NapoleoNic empire
at the height of his power in 1812, Napoleon ruled europe
from the Baltic to the south of rome, and his relations ruled
Spain, italy, and parts of Germany. The rest of
Germany, Switzerland, and poland were also
under French control; and Denmark, austria,
and prussia were allies. only portugal, Britain,
Sweden, and russia were independent.369
iNvaSioN oF eNGlaND
in 1805, Napoleon assembled an army of 140,000 soldiers
by the english channel and drew up plans to invade
england, which he called “a nation of shopkeepers.” These
plans included crossing the channel by ship and balloon,
and digging a tunnel under the sea. The invasion was
canceled when the British admiral Nelson defeated the
French fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar.emperor
on December 2, 1804, Napoleon crowned
himself emperor of the French in a ceremony
at Notre Dame cathedral in paris. He had
already changed his italian-sounding name,
Buonaparte, to the French name of Bonaparte.
Now he was to be known as Napoleon i.iN a laviSH ceremoNy iN 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself
emperor of the French. He was an unlikely figure to lead his country, and
spoke French with a thick corsican accent. yet he was one of the most
brilliant military leaders in history. Napoleon first caught the public eye in
1793, when he commanded an attack against the British fleet occupying the
French port of Toulon. in 1795, he crushed a revolt in paris and soon led
the French armies to victory in italy. By 1799, Napoleon was strong enough
to take power with the help of the army. He made himself First consul and
restored the power of the French government after the chaos left by the
French revolution. He introduced many social reforms, laying the
foundations of the French legal, educational, and financial systems.
Napoleon was a military genius who went on to control europe from the
english channel to the russian border. But he suffered a humiliating defeat
in russia, and when the British and prussians beat him at the Battle of
Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon was sent out of France into exile on a British
island in the South atlantic. He died six years later.1812 and the retreat from moscow
Napoleon invaded russia in June, 1812, with
a force of more than 500,000 men.
The russians retreated, drawing
the French army deeper into the
country. Napoleon captured the
capital, moscow, but was forced
to retreat because he could not
supply his army. The harsh russian
winter killed many troops as they
returned to France.august 15 1769 Born on
the island of corsica.
1779-85 military school.
1799 Becomes ruler
of France.
1804 crowned emperor.
1812 Defeated in russia.
1814 exiled to island of
elba in the mediterranean.
1815 returns to France;
defeated at Waterloo.
may 5 1821 Dies in exile on
the island of Saint Helena.NaPOleON BONaParTe
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