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Coup d’état
Napoleon seized political power in 1799, in a coup d’état. This coup overthrew the government under the directory and made way for Napoleon to gain even more power. -
Concordat
Napoleon and Pope Pius VII made an agreement in 1801, or a concordat that remained in effect until 1905. It was to reconcile revolutionaries and Catholics, and solidify the Roman Catholic church as the major church of France. The concordat restored much power to the papacy, and the balance between church-state relations tilted strongly in Napoleons favor. -
Loss of American Territories
Napoleon sold the Louisiana Purchase to America, the land once belonging to France, for only 15 million, which isnt much for how much land was sold. -
Napoleonic Code
This was the French Civil Code established under Napoleon in 1804. It is known as one of the few documents that changed the whole world, as this civil code influenced other countries to modernize through legal reforms. -
Becomes Emperor
Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor on May 18th, 1804, his ceremony taking place December 2nd, in the Notre-Dame cathedral. He was the first Frenchman to hold the title of emperor in 1000 years. -
Conquering of Europe
Napoleon started invading and conquering many parts of Europe, using military strength and political tactics. He fought about 60 battles, only losing 7 at the end of his reign. -
Continental System
The Continental System was the foreign policy Napoleon enacted, in response to the naval blockade of the French coasts by the British. This policy cut off trade from Britain in an attempt to damage them economically, however Britain was also trading with Spain and Russia, so this proved ineffective. Napoleon then tried to invade Spain and Russia. -
Invasion of Russia
Since Russia was trading with Britain, Napoleon decided to invade Russia to damage Britain economically. However, the Russians practiced the scorched earth policy, burning all grain and slaughtering all livestock so that the enemy would have nothing to eat. They also pulled back their troops, refusing to fight an unfair battle against the French. When they finally did clash, the Russians fell back, and Napoleon got to Moscow, which had been destroyed. His troops were attacked as they left Russia -
Waterloo
This was a battle between the French and the British in the village of Waterloo. The French might have won, however Prussian troops arrived to assist the British, and Napoleons troops suffered yet another defeat. -
The Hundred Days
As a result of this defeat, Napoleon began another bid for power, however the British took no chanced this time and shipped him off to a remote island in the south atlantic called St. Helena. There, he lived alone for six years, writing his memoirs. He died in 1821 of illness, speculated to be a stomach ailment or a cancer.