Military History Timeline - Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
1763
Birth of Jean Baptiste-Jules Bernadotte, Marshal of France and future King Charles XIX of Sweden
1764
Birth of Robert Crauford, British General during Napoleonic Wars
1769
Birth of Napoleon Bonaparte
1792
20 September
Battle of Valmy, inconclusive battle that helps to defeat Prussian attack on France.
1793
Outbreak of the First War of the Coalition (to 1797)
1794
26 June
Battle of Fleurus, French defeat of Austria that results in the French occupation of the Netherlands.
1795
16 May
Treaty of Basel, ending the war between France and Prussia
1796
10 May
Battle of Lodi, Napoleon defeats Austrians during Italian campaign
1797
End of the War of the First Coalition (from 1793)
18 April
Peace of Leoban, preliminary peace treaty between France and Austria
17 October
Treaty of Campo Fornio, ending war between France and Austria
1798
May
Formation of the Sea Fencibles, a naval home guard raised to defend Britain against French invasion
21 July
Battle of the Pyramids (Egypt), victory of French army under Napoleon over Mamluke army
1 August
Battle of the Nile, Nelson's first great victory, and the end of the long term hopes for the French expedition to Egypt.
1799
Start of Napoleonic Wars (to 1815)
26 July
First Battle of Aboukir, Napoleon's final victory in Egypt
1800
1802
27 March
Peace of Amiens, treaty that led to a short lived peace between Britain and France.
1805
20 October
Battle of Ulm, French victory over Austrians
21 October
Battle of Trafalgar, decisive British naval victory over combined French and Spanish fleets
1806
12 July
Foundation of the Confederation of the Rhine. Includes most states of western Germany, as well as France.
6 August
Abolition of the Holy Roman Empire
14 October
Battles of Jena and Auerstedt. Napoleon crushes the Prussians.
21 November
Napoleon announces the Continental System, aimed at defeating Great Britain through a trade blockade of the continent.
1807
November
Outbreak of Peninsular War (1807-14)
1808
22 August
Convention of Cintra, allowing French troops to evacuate Portugal
1809
12 July
Armistice of Znaim, initial peace between France and Austria
22 April
Battle of Eggmuhl, French victory over the Austrians.
17 September
Treaty of Fredrikshavn, Finland transfered from Sweden to Russia
14 October
Treaty of Schonbrunn, peace forced on Austria by France in which Austria agreed to join the continental system
1810
Sea Fencibles disbanded as the threat of invasion from France is lifted by British naval dominance.
Marshal Bernadotte elected Crown Prince of Sweden and adopted by Charles XIII. He later brings Sweden into the war against France!
1812
24 January
Death of Robert Crauford, British General (1764-1812)
1813
21 June
Battle of Vittoria, important British victory during the Peninsular War
23 August
Battle of Grossbeeren, Prussian victory over French
26 August
First day of battle of Dresden (Napoleonic Wars)
27 August
Second and final day of battle of Dresden, one of Napoleon's last victories.
29 August
First day of Battle of Kulm, French defeat
30 August
Second day of Battle of Kulm, French defeat
14 October
Battle of Liebertwolkwitz, largest cavalry battle in history
16 October
Start of battle of Leipzig (to 18 October)
18 October
Battle of Leipzig (from 16 October), ends in defeat for Napoleon that marked the beginning of the end for him
11 December
Treaty of Valencay, attempt to make peace between France and Spain, vetoed by Spanish Regency Council.
1814
9 March
Treaty of Chaumont, agreement between the allies to fight France until the bitter end
April
End of Peninsular War (1807-14), part of Napoleonic Wars
1815
18 June
Battle of Waterloo, final defeat of Napoleon, marking final end of Napoleonic Wars (from 1799
1821
Death of Napoleon Bonaparte in exile.
1844
Death of Charles XIV, king of Sweden, formally Marshal Bernadotte.
