First French Empire
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 The First French Empire at its peak territorial control in September 1812:
Directly administered Client states Military occupation Sphere of influence De jure borders of client states, but under neither French nor client control
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| Capital | Paris | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Official languages | French | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demonym(s) | French | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Emperor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1804–1814, 1815 | Napoleon I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1814, 1815 | Napoleon II (claimant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of the Executive Commission | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1815 | Joseph Fouché | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Legislature | Parliament | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Historical era | Napoleonic era | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
• | 18 May 1804 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 December 1804 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 July 1807 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 June 1812 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 April 1814 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
• | 20 March – 7 July 1815 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1812[3] | 2,100,000 km2 (810,000 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1812 | 44 million[4] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Currency | French franc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Today part of |  France Spain Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The First French Empire[5][6], also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France. It was the main power of most of continental Europe during the early 19th century.
Maps
Map of the First French Empire in 1812, divided into 130 départements, with the kingdoms of Spain, Portugal, Italy and Naples, and the Confederation of the Rhine and Illyria and Dalmatia.
History
Napoleon became Emperor of the French on 18 May 1804. He was crowned Emperor on 2 December 1804. This ended the time of the French Consulate. He won early military victories in the War of the Third Coalition against Austria, Prussia, Russia, Portugal, and allied nations. The Treaty of Tilsit in July 1807 ended two years of bloodshed on the European continent.
The next wars, known as the Napoleonic Wars, grew France over much of Western Europe and into Poland. At its biggest in 1812, the French Empire had 130 départements, ruled over 90 million people, and had a large military in Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Duchy of Warsaw.[7] The introduction of the Napoleonic Code through the continent increased legal equality, made jury systems, and legalized divorce.[8] Napoleon placed relatives on the thrones of several European countries. He gave many noble titles, most of which went away after the empire fell.
Napoleon abdicated in 11 April 1814. The Empire was briefly brought back during the Hundred Days period in 1815 until Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. It was followed by the Bourbon Restoration monarchy of the House of Bourbon. Louis XVIII of France became the new ruler.
First French Empire Media
Le Chant du départ (official instrumental)
Veillons au Salut de l'Empire
The Battle of Austerlitz, 2nd December 1805, by François Gérard
Napoleon reviewing the Imperial Guard before the Battle of Jena, 1806
Aftermath of the Battle of Eylau, 1807
Napoleon demanded that Alexander I of Russia and Frederick William III of Prussia meet him at Tilsit in July 1807.
Napoleon and his staff during the War of the Sixth Coalition, by Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier
Napoleonic Code on display in the Historical Museum of the Palatinate
French départements in 1812
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References
- ↑ Constitution de l'An XII – Empire – 28 floréal An XII. Conseil constitutionnel. which reads in English The Government of the Republic is vested in an Emperor, who takes the title of Emperor of the French.
- ↑ National Motto of France. French Moments (7 May 2015). Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ↑ Taagepera, Rein. Expansion and Contraction Patterns of Large Polities: Context for Russia. International Studies Quarterly 41 (3) (September 1997). p. 501. doi:10.1111/0020-8833.00053. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedgallica.bnf.fr. - ↑ Martyn Lyons, Napoleon Bonaparte and the Legacy of the French Revolution. p. 232
- ↑ Martyn Lyons p. 234-236
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- 1804 establishments in Europe
- 1800s in France
- Former monarchies of Europe
- 1815 disestablishments in Europe
- 1810s in France