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{{short description|1799–1815 historical period}}
{{See also|Timeline of the Napoleonic era|First French Empire}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox historical era
| name = Napoleonic era
| start = 1799
| end = 1815
| image = Jacques-Louis David - The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries - Google Art Project.jpg
| alt = The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries by Jacques-Louis David
| caption = ''[[The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries]]'' by [[Jacques-Louis David]]
| before = [[French Directory]], [[French Revolution]]
| including = 
| after = [[Bourbon Restoration in France|Bourbon Restoration]], [[Concert of Europe]]
| monarch = [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]
| leaders = [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]
*[[Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord]]
}}
{{Napoleon series}}
[[File:Strategic Situation of Europe 1798.jpg|thumb|Strategic situation of Europe 1798]]
[[File:Strategic Situation of Europe 1801.jpg|thumb|Strategic situation of Europe 1801]]
[[File:Strategic Situation of Europe 1803.jpg|thumb|Strategic situation of Europe 1803]]
[[File:Strategic Situation of Europe 1805.jpg|thumb|Strategic situation of Europe 1805]]
[[File:Strategic Situation of Europe 1807.jpg|thumb|Strategic situation of Europe 1807]]
[[File:Strategic Situation of Europe 1809.jpg|thumb|Strategic situation of Europe 1809]]
[[File:Strategic Situation of Europe 1812.jpg|thumb|Strategic situation of Europe 1812]]
[[File:Strategic Situation of Western Europe 1814.jpg|thumb|Strategic situation of Europe 1814]]
[[File:Strategic Situation of Western Europe 1815.jpg|thumb|Strategic situation of Europe 1815]]

The '''Napoleonic era''' is a period in the [[history of France]] and [[history of Europe|Europe]]. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the [[French Revolution]], the first being the [[National Assembly (French Revolution)|National Assembly]], the second being the [[Legislative Assembly (France)|Legislative Assembly]], and the third being the [[French Directory]].{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} The Napoleonic era begins roughly with [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]'s ''[[coup d'état]]'' on [[18 Brumaire]], overthrowing the Directory (9 November 1799), establishing the [[French Consulate]], and ends during the [[Hundred Days]] and his defeat at the [[Battle of Waterloo]] (18 June 1815).<ref name="washington">{{Cite web |title=Napoleonic Period Collection |url=https://content.lib.washington.edu/napoleonweb/timeline.html |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=content.lib.washington.edu}}</ref>

The [[Congress of Vienna]] soon set out to restore Europe to pre-French Revolution days. Napoleon brought political stability to a land torn by revolution and war. He made peace with the Catholic Church ([[Concordat of 1801]]) and reversed the most radical religious policies of the [[National Convention]]. In 1804, Napoleon promulgated the [[Civil Code]], a revised body of civil law, which also helped stabilize French society. The Civil Code affirmed the political and legal equality of all adult men and established a [[Meritocracy|merit-based]] society in which individuals advanced in education and employment because of talent rather than birth or [[social standing]]. The Civil Code confirmed many of the moderate revolutionary policies of the National Assembly but retracted measures passed by the more radical Convention. The Civil Code restored [[patriarchy|patriarchal]] authority in the family, for example by making women and children subservient to male heads of households.<ref name="washington" />

Whilst working to stabilise France, Napoleon sought to extend his authority throughout Europe. Napoleon's armies conquered [[Peninsular War|the Iberian peninsula]] and [[Italian campaign of 1796–1797|the Italian peninsula]], occupied lands, and he forced Austria, Prussia, and Russia to ally with him and respect French hegemony in Europe. The United Kingdom ([[George III]]) refused to recognize French hegemony and continued the war throughout.

The [[First French Empire]] began to unravel in 1812, when he decided to [[French invasion of Russia|invade Russia]]. Napoleon underestimated the difficulties his army would have to face whilst occupying Russia. Convinced that the Tsar was conspiring with his British enemies, Napoleon led an army of 600,000 soldiers to Moscow. He [[Battle of Borodino|defeated the Russian army at Borodino]] before capturing Moscow, but the Tsar withdrew and Moscow was set ablaze, leaving Napoleon's vast army without adequate shelter or supplies. Napoleon ordered a retreat, but the bitter [[Russian winter]]  and repeated Russian attacks whittled down his army, and only a battered remnant of 30,000 soldiers managed to limp back to French territory. The allies then continued a united effort against Napoleon ([[Battle of Leipzig]]) until they had seized Paris forcing his [[Napoleon's first abdication|abdication in 1814]]. His return to power the next year was resisted by all the allies and his army was defeated by a Prussian and Anglo-Allied force at Waterloo.

==History==
The Napoleonic era is a period in the [[history of France]] and Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, the first being the National Assembly, the second being the Legislative Assembly, and the third being the Directory.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} 
The Napoleonic era from 1799 to 1815 was marked by Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power in France. He [[Coronation of Napoleon|became Emperor in 1804]] and sought to expand French influence across Europe. Major events include the [[#Wars|Napoleonic Wars]], the Battle of Waterloo, and Napoleon's [[Napoleon's first abdication|exile to Elba]] and later [[Napoleon's second abdication|to Saint Helena]]. 
His legacy shaped [[Concert of Europe|European politics]] and military.

==Rulers==
Heads and leaders of states affected by Napoleon's regime and the Napoleonic wars:

* '''[[Austria]]'''
** [[Archduchy of Austria]]: [[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis II]] (1792–1835)
** [[Austrian Empire]]: [[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis I]] (1804–1835)
* '''[[Confederation of the Rhine]]''': Protector [[Napoleon]] I (1806–1813)
* '''[[Denmark–Norway]]''': [[Christian VII]] (1766–1808), [[Frederick VI of Denmark|Frederick VI]] (Regent 1784–1808, King of Denmark 1808–1839, King of Norway 1808–1814)
* '''[[Duchy of Warsaw]]''': [[Frederick Augustus I of Saxony]], by personal arrangement with [[Napoleon]], partial liberation (1806–1815) of the former [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Commonwealth of Poland–Lithuania]]
* '''[[Egypt Province, Ottoman Empire|Egypt]]''': [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Muhammad Ali]] (1805–1848)
* '''[[Kingdom of Etruria|Etruria]]''': [[Louis of Etruria|Louis]] (1801–03), [[Charles II, Duke of Parma|Charles Louis]] (1803–1807)
* '''[[France]]'''
** [[French First Republic|French Republic]]: [[First Consul]] [[Napoleon|Napoleon Bonaparte]] (1799–1804)
** [[First French Empire|French Empire]]: [[Napoleon]] I (1804–1814, 1815)
** [[Bourbon Restoration in France|Kingdom of France]]: [[Louis XVIII]] (1814–15, 1815–1824)
* '''[[Great Britain]]'''
** [[Kingdom of Great Britain]]: King [[George III]] (1760–1801), Prime Minister [[William Pitt the Younger]] (1793–1801)
** [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]]: King [[George III]] (1801–1820); Prince Regent [[George IV|George]] (1811–1820); Prime Ministers [[William Pitt the Younger]] (1801, 1804–06), [[Henry Addington]] (1801–04), [[William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville|The Lord Grenville]] (1806–07), [[William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland|The Duke of Portland]] (1807–09), [[Spencer Perceval]] (1809–1812), [[Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool|The Earl of Liverpool]] (1812–1827)
* '''[[Haiti]]''': [[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]] (as Governor-General 1804, as Emperor Jacques I 1804–06), [[Henri Christophe]] (as President 1806–1811, as King Henri I 1811–1820)
* '''[[Kingdom of Holland|Holland]]''': [[Louis Bonaparte|Louis I]] (1806–10), [[Napoleon Louis Bonaparte|Louis II]] (1810)
* '''[[Holy Roman Empire]]''': [[Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis II]] (1792–1806)
* '''[[Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)|Italy]]''': [[Napoleon]] I (1805–1814)
* '''[[Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro|Montenegro]]''': [[Petar I Petrović-Njegoš]] (1782–1830)
* '''[[Kingdom of Naples|Naples]]''': [[Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies|Ferdinand IV]] (1799–1806, 1815–16), [[Joseph Bonaparte]] (1806–08), [[Joachim Murat]] (1808–1815)
* '''[[Kingdom of the Netherlands|Netherlands]]''': [[William I of the Netherlands|William I]] (1815–1840)
* '''[[Ottoman Empire]]''': [[Selim III]] (1789–1807), [[Mustafa IV]] (1807–08), [[Mahmud II]] (1808–1839)
* '''[[Papal States]]''': [[Pope Pius VII|Pius VII]] (1800–1823)
* '''[[Kingdom of Portugal|Portugal]]''': [[Maria I of Portugal|Mary I]] (1777–1816), [[John VI of Portugal|John VI]] (Regent 1799–1816, King 1816–1826)
* '''[[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]''': [[Frederick William III of Prussia|Frederick William III]] (1797–1840)
* '''[[Qing Dynasty]]''': [[Jiaqing Emperor]] (1796–1820)
* '''[[Russian Empire]]''': [[Paul I of Russia|Paul I]] (1796–1801), [[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I]] (1801–1825)
* '''[[Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861)|Sardinia]]''': [[Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia|Charles Emmanuel IV]] (1796–1802), [[Victor Emmanuel I]] (1802–1821)
* '''[[Kingdom of Saxony|Saxony]]''': [[Frederick Augustus I of Saxony|Frederick Augustus I]] (1763–1827)
* '''[[Serbia]]'''
** [[Revolutionary Serbia]] was in a state of rebellion against the Ottoman rule, de facto independent, led initially [[Karađorđe]] 1804–1813 who was succeeded by [[Miloš Obrenović]] from 1815 onwards.
* '''[[Kingdom of Sicily|Sicily]]''': [[Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies|Ferdinand III]] (1759–1816)
* '''[[Spain]]''': [[Charles IV of Spain|Charles IV]] (1788–1808), [[Ferdinand VII]] (1808, 1813–1833), [[Joseph Bonaparte|Joseph I]] (1808–1813)
* '''[[Sweden]]''': [[Gustav IV Adolf]] (1792–1809), [[Charles XIII]] (1809–1818)
* '''[[United States]]''': Presidents [[John Adams]] (1797–1801), [[Thomas Jefferson]] (1801–1809), [[James Madison]] (1809–1817)
* '''[[Kingdom of Württemberg|Württemberg]]''': [[Frederick I of Württemberg|Frederick I]] (1797–1816)

==Wars==
*[[French Revolutionary Wars]] (1792–1802)
**[[French invasion of Egypt (1798)|Egyptian Campaign]] (1798–1801)
**[[War of the Second Coalition]] (1799–1802)
*[[White Lotus Rebellion]] (1796–1804)
*[[Napoleonic Wars]] (1803–1815)
**[[War of the Third Coalition]] (1805)
**[[War of the Fourth Coalition]] (1806–1807)
**[[Gunboat War]] (1807–1814)
**[[Peninsular War]] (1808–1814)
**[[War of the Fifth Coalition]] (1809)
**[[French invasion of Russia]] (1812)
**[[War of the Sixth Coalition]] (1812–1814)
**[[Hundred Days]] (1815)
* [[Russo-Turkish War (1806–1812)|Russo-Turkish War]] (1806–1812)
* [[Anglo-Turkish War (1807–1809)|Anglo-Turkish War]] (1807–1809)
* [[Anglo-Russian War]] (1807–1812)
* [[Finnish War]] (1808–1809)
* [[War of 1812]] (1812–1815)
* [[Swedish-Norwegian War]] (1814)

==Major battles==
*[[Battle of Marengo]] – 14 June 1800
*[[Battle of Abukir (1801)|Battle of Abukir]] – 8 March 1801
*[[Battle of Alexandria (1801)|Battle of Alexandria]] -21 March 1801
*[[Battle of Copenhagen (1801)|Battle of Copenhagen]] – 2 April 1801
*[[Battle of Trafalgar]] – 21 October 1805
*[[Battle of Austerlitz]] – 2 December 1805
*[[Battle of Jena-Auerstedt]] – 14 October 1806
*[[Battle of Eylau]] – 7–8 February 1807
*[[Battle of Friedland]] – 14 June 1807
*[[Battle of Vimeiro]] – 21 August 1808
*[[Battle of Somosierra]] – 30 November 1808
*[[Battle of Eckmühl]] – 21–22 April 1809
*[[Battle of Aspern-Essling]] – 21–22 May 1809
*[[Battle of Wagram]] – 5–6 July 1809
*[[Battle of Talavera]] – 27–28 July 1809
*[[Battle of Salamanca]] – 22 July 1812
*[[Battle of Borodino]] – 7 September 1812
*[[Battle of Lützen (1813)|Battle of Lützen]] – 2 May 1813
*[[Battle of Bautzen (1813)|Battle of Bautzen]] – 20–21 May 1813
*[[Battle of Vitoria]] – 21 June 1813
*[[Battle of Dresden]] – 26–27 August 1813
*[[Battle of Leipzig]] – 16–19 October 1813
*[[Battle of Paris (1814)|Battle of Paris]] – 30–31 March 1814
*[[Battle of Waterloo]] – 18 June 1815

==See also==
*''[[First Empire: The International Magazine for the Napoleonic Enthusiast, Historian, and Gamer]]'' (magazine)

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
*[https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Europe/The-Napoleonic-era The Napoleonic era] at Britannica

{{Napoleonic Wars}}{{Napoleon}}{{France topics}}

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