Timeline facts

Napoleon was born in 1769 in Ajaccio, Corsica. In 1785 he completed military training and became an artillery officer. In 1796 he led French forces to victories in Italy. In 1799 he helped overthrow France’s government and became First Consul. In 1804 he became Emperor of the French; the Napoleonic Code was also issued that year. In 1812 his invasion of Russia ended in disaster. In 1814 he abdicated and was sent to Elba. He returned to power in 1815, but was defeated at Waterloo and exiled to Saint Helena. He died there in 1821.