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Military career of Napoleon

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The military career of Napoleon Bonaparte spanned over 20 years. He led French armies in the French Revolutionary Wars and later, as emperor, in the Napoleonic Wars. Despite his rich war-winning record, Napoleon's military career ended in defeat. Napoleon has since been regarded as a military genius and one of the finest commanders in history. His wars and campaigns have been studied at military schools worldwide. He fought more than 80 battles, losing only ten, mostly towards the end when the French army was not as dominant.[1] The French dominion collapsed rapidly after the disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. Napoleon was defeated in 1814 and exiled to the island of Elba, before returning to France. He was finally defeated in 1815 at the Waterloo. He spent his remaining days in British custody on the remote volcanic tropical island of Saint Helena. In his long military career, Bonaparte celebrated 70 victories and suffered 10 defeats.[2]

Emperor of the French

Napoleon
The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries by Jacques-Louis David, 1812
Nickname(s)"General Vendémiaire", "The Little Corporal", "Napoleon the Great"
Born(1769-08-15)August 15, 1769
Ajaccio, Corsica
DiedMay 5, 1821(1821-05-05) (aged 51)
Longwood, Saint Helena
AllegianceFrance
Service/branchTrained as an artillerist
Years of service1779–1815
RankCommander in Chief (Head of State)
Commands heldArmy of Italy
Army of the Orient
French Army
Grande Armée
Battles/warsFrench Revolutionary Wars

Napoleonic Wars

AwardsGrand Master of the Legion of Honour
Grand Master of the Order of the Reunion
Grand Master of the Order of the Iron Crown
RelationsHouse of Bonaparte
Other workSovereign of Elba, writer

Battle record summary edit

No Date Battle Conflict Opponent Location Outcome
1. 29 Aug – 19 Dec 1793 Siege of Toulon War of the First Coalition        French Republic Victory
2. 24–28 Apr 1794 Saorgio War of the First Coalition    Kingdom of Sardinia Victory
3. 21 Sep 1794 First Dego War of the First Coalition    Kingdom of Sardinia Victory
4. 5 Oct 1795 13 Vendémiaire French Revolution   French Republic Victory
5. 11–12 Apr 1796 Montenotte War of the First Coalition    Kingdom of Sardinia Victory
6. 12–13 Apr 1796 Millesimo War of the First Coalition    Kingdom of Sardinia Victory
7. 14–15 Apr 1796 Second Dego War of the First Coalition    Kingdom of Sardinia Victory
8. 16 Apr 1796 Ceva War of the First Coalition   Kingdom of Sardinia Victory
9. 21 Apr 1796 Mondovi War of the First Coalition   Kingdom of Sardinia Victory
10. 7–9 May 1796 Fombio War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
11. 10 May 1796 Lodi War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
12. 30 May 1796 Borghetto War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
13. 4 Jul 1796 – 2 Feb 1797 Siege of Mantua War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
14. 3–4 Aug 1796 Lonato War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
15. 5 Aug 1796 Castiglione War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
16. 4 Sep 1796 Rovereto War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
17. 8 Sep 1796 Bassano War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
18. 14–15 Sep 1796 San Giorgio[3] War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
19. 6 Nov 1796 Second Bassano War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Defeat
20. 12 Nov 1796 Caldiero War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Defeat
21. 15–17 Nov 1796 Arcole War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
22. 14–15 Jan 1797 Rivoli War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
23. 16 Jan 1797 La Favorite [fr] War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
24. 16 Mar 1797 Valvasone War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
25. 21–23 Mar 1797 Tarvis War of the First Coalition   Habsburg Italy Victory
26. 10–12 Jun 1798 Malta Mediterranean Campaign   Malta Victory
27. 2 Jul 1798 Prise d'Alexandrie Mediterranean Campaign   Mameluk Egypt Victory
28. 13 Jul 1798 Shubra Khit French Campaign in Egypt and Syria    Mameluk Egypt Victory
29. 21 Jul 1798 Pyramids French Campaign in Egypt and Syria    Mameluk Egypt Victory
30. 21–22 Oct 1798 Revolt of Cairo French Campaign in Egypt and Syria   French Egypt Victory
31. 11–19 Feb 1799 Siege of El Arish French Campaign in Egypt and Syria   Mameluk Egypt Victory
32. 3–7 Mar 1799 Siege of Jaffa French Campaign in Egypt and Syria   Ottoman Empire Victory
33. 20 Mar – 21 May 1799 Siege of Acre French Campaign in Egypt and Syria    Ottoman Empire Defeat
34. 16 Apr 1799 Mount Tabor French Campaign in Egypt and Syria   Ottoman Empire Victory
35. 25 Jul 1799 Abukir French Campaign in Egypt and Syria   French Egypt Victory
36. 31 May 1800 Turbigo War of the Second Coalition   Kingdom of Sardinia Victory
37. 14 May – 1 Jun 1800 Siege of Fort Bard War of the Second Coalition   Kingdom of Sardinia Victory
38. 14 Jun 1800 Marengo War of the Second Coalition   Kingdom of Sardinia Victory
39. 15–20 Oct 1805 Ulm War of the Third Coalition   Electorate of Bavaria Victory
40. 2 Dec 1805 Austerlitz War of the Third Coalition    Archduchy of Austria Victory
41. 14 Oct 1806 Jena War of the Fourth Coalition    Kingdom of Prussia Victory
42. 23 Dec 1806 Czarnowo War of the Fourth Coalition    Kingdom of Prussia Victory
43. 7–8 Feb 1807 Eylau War of the Fourth Coalition    Kingdom of Prussia Victory
44. 14 Jun 1807 Friedland War of the Fourth Coalition   Kingdom of Prussia Victory
45. 30 Nov 1808 Somosierra Peninsular War   Spain Victory
46. 1–4 Dec 1808 Siege of Madrid[4] Peninsular War   Spain Victory
47. 20 Apr 1809 Teugen-Hausen War of the Fifth Coalition   Kingdom of Bavaria Victory
48. 20 Apr 1809 Abensberg War of the Fifth Coalition   Kingdom of Bavaria Victory
49. 21 Apr 1809 Landshut War of the Fifth Coalition   Kingdom of Bavaria Victory
50. 21–22 Apr 1809 Eckmühl War of the Fifth Coalition   Kingdom of Bavaria Victory
51. 23 Apr 1809 Ratisbon War of the Fifth Coalition   Principality of Regensburg Victory
52. 21–22 May 1809 Aspern-Essling War of the Fifth Coalition   Austrian Empire Defeat
53. 5–6 Jul 1809 Wagram War of the Fifth Coalition   Austrian Empire Victory
54. 26–27 Jul 1812 Vitebsk French Invasion of Russia   Russian Empire Victory
55. 16–18 Aug 1812 Smolensk French Invasion of Russia   Russian Empire Victory
56. 5 Sep 1812 Shevardino French Invasion of Russia   Russian Empire Victory
57. 7 Sep 1812 Borodino French Invasion of Russia   Russian Empire Victory
58. 15–18 Nov 1812 Krasnoi French Invasion of Russia   Russian Empire Defeat
59. 26–29 Nov 1812 Berezina French Invasion of Russia   Russian Empire Withdrawal
60. 2 May 1813 Lützen War of the Sixth Coalition    Kingdom of Saxony Victory
61. 20–21 May 1813 Bautzen War of the Sixth Coalition    Kingdom of Saxony Victory
62. 22 May 1813 Reichenbach [fr] War of the Sixth Coalition   Kingdom of Saxony Victory
63. 26–27 Aug 1813 Dresden War of the Sixth Coalition     Kingdom of Saxony Victory
64. 16–19 Oct 1813 Leipzig War of the Sixth Coalition       Kingdom of Saxony Defeat
65. 30–31 Oct 1813 Hanau War of the Sixth Coalition   Duchy of Frankfurt Victory
66. 29 Jan 1814 Brienne War of the Sixth Coalition    French Empire Victory
67. 1 Feb 1814 La Rothière War of the Sixth Coalition      French Empire Defeat
68. 10 Feb 1814 Champaubert War of the Sixth Coalition   French Empire Victory
69. 11 Feb 1814 Montmirail War of the Sixth Coalition    French Empire Victory
70. 12 Feb 1814 Chateau-Thierry War of the Sixth Coalition    French Empire Victory
71. 14 Feb 1814 Vauchamps War of the Sixth Coalition    French Empire Victory
72. 17 Feb 1814 Mormant War of the Sixth Coalition     French Empire Victory
73. 18 Feb 1814 Montereau War of the Sixth Coalition    French Empire Victory
74. 5 Mar 1814 Berry-au-Bac [fr] (1814)[5] War of the Sixth Coalition    French Empire Victory
75. 7 Mar 1814 Craonne War of the Sixth Coalition    French Empire Victory
76. 9–10 Mar 1814 Laon War of the Sixth Coalition    French Empire Defeat
77. 12–13 Mar 1814 Reims War of the Sixth Coalition    French Empire Victory
78. 20–21 Mar 1814 Arcis-sur-Aube War of the Sixth Coalition     French Empire Defeat
79. 26 Mar 1814 Saint-Dizier War of the Sixth Coalition   French Empire Victory
80. 16 Jun 1815 Ligny Hundred Days   United Kingdom of the Netherlands Victory
81. 18 Jun 1815 Waterloo Hundred Days        United Kingdom of the Netherlands Defeat

[a]

References edit

  1. ^ For comprehensive coverage, see Chandler (1973).[6] For an overall view of the military history of the era see Trevor N. Dupuy and R. Ernest Dupuy, The Encyclopedia of Military History (2nd ed., 1970) pp. 730–770.
  1. ^ Roberts says his losses came at Siege of Acre (1799), Battle of Aspern-Essling (1809), Battle of Leipzig (1813), Battle of La Rothière (1814), Battle of Laon (1814), Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube (1814), and Battle of Waterloo (1815). Andrew Roberts, "Why Napoleon merits the title 'the Great,'" BBC History Magazine (1 November 2014)
  2. ^ Andrew Roberts, Napoleon: A Life (2014)
  3. ^ Michael V. Leggiere; Phillip R. Cuccia. Napoleon and the Operational Art of War. BRILL, Leiden (2020). p. 166
  4. ^ United States Military Academy. Summaries of Selected Military Campaigns. West Point, New York (1953). p. 22
  5. ^ Jean Tranié et Juan-Carlos Carmigniani, Napoléon : 1814 – La campagne de France, Pygmalion/Gérard Watelet, 1989, 315 p.
  6. ^ David G. Chandler, The Campaigns of Napoleon (1973) excerpt and text search

Further reading edit

Main article: Napoleonic Wars § Further reading
  • Chandler, David G. The Campaigns of Napoleon (1973) 1172 pp; a detailed guide to all major battles excerpt and text search
  • Crowdy, Terry. Napoleon's Infantry Handbook (2015)
  • Dupuy, Trevor N. and Dupuy, R. Ernest. The Encyclopedia of Military History (2nd edition 1970) pp 730–770
  • Elting, John R. Swords Around a Throne: Napoleon's Grand Armee (1988)
  • Esdaile, Charles. Napoleon's Wars: An International History 1803–1815 (2008), 621pp
  • Gates, David. The Napoleonic Wars 1803–1815 (NY: Random House, 2011)
  • Hazen, Charles Downer. The French Revolution and Napoleon (1917) online free
  • Nafziger, George F. The End of Empire: Napoleon's 1814 Campaign (2014)
  • Parker, Harold T. "Why Did Napoleon Invade Russia? A Study in Motivation and the Interrelations of Personality and Social Structure," Journal of Military History (1990) 54#2 pp 131–46 in JSTOR.
  • Pope, Stephen (1999). The Cassel Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars. Cassel. ISBN 0-304-35229-2.
  • Riley, Jonathon P. Napoleon as a General (Hambledon Press, 2007)
  • Rothenberg, Gunther E. (1988). "The Origins, Causes, and Extension of the Wars of the French Revolution and Napoleon". Journal of Interdisciplinary History. 18 (4): 771–793. doi:10.2307/204824. JSTOR 204824. JSTOR 204824
  • Rothenberg, E. Gunther. The Art of Warfare in the Age of Napoleon (1977)
  • Schneid, Frederick C. (2011). The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Mainz: Institute of European History.
  • Shoffner, Thomas A. Napoleon's Cavalry: A Key Element to Decisive Victory (2014)
  • Smith, Digby George. The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book: Actions and Losses in Personnel, Colours, Standards and Artillery (1998)
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