuania, ending the failed Russian campaign.

Ref: 2

Dec 13

The last remnants of Napoleon Bonaparte's Grand Arme� reach the safety of Kovno, Poland after the failed Russian campaign.

Ref: 2

Dec 18

Napoleon Bonaparte arrives in Paris after his disastrous campaign in Russia.

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1813

Mar 04

The Russians fighting against Napoleon reach Berlin. The French garrison evacuates the city without a fight.

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May 02

Napoleon defeats a Russian and Prussian army at Grossgorschen.

Ref: 2

Jul 15

Napoleon Bonaparte's representatives meet with the Allies in Prague to discuss peace terms.

Ref: 2

Aug 26

Napoleon's last major victory in Germany at Battle of Dresden.

Ref: 10

Aug 27

The Allies defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Dresden.

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Oct 16

Napoleon's major defeat at Battle of Leipzig by Austria, Prussia, Russian & Swedes.

Ref: 10

Oct 18

The Allies defeat Napoleon Bonaparte at Leipzig, France.

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1814

Feb 10

Napoleon personally directs lightning strikes against enemy columns advancing toward Paris, beginning with a victory over the Russians at Champaubert.

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Feb 27

Napoleon's Marshal Nicholas Oudinot is pushed back at Barsur-Aube by the Emperor's allied enemies shortly before his abdication.

Ref: 2

Mar 10

Napoleon Bonaparte is defeated by a combined Allied Army at the battle of Laon, in France.

Ref: 2

Mar 30

Forces of the European nations allied against Napoleonic France march triumphantly into Paris, formally ending a decade of French domination on the continent.

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Mar 31

Forces allied against Napoleon capture Paris France

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Apr 06

Granted sovereignty in the island of Elba and a pension from the French government, Napoleon Bonaparte abdicates at Fountainebleau. He is allowed to keep the title of emperor.

Ref: 2

Apr 11

Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated as emperor of France and is banished to the island of Elba.

Ref: 70

May 04

Napoleon Bonaparte disembarks at Portoferraio on the island of Elba in the Mediterranean.

Ref: 2

May 24

Empress Josephine is born.

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May 29

Jos�phine empress of France (1804-14) and consort of Napolean, dies at age 50.

Ref: 5

1815

Feb 25

Napoleon leaves his exile on the Island of Elba, intending to return to France.

Ref: 2

Feb 26

Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from the Island of Elba with 1200 men to begin his second conquest of France.

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Mar 01

In France, returning from Elba, Napoleon lands at Cannes with a force of 1, 500 men and marches on Paris.

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Mar 20

Napoleon enters Paris after his escape from Elba, begins 100-day rule.

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Jun 16

Napoleon defeats the Prussians at the Battle of Ligny.

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Jun 18

At the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon is defeated by an international army under the Duke of Wellington.

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Jun 22

Paris: Napoleon abdicates again, Louis XVIII is restored to throne. (XDG, p 4A, 6/22/2000)

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Jul 07

After defeating Napoleon at Waterloo, the victorious Allies march into Paris.

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Jul 15

Napoleon Bonaparte surrenders to the captain of the HMS Bellerophon.

Ref: 10

Jul 17

Napoleon Bonaparte surrenders to the British at Rochefort, France.

Ref: 2

Aug 08

Napoleon Bonaparte set sail for St. Helena to spend the remainder of his days in exile.

Ref: 5

Aug 17

Napoleon arrives at Saint Helena for the beginning of his exile.

Ref: 4

1816

Jan 12

France decrees Bonaparte family excluded from the country forever.

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1817

Dec 15

Maria Walewska [Leszczinska] lover of emperor Napoleon I, dies.

Ref: 5

1821

May 05

Napoleon I Bonaparte emperor France (1799-1815), dies in St Helena, most likely of stomach cancer.

Ref: 5

1839

May 18

Carolina [Maria A] Bonaparte (countess Lipona) dies at 57.

Ref: 5

1848

Dec 20

Prince Louis Napoleon Bonaparte becomes president of French Republic.

Ref: 10

1851

Dec 04

President Louis Napolean Bonaparte's forces crush a coup d'etat in France.

Ref: 5

1852

Dec 02

The Second Empire proclaimed in France with Napoleon III as emperor.

Ref: 5

1853

Jan 19

Napoleon III marries Eug�nie de Montijo.

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Jan 30

Emperor Napoleon III marries Eug�nie Maria de Montijo y de Guzman.

Ref: 5

1856

Mar 16

E Louis YY Napoleon Bonaparte French/English prince, is born.

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1858

Jan 14

Emperor Napoleon and Empress Eugenie escape unhurt after Felice Orsini (an Italian patriot who was later executed) throws a bomb at their carriage as they travel to the Paris Opera.

Ref: 2

May 19

Roland Napoleon Bonaparte French officer/traveller (Surinam), is born.

Ref: 5

1859