Timeline
The Napoleonic Era · 1769–1852
Nelson Born
Horatio Nelson born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk.
Wellington Born
Arthur Wellesley born in Dublin. The future Duke of Wellington.
Napoleon Born
Napoleon Bonaparte born in Ajaccio, Corsica.
French Revolution Begins
The storming of the Bastille triggers the collapse of the old order in Europe.
Execution of Louis XVI
France declares war on Britain. Twenty-two years of conflict begin.
Siege of Seringapatam
Tippu Sultan killed. Wellington's first great action in India.
Read more →Tippu Sultan Killed
The Tiger of Mysore dies fighting at the northern gate of his fortress.
Napoleon's Coup
The coup of 18 Brumaire. Napoleon becomes First Consul of France.
Battle of Marengo
Napoleon defeats Austria, securing his political position as First Consul.
Treaty of Amiens
Brief peace between Britain and France. The only break in 22 years of war.
War Resumes
Britain declares war on France. The Napoleonic Wars officially begin.
Battle of Assaye
Wellington's bloodiest battle. He called it the hardest fighting he ever saw.
Read more →Napoleon Crowned Emperor
Napoleon crowns himself Emperor at Notre Dame. Pope Pius VII attends.
Battle of Trafalgar
Nelson destroys the Franco-Spanish fleet. British naval supremacy for a century.
Read more →Nelson Killed
Admiral Horatio Nelson shot at Trafalgar. Dies below decks on Victory.
Battle of Austerlitz
Napoleon's masterpiece. The Third Coalition shattered in a single day.
Read more →Continental System
Napoleon attempts to blockade Britain economically. All Europe must comply.
Treaty of Tilsit
Napoleon at the height of his power. Russia becomes an ally.
Peninsular War Begins
Napoleon invades Spain. Joseph Bonaparte placed on the throne. Six years of war begin.
Read more →Battle of Vimeiro
Wellesley's first Peninsular victory. British musketry destroys French columns.
Battle of Corunna
Moore's army escapes. Sir John Moore killed on the ridge above the port.
Read more →Sir John Moore Killed
Struck by a cannonball at Corunna. Buried at midnight by his soldiers.
Battle of Talavera
Wellington holds the line in furnace heat. Created Viscount for the victory.
Lines of Torres Vedras
Wellington's defensive masterpiece. Massena starved out of Portugal.
Ciudad Rodrigo Stormed
The first of the great sieges. Craufurd mortally wounded in the breach.
Siege of Badajoz
The bloodiest night of the Peninsular War. 4,800 British casualties.
Read more →Napoleon Invades Russia
685,000 men cross the Niemen. Fewer than 100,000 will return.
Read more →Battle of Salamanca
Wellington defeats 40,000 men in 40 minutes. Madrid liberated.
Read more →Battle of Borodino
The bloodiest day: 70,000 casualties. Napoleon refuses to commit the Guard.
Read more →Battle of Vitoria
French rule in Spain ends. Joseph Bonaparte's treasure captured.
Read more →Battle of Leipzig
The Battle of Nations. 600,000 men. Napoleon's German empire collapses.
Read more →Napoleon Abdicates
Exiled to Elba. Louis XVIII restored. The Empire is over. Or is it.
Napoleon Escapes Elba
The Hundred Days begin. Louis XVIII flees. The army rallies to Napoleon.
Read more →Battle of Ligny
Napoleon defeats Blucher. His last victory.
Battle of Quatre Bras
Ney fails to defeat Wellington. A crucial missed opportunity.
Battle of Waterloo
Nine hours. The Guard broken. The Empire falls. The wars end.
Read more →Napoleon Abdicates Again
Second abdication. Surrenders to the British. Exiled to St Helena.
Napoleon Dies
Dies on St Helena aged 51. The era is finally over.
Wellington Dies
The Duke of Wellington dies aged 83. State funeral at St Paul's.
Sharpe's Eagle Published
The first Sharpe novel. Talavera 1809. Bernard Cornwell launches the series.
Read more →Sharpe's Tiger Published
Seringapatam 1799. First in chronological order. Where Sharpe's story begins.
Read more →Sharpe's Triumph Published
Assaye 1803. Sharpe saves Wellesley's life and earns his commission.
Read more →Sharpe's Fortress Published
Gawilghur 1803. The cliff fortress and the end of Sharpe's India years.
Read more →Sharpe's Trafalgar Published
Sharpe at the greatest sea battle ever fought. 1805.
Read more →Nelson Born
Horatio Nelson born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk.
Wellington Born
Arthur Wellesley born in Dublin. The future Duke of Wellington.
Napoleon Born
Napoleon Bonaparte born in Ajaccio, Corsica.
French Revolution Begins
The storming of the Bastille triggers the collapse of the old order in Europe.
Execution of Louis XVI
France declares war on Britain. Twenty-two years of conflict begin.
Siege of Seringapatam
Tippu Sultan killed. Wellington's first great action in India.
Read more →Tippu Sultan Killed
The Tiger of Mysore dies fighting at the northern gate of his fortress.
Napoleon's Coup
The coup of 18 Brumaire. Napoleon becomes First Consul of France.
Battle of Marengo
Napoleon defeats Austria, securing his political position as First Consul.
Treaty of Amiens
Brief peace between Britain and France. The only break in 22 years of war.
War Resumes
Britain declares war on France. The Napoleonic Wars officially begin.
Battle of Assaye
Wellington's bloodiest battle. He called it the hardest fighting he ever saw.
Read more →Napoleon Crowned Emperor
Napoleon crowns himself Emperor at Notre Dame. Pope Pius VII attends.
Battle of Trafalgar
Nelson destroys the Franco-Spanish fleet. British naval supremacy for a century.
Read more →Nelson Killed
Admiral Horatio Nelson shot at Trafalgar. Dies below decks on Victory.
Battle of Austerlitz
Napoleon's masterpiece. The Third Coalition shattered in a single day.
Read more →Continental System
Napoleon attempts to blockade Britain economically. All Europe must comply.
Treaty of Tilsit
Napoleon at the height of his power. Russia becomes an ally.
Peninsular War Begins
Napoleon invades Spain. Joseph Bonaparte placed on the throne. Six years of war begin.
Read more →Battle of Vimeiro
Wellesley's first Peninsular victory. British musketry destroys French columns.
Battle of Corunna
Moore's army escapes. Sir John Moore killed on the ridge above the port.
Read more →Sir John Moore Killed
Struck by a cannonball at Corunna. Buried at midnight by his soldiers.
Battle of Talavera
Wellington holds the line in furnace heat. Created Viscount for the victory.
Lines of Torres Vedras
Wellington's defensive masterpiece. Massena starved out of Portugal.
Ciudad Rodrigo Stormed
The first of the great sieges. Craufurd mortally wounded in the breach.
Siege of Badajoz
The bloodiest night of the Peninsular War. 4,800 British casualties.
Read more →Napoleon Invades Russia
685,000 men cross the Niemen. Fewer than 100,000 will return.
Read more →Battle of Salamanca
Wellington defeats 40,000 men in 40 minutes. Madrid liberated.
Read more →Battle of Borodino
The bloodiest day: 70,000 casualties. Napoleon refuses to commit the Guard.
Read more →Battle of Vitoria
French rule in Spain ends. Joseph Bonaparte's treasure captured.
Read more →Battle of Leipzig
The Battle of Nations. 600,000 men. Napoleon's German empire collapses.
Read more →Napoleon Abdicates
Exiled to Elba. Louis XVIII restored. The Empire is over. Or is it.
Napoleon Escapes Elba
The Hundred Days begin. Louis XVIII flees. The army rallies to Napoleon.
Read more →Battle of Ligny
Napoleon defeats Blucher. His last victory.
Battle of Quatre Bras
Ney fails to defeat Wellington. A crucial missed opportunity.
Battle of Waterloo
Nine hours. The Guard broken. The Empire falls. The wars end.
Read more →Napoleon Abdicates Again
Second abdication. Surrenders to the British. Exiled to St Helena.
Napoleon Dies
Dies on St Helena aged 51. The era is finally over.
Wellington Dies
The Duke of Wellington dies aged 83. State funeral at St Paul's.
Sharpe's Eagle Published
The first Sharpe novel. Talavera 1809. Bernard Cornwell launches the series.
Read more →Sharpe's Tiger Published
Seringapatam 1799. First in chronological order. Where Sharpe's story begins.
Read more →Sharpe's Triumph Published
Assaye 1803. Sharpe saves Wellesley's life and earns his commission.
Read more →Sharpe's Fortress Published
Gawilghur 1803. The cliff fortress and the end of Sharpe's India years.
Read more →Sharpe's Trafalgar Published
Sharpe at the greatest sea battle ever fought. 1805.
Read more →