The First French Empire was the regime established by Napoleon Bonaparte, who had himself proclaimed Emperor of the French on 18 May 1804 and was crowned at Notre-Dame in December of that year. It followed the French Revolution and the Consulate, and it preserved some revolutionary reforms, notably the Napoleonic Code, while ruling in an authoritarian manner. Through successful campaigns France came to dominate much of continental Europe, and Napoleon placed relatives on the thrones of Spain, Holland, Westphalia and Naples. The disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812 and subsequent defeats led to his abdication in 1814. After his brief return in the Hundred Days he lost the battle of Waterloo, and the Bourbon monarchy was restored in 1815.
Before and after
- 1804Discovery of osmium
- 12 February 1804Death of Immanuel Kant
- from 14 February 1804 to 7 October 1813First Serbian Uprising
- from 14 May 1804 to 23 September 1806Lewis and Clark Expedition
- from 18 May 1804 to 7 July 1815First French Empire
- 4 July 1804Birth of Nathaniel Hawthorne
- 28 July 1804Birth of Ludwig Feuerbach
- from 11 August 1804 to 8 June 1867Austrian Empire
- 23 November 1804Birth of Franklin Pierce
More in Civilizations & archaeology
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- from 1839 to 1876Tanzimat
- from 8 February 1861 to 1 May 1865Confederate States of America
- from 17 March 1861 to 18 June 1946Kingdom of Italy
- from 3 January 1868 to 3 May 1947Empire of Japan
- March 1900Arthur Evans begins digging at Knossos
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.