Napoleon Bonaparte
Comprehensive Napoleon Bonaparte timeline from Henri Guillemin biography.
A PowerTimeline by @cynacons.
- Charles Buonaparte Born — Napoleon's father born in Ajaccio, Corsica; future law student and politician.
- Letizia Ramolino Born — Napoleon's mother born in Ajaccio; strong matriarch of Bonaparte clan.
- Parents' Marriage — Charles Buonaparte marries Letizia Ramolino in Ajaccio cathedral.
- Joseph Bonaparte Born — Napoleon's elder brother born; future King of Spain.
- Corsica Becomes French — Genoa cedes Corsica to France; Bonaparte family now French subjects.
- Napoleon Born — Napoleone Buonaparte born in Ajaccio, Corsica; second surviving child.
- Lucien Bonaparte Born — Napoleon's brother born; future politician and diplomat.
- Elisa Bonaparte Born — Napoleon's sister born; future Princess of Lucca and Piombino.
- Louis Bonaparte Born — Napoleon's brother born; future King of Holland.
- School at Autun — Napoleon begins French schooling at Autun; learns French language.
- Military School Brienne — Enters military school at Brienne-le-Château; studies mathematics and geography.
- Pauline Bonaparte Born — Napoleon's sister born; future Princess Borghese.
- Caroline Bonaparte Born — Napoleon's sister born; future Queen of Naples.
- École Militaire Paris — Admitted to École Militaire in Paris; graduates as artillery officer.
- Jerome Bonaparte Born — Napoleon's youngest brother born; future King of Westphalia.
- Father Dies — Charles Buonaparte dies of stomach cancer; Napoleon becomes family head at 15.
- Artillery Lieutenant — Commissioned as second lieutenant in artillery regiment at Valence.
- French Revolution Begins — Storming of Bastille; Napoleon supports revolutionary ideals initially.
- Returns to Corsica — Takes leave to return to Corsica; involves in local politics.
- Promoted to Captain — Military promotion; reputation growing in revolutionary army.
- Breaks with Paoli — Conflicts with Corsican independence leader; family flees to mainland France.
- Siege of Toulon Victory — Brilliant artillery tactics recapture Toulon from royalists and British.
- Promoted to Brigadier — Youngest general in French army at 24; nicknamed "Little Corporal".
- Robespierre Falls — Thermidorian Reaction ends Terror; Napoleon briefly imprisoned then released.
- 13 Vendémiaire — Suppresses royalist uprising in Paris with "whiff of grapeshot".
- Meets Josephine — Meets Joséphine de Beauharnais at salon; begins passionate courtship.
- Army of Italy Command — Given command of Army of Italy; begins brilliant Italian campaigns.
- Marries Josephine — Civil marriage to Joséphine de Beauharnais in Paris.
- Battle of Lodi — Victory establishes reputation; soldiers nickname him "Le Petit Caporal".
- Battle of Arcole — Famous victory where he reportedly seized battle flag on bridge.
- Battle of Rivoli — Decisive victory over Austrians in Italian campaign.
- Treaty of Campo Formio — Napoleon negotiates peace with Austria; gains European recognition.
- Egyptian Campaign — Departs for Egypt with expedition; seeks to strike at British trade.
- Battle of the Pyramids — "Soldiers, forty centuries look down upon you!" Victory over Mamluks.
- Battle of the Nile — Nelson destroys French fleet; Napoleon's army stranded in Egypt.
- Syrian Campaign — Attempts to conquer Syria; siege of Acre fails against British support.
- Returns from Egypt — Abandons army and returns secretly to France; warmly received.
- 18 Brumaire Coup — Overthrows Directory with Sieyès and others; becomes First Consul.
- Constitution of Year VIII — New constitution makes Napoleon First Consul with executive power.
- Battle of Marengo — Victory over Austrians secures his political position; "I make my own luck".
- Concordat with Pope — Agreement with Pope Pius VII restores Catholic Church in France.
- Consul for Life — Senate makes him Consul for Life; further centralizes power.
- Civil Code (Code Napoléon) — Revolutionary legal code exported worldwide; greatest civilian achievement.
- Proclaimed Emperor — Senate proclaims him Emperor of the French; establishes new dynasty.
- Coronation — Crowns himself Emperor at Notre-Dame; Pope Pius VII attends ceremony.
- Battle of Austerlitz — "Battle of Three Emperors"; masterpiece defeat of Austria and Russia.
- Louis Made King — Brother Louis becomes King of Holland; resists Napoleon's policies.
- Jerome Made King — Brother Jerome becomes King of Westphalia; family dynasty expands.
- Joseph Made King — Brother Joseph becomes King of Spain; unpopular Spanish appointment.
- Divorces Josephine — Divorces Joséphine for lack of heir; seeks Austrian marriage alliance.
- Marries Marie-Louise — Marries Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria; seeking Habsburg legitimacy.
- Napoleon II Born — Son born to Marie-Louise; titled King of Rome; ensures succession.
- Invades Russia — Grande Armée crosses Niemen; begins disastrous Russian campaign.
- Occupies Moscow — Enters empty, burning Moscow; Tsar refuses to negotiate.
- Retreat from Moscow — Begins catastrophic winter retreat; most of army perishes.
- Battle of Leipzig — "Battle of Nations"; decisive defeat by coalition forces.
- First Abdication — Abdicates unconditionally; exiled to Elba with small sovereignty.
- Hundred Days Begin — Escapes Elba and returns to France; Louis XVIII flees.
- Battle of Waterloo — Final defeat by Wellington and Blücher; end of military career.
- Second Abdication — Abdicates again after Waterloo; hopes to go to America.
- Exiled to St. Helena — British exile him to remote South Atlantic island; begins memoirs.
- Napoleon Dies — Dies at age 51 on St. Helena; probable stomach cancer like father.
- Napoleon II Dies — Son dies of tuberculosis at 21 in Vienna; dynasty hopes end.