The First French Empire, officially known as the French Empire, was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804, marking the end of the French First Republic and the beginning of a new era in French history. Here's a detailed overview:
After seizing power through a coup d'état in 1799, Napoleon, then First Consul, transformed the government of France into an empire. On December 2, 1804, he was crowned Emperor of the French in Notre-Dame de Paris, with Pope Pius VII in attendance, although Napoleon crowned himself, symbolizing his supreme authority.
The Empire's expansion was marked by a series of military campaigns known as the Napoleonic Wars. Through these wars, Napoleon extended French influence across Europe, creating a vast empire that at its height included:
Napoleon introduced the Napoleonic Code, which unified French law, and his reforms in administration, education, and finance had a lasting impact not only in France but in many of the territories he controlled:
The decline of the Empire began with the disastrous French invasion of Russia in 1812, where Napoleon's Grande Armée suffered catastrophic losses. This led to the formation of the Sixth Coalition against France. Subsequent defeats, including at the Battle of Leipzig (1813), weakened Napoleon's position:
The First French Empire left a profound legacy: