State
First French Empire
empire of Napoleon I of France, from 1804 to 1815
- This boundary
- 1804–1815
- Founded
- 1804
- Ended
- 1815
- Capital
- Paris
- Government
- dual monarchy
- Languages
- French
- Preceded by
- French First RepublicDuchy of Arenberg-MeppenLigurian Republic
- Succeeded by
- Bourbon Restoration in FranceNeutral Moresnet
Overview
The French Empire (French: Empire français; Latin: Imperium Francicum), known retroactively as the First French Empire, and colloquially as Napoleonic France, was the empire ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte, who established French hegemony over much of continental Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. It lasted from 18 May 1804 to 6 April 1814 and again briefly from 20 March 1815 to 7 July 1815, when Napoleon was exiled to Saint Helena.
Historians refer to Napoleon's regime as the "First Empire" to distinguish it from the restorationist Second Empire (1852–1870) ruled by his nephew Napoleon III. Neither should be confused with the French colonial empire, which refers to France's various colonies, protectorates and mandate territories.
All rulers (3)
- Napoleon1804–1814
- Napoleon1815
- Napoleon III1852–1870
Records (281)
- 1689–1815 — Second Hundred Years' WarWar
- 1796–1808 — Anglo-Spanish WarWar
- 1803–1806 — Linois's expedition to the Indian OceanBattle
- 1805 — Battle of TrafalgarNaval battle
- 1805–1806 — War of the Third CoalitionWar
- 1805 — Battle of Cape FinisterreNaval battle
- 1805 — Battle of DürensteinBattle
- 1805 — Battle of CaldieroBattle
- 1805 — Treaty of SchönbrunnTreaty
- 1805 — Battle of Diamond RockNaval battle
- 1805 — Siege of Santo DomingoSiege
- 1805 — Battle of MichelsbergBattle
- 1805 — Battle of La EmboscadaBattle
- 1805 — Battle off Cape PalosNaval battle
- 1806 — Battle of Jena–AuerstedtBattle
- 1806 — Battle of PułtuskBattle
- 1806 — Battle of AuerstädtBattle
- 1806 — Siege of GaetaSiege
- 1806 — Invasion of NaplesInvasion
- 1807 — Treaties of TilsitTreaty
- 1807 — Treaty of FinckensteinTreaty
- 1807 — Invasion of PortugalInvasion
- 1807 — Siege of GraudenzBattle
- 1807–1811 — French invasions of PortugalInvasion
- 1807 — Siege of CrotoneSiege
- 1808 — Dos de Mayo UprisingRebellion
- 1808 — Battle of BailénBattle
- 1808 — Battle of SomosierraBattle
- 1808 — Battle of TudelaBattle
- 1808–1809 — Dano-Swedish War of 1808-1809War
- 1808 — Battle of VimeiroBattle
- 1808–1809 — Second Siege of ZaragozaSiege
- 1808 — Battle of Medina de RiosecoBattle
- 1808 — Battle of RoliçaBattle
- 1808 — Battles of El BruchBattle
- 1808 — Battle of EspinosaBattle
- 1808 — Battle of CabezónBattle
- 1808 — First Siege of ZaragozaSiege
- 1808 — Battle of BalmasedaBattle
- 1808 — Battle of Molins de ReyBattle
- 1808 — Battle of GeronaBattle
- 1808 — Battle of SahagúnBattle
- 1808 — Battle of BurgosBattle
- 1808 — Battle of ÉvoraBattle
- 1808 — Battle of ValenciaBattle
- 1808 — Battle of BenaventeBattle
- 1808 — Battle of CardadeuBattle
- 1808 — Siege of RosesSiege
- 1808 — Battle of ZornozaBattle
- 1808 — Battle of ValdepeñasRebellion
- 1808 — Battle of Alcolea BridgeBattle
- 1808 — Blockade of BarcelonaBattle
- 1808 — Capture of the Rosily SquadronNaval battle
- 1808 — Battle of MansillaBattle
- 1808–1809 — Spanish reconquest of Santo DomingoRebellion
- 1808 — Battle of Palo HincadoBattle
- 1808–1809 — Sieges of ZaragozaCampaign
- 1808 — Combat of Padrões de TeixeiraBattle
- 1808 — Invasion of CapriInvasion
- 1808 — Battle of MontgatBattle
- 1808 — Battle of BubiercaBattle
- 1808–1809 — Siege of Santo DomingoSiege
- 1808 — Uprising of Santa Cruz de MudelaRebellion
- 1808 — Battle of ÉpilaBattle
- 1808 — First Battle of El BrucBattle
- 1808 — Battle of Sant CugatBattle
- 1808 — Battle of San Jeroni de la MurtraBattle
- 1808 — Burning of L'ArboçBattle
- 1808–1809 — Battles for the bridges on the TagusBattle
- 1809 — Treaty of SchönbrunnTreaty
- 1809 — Battle of Aspern-EsslingBattle
- 1809 — Battle of TalaveraBattle
- 1809 — Battle of CorunnaBattle
- 1809 — Battle of OcañaBattle
- 1809 — Battle of Piave RiverBattle
- 1809 — Battle of RaabBattle
- 1809 — Battle of MedellínBattle
- 1809 — Second Battle of PortoBattle
- 1809 — Battle of AlmonacidBattle
- 1809 — Siege of GironaSiege
- 1809 — Battle of Alba de TormesBattle
- 1809 — Battle of UclésBattle
- 1809 — First Battle of PortoBattle
- 1809–1811 — Mauritius campaignCampaign
- 1809 — Battle of VillafrancaBattle
- 1809 — Battle of BragaBattle
- 1809 — Battle of ArzobispoBattle
- 1809 — Battle of CacabelosBattle
- 1809 — Battle of VallsBattle
- 1809 — Battle of Ponte SampaioBattle
- 1809 — Battle of AlcañizBattle
- 1809 — Battle of GrijóBattle
- 1809 — Battle of Ciudad-RealBattle
- 1809 — Battle of the Bridge of AmaranteBattle
- 1809 — Battle of CastellónBattle
- 1809 — Battle of MiajadasBattle
- 1809 — Battle of Valle de MonterreyBattle
- 1809 — Battle of GefreesBattle
- 1809 — Battle of AlcántaraBattle
- 1809 — Battle of CarpioBattle
- 1809 — Battle of Puerto de BañosBattle
- 1809 — Battle of TamamesBattle
- 1809 — Battle of VillagodioBattle
- 1809 — First Siege of ChavesSiege
- 1809 — Reconquest of VigoSiege
- 1809 — Battle of MaríaBattle
- 1809 — Battle of BelchiteBattle
- 1809 — Battle of OntígolaBattle
- 1809 — Second French invasion of PortugalInvasion
- 1809 — Battle of Los CarbayedosBattle
- 1809 — Battle of LugoBattle
- 1809 — Battle of TrepaBattle
- 1809 — Battle of AstorgaBattle
- 1809 — Action of 18 November 1809Naval battle
- 1809 — Battle of Casal do EirigoBattle
- 1809 — Battle of Molins de ReyBattle
- 1809 — Battle of El LlanoBattle
- 1809 — Combat of Mesas de IborBattle
- 1809 — Battle of PalaveaBattle
- 1809 — Siege of TuiSiege
- 1809 — Siege of FerrolSiege
- 1809 — Battle of MagueloneNaval battle
- 1809 — Battle of MoraBattle
- 1809 — Second Siege of ChavesSiege
- 1809 — Battle of AixBattle · United Kingdom ▸ France
- 1809 — Battle of St PaulBattle · United Kingdom ▸ France
- 1810 — Battle of BussacoBattle
- 1810–1812 — Siege of CádizSiege
- 1810 — Battle of FuengirolaBattle
- 1810 — Siege of Ciudad RodrigoSiege
- 1810 — Siege of LéridaSiege
- 1810–1811 — Siege of TortosaSiege
- 1810 — Siege of MequinenzaSiege
- 1810 — Battle of La BisbalBattle
- 1810 — Battle of the CôaBattle
- 1810 — Siege of AstorgaSiege
- 1810 — Battle of VicBattle
- 1810 — Battle of MolletBattle
- 1810 — Invasion of the Spice IslandsInvasion
- 1810 — Battle of BazaBattle
- 1810 — Combat of BarquillaBattle
- 1810 — Battle of ManresaBattle
- 1810 — Invasion of Isle de FranceInvasion
- 1810 — Battle of SobralBattle
- 1810–1811 — Third French invasion of PortugalInvasion
- 1810 — Battle of San QuintínBattle
- 1810 — Battle of La FuensantaBattle
- 1810 — Siege of HostalricSiege
- 1810 — Battle of PortazgoBattle
- 1810 — Battle of MargalefBattle
- 1810 — Capture of MálagaBattle
- 1810 — Battle of Évora de AlcobaçaBattle
- 1810 — Battle of Fuente de CantosBattle
- 1810 — Battle of VillagarcíaBattle
- 1810–1812 — French invasion of SevilleInvasion
- 1811 — Battle of AlbueraBattle
- 1811 — Battle of the GeboraBattle
- 1811 — Invasion of JavaInvasion
- 1811 — Battle of Fuentes de OñoroBattle
- 1811 — Battle of BarrosaBattle
- 1811 — Battle of SaguntumBattle
- 1811 — Siege of TarragonaSiege
- 1811–1812 — Siege of ValenciaSiege
- 1811 — Battle of Arroyo dos MolinosBattle
- 1811 — Battle of MontserratBattle
- 1811 — Siege of FiguerasSiege
- 1811 — Battle of RedinhaBattle
- 1811 — Battle of BornosBattle
- 1811 — Battle of El BodonBattle
- 1811 — Battle of Casal NovoBattle
- 1811 — Battle of UsagreBattle
- 1811 — Battle of PombalBattle
- 1811 — Battle of Foz de ArouceBattle
- 1811 — Blockade of AlmeidaSiege
- 1811 — Second siege of BadajozSiege
- 1811 — Battle of CogorderosBattle
- 1811 — Battle of ArlabánBattle
- 1811 — Battle of Campo MaiorBattle
- 1811 — Battle of CerveraBattle
- 1811 — Battle of PlaBattle
- 1811 — Battle of Navas de MembrilloBattle
- 1811 — Siege of OlivençaSiege
- 1811–1812 — Siege of TarifaSiege
- 1811 — First siege of BadajozSiege
- 1811 — Battle of TamataveNaval battle
- 1811 — Battle of ZujarBattle
- 1811 — Battle of Aldeia da PonteBattle
- 1811 — Battle of OsonillaBattle
- 1811 — Combat of Aldea da PonteBattle
- 1811 — Combat of the Alva RiverBattle
- 1812 — French invasion of RussiaWar
- 1812 — Battle of SmolenskBattle
- 1812 — Battle of SalamancaBattle
- 1812 — Siege of BadajozSiege
- 1812 — Battle of KrasnoiBattle
- 1812 — Siege of Ciudad RodrigoSiege
- 1812 — Siege of BurgosSiege
- 1812 — Battle of Venta del PozoBattle
- 1812 — Battle of Garcia HernandezBattle
- 1812 — Battle of MajadahondaBattle
- 1812 — Battle of BornosBattle
- 1812 — Battle of CastallaBattle
- 1812 — Battle of WolkowiskBattle
- 1812 — Battle of AltafullaBattle
- 1812 — Battle of ArlabánBattle
- 1812 — Battle of AlmarazBattle
- 1812 — Battle of TordesillasSiege
- 1812 — Siege of AstorgaSiege
- 1812 — Battle of MaguillaBattle
- 1812 — Battle of VillagarciaBattle
- 1812 — Battle of Alba de TormesBattle
- 1812 — Siege of the Salamanca fortsSiege
- 1812 — Battles of Vilnius (1812)Battle
- 1812 — Battle of Oszmianą (1812)Battle
- 1812 — Battle of AlmagroBattle
- 1812 — Battle of PowiewiórkaBattle
- 1812 — Battle of SevilleBattle
- 1812 — Battle of AlicanteBattle
- 1812 — Combat of VillasecaBattle
- 1812 — Battle of San MuñozBattle
- 1812 — Battle of RaboserBattle
- 1812 — Action of 23 January 1812Battle
- 1812 — Battle of FoixBattle · Spain ▸ France
- 1813 — Battle of LeipzigBattle
- 1813 — Battle of VitoriaBattle
- 1813 — Battle of KatzbachBattle
- 1813 — Siege of San SebastiánSiege
- 1813 — Battle of San MarcialBattle
- 1813 — Battle of the BidassoaBattle
- 1813 — Battle of CastallaBattle
- 1813 — Battle of RoncesvallesBattle
- 1813 — Battle of NivelleBattle
- 1813 — Battle of SoraurenBattle
- 1813 — Battle of OrdalBattle
- 1813 — Battle of the NiveBattle
- 1813 — Siege of PamplonaSiege
- 1813 — Battle of TolosaBattle
- 1813 — Battle of MayaBattle
- 1813 — Siege of TarragonaSiege
- 1813 — Battle of San Millan-OsmaBattle
- 1813 — Battle of MoralesBattle
- 1813–1814 — Campaign in south-west FranceCampaign
- 1813 — Siege of BredaSiege
- 1813 — Battle of Saint-Pierre-d'IrubeBattle
- 1813 — Batalla de la BisbalBattle
- 1813 — Batalla de l'EsquirolBattle
- 1813 — Battle of SenpereBattle
- 1813 — Battle of OrgazBattle
- 1813 — Battle of San Miguel BridgeBattle
- 1813 — Siege of ToruńSiege
- 1813–1814 — Siege of MagdeburgSiege
- 1813–1814 — Siege of VeniceSiege
- 1813 — Battle of AmpostaBattle · France ▸ United Kingdom, Sicily
- 1813 — Battle of CasselBattle · Russia ▸ France
- 1813 — Battle of CattaroBattle · Montenegro, United Kingdom ▸ France
- 1813 — Battle of Fort BalaguerBattle · United Kingdom ▸ France
- 1813 — Battle of LunebergBattle · Prussia, Russia ▸ France
- 1813 — Battle of St Jean de LuzBattle · United Kingdom ▸ France
- 1813 — Battle of St Pierre dIrubeBattle · United Kingdom ▸ France
- 1814 — Treaty of FontainebleauTreaty
- 1814 — Battle of Arcis-sur-AubeBattle
- 1814 — Battle of ToulouseBattle
- 1814 — Battle of MontmirailBattle
- 1814 — Battle of OrthezBattle
- 1814 — Battle of BayonneBattle
- 1814 — Battle of GarrisBattle
- 1814 — Battle of TaroBattle
- 1814 — Siege of GenoaSiege
- 1814 — Siege of BesançonSiege
- 1814 — Battle of Aire-sur-l'AdourBattle
- 1814 — Battle of LericiBattle
- 1814 — Capture of La SpeziaBattle
- 1814 — Battle of TarbesBattle
- 1814 — Combat of Croix d'OradeBattle
- 1814 — Siege of the Santa Maria FortressSiege
- 1815 — Battle of WaterlooBattle
- 1815 — Hundred DaysCampaign
- 1815 — Battle of LoriolBattle
- 1815 — 1815 War in Vendée and ChouannerieRebellion
- 1815 — Battle of MontélimarBattle
- 1815 — Siege of AjaccioSiege
Facts from Wikidata (CC0), HCED (CC0) and Cliopatria (CC BY 4.0); overview excerpted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).