The Napoleonic Era

Napoleon restructures the French educational system

The Legion of Honor was established

A new Constitution was adopted, and the plebiscite (the direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question such as a change in the constitution.) confirms Napoleon as First Consul for life.

Napoleon sells the Louisiana territory to the U.S.A. cheap in an effort to improve France's economy

Introduction to the Napoleonic Code, otherwise known as the Civil Code. It was enacted in 1804 after only a few years of preparation, but it was a child of the French Revolution, which is strongly reflected by its content.

Napoleon crowns himself Emperor, in the company of the Pope

The Battle of Ulm was a series of skirmishes, at the end of the Ulm Campaign, which allowed Napoleon I to trap an entire Austrian army under the command of Karl Freiherr Mack von Leiberich with minimal losses and to force its surrender near Ulm in the Electorate of Bavaria.

The battle of Trafalgar was a naval engagement fought by the British Royal Navy against the combined fleets of the French and Spanish Navies. It took place during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars.

Admiral Lord Nelson, a British flag officer in the Royal Navy noted for his inspirational leadership, superb grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics which led to many victories, especially during the Napoleonic Wars, was shot and killed during his final victory at the battle of Trafalgar.

The Battle of Caldiero pitted the French Armée d'Italie under Marshal André Masséna against an Austrian army under the command of Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen. The French engaged only a part of their forces, around 33,000 men, whilst Archduke Charles engaged the bulk of his army, 49,000 men, leaving out only a few corps to defend against any flanking maneuvers. The fighting took place at Caldiero, 15 kilometers east of Verona, in the War of the Third Coalition, part of the Napoleonic Wars.

The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of the most important and decisive engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. The Grande Armée of France defeated a larger Russian and Austrian army led by Tsar Alexander I and Holy Roman Emperor Francis II. The battle occurred near the town of Austerlitz in the Austrian Empire. Austerlitz brought the War of the Third Coalition to a rapid end, with the Treaty of Pressburg signed by the Austrians later in the month. The battle is often cited as a tactical masterpiece.

Napoleon names his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, King of Naples, and appoints his other family members to various posts.

Joseph's arrival in Naples was warmly greeted with cheers and he was eager to be a monarch well liked by his subjects. Seeking to win the favor of the local elites, he let the vast majority of those who had held office and position under the Bourbons keep their posts and was anxious to not in any way appear a foreign oppressor.