Napoleon died on 5 May 1821 in Longwood House, aged 51. A French military leader and statesman, Napoleon was born in Corsica and rose rapidly through the army during the French Revolution. He seized power in a coup in 1799, was crowned emperor in 1804 and built a European empire through victories such as Austerlitz. At home he introduced the Napoleonic Code, reorganised the administration and the education system. The disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812 weakened him, and he was forced to abdicate in 1814 and exiled to Elba. He returned for the Hundred Days but was defeated at Waterloo in 1815 and spent his last years on the island of Saint Helena.
Before and after
- from 1821 to 1829Greek War of Independence
- 1821Founding of McGill University
- 9 April 1821Birth of Charles Baudelaire
- 5 May 1821Founding of The Guardian
- 5 May 1821Death of Napoleon
- 12 August 1821Founding of University of Buenos Aires
- 30 October 1821Birth of Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- 12 December 1821Birth of Gustave Flaubert
- 1822Chios massacre
More in Wars, politics & history
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- from 19 April 1775 to 3 September 1783American Revolutionary War
- from 14 July 1789 to 9 November 1799French Revolution
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- from 1868 to 1889Meiji Restoration
- 27 August 1896Anglo-Zanzibar War
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.