Military career of Napoleon

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
No Date Battle Conflict Opponent Location Outcome
1. 29 Aug – 19 Dec 1793Siege of Toulon War of the First CoalitionFrench RepublicVictory
2. 24–28 Apr 1794Saorgio War of the First CoalitionKingdom of SardiniaVictory
3. 21 Sep 1794First Dego War of the First CoalitionKingdom of SardiniaVictory
4. 5 Oct 179513 Vendémiaire French RevolutionFrench RepublicVictory
5. 11–12 Apr 1796Montenotte War of the First CoalitionKingdom of SardiniaVictory
6. 12–13 Apr 1796Millesimo War of the First CoalitionKingdom of SardiniaVictory
7. 14–15 Apr 1796Second Dego War of the First CoalitionKingdom of SardiniaVictory
8. 16 Apr 1796Ceva War of the First CoalitionKingdom of SardiniaVictory
9. 21 Apr 1796Mondovi War of the First CoalitionKingdom of SardiniaVictory
10. 7–9 May 1796Fombio War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
11. 10 May 1796Lodi War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
12. 30 May 1796Borghetto War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
13. 4 Jul 1796 – 2 Feb 1797Siege of Mantua War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
14. 3–4 Aug 1796Lonato War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
15. 5 Aug 1796Castiglione War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
16. 4 Sep 1796Rovereto War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
17. 8 Sep 1796Bassano War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
18. 14–15 Sep 1796San Giorgio[3] War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
19. 6 Nov 1796Second Bassano War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyDefeat
20. 12 Nov 1796Caldiero War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyDefeat
21. 15–17 Nov 1796Arcole War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
22. 14–15 Jan 1797Rivoli War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
23. 16 Jan 1797La Favorite War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
24. 16 Mar 1797Valvasone War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
25. 21–23 Mar 1797Tarvis War of the First CoalitionHabsburg ItalyVictory
26. 10–12 Jun 1798Malta Mediterranean CampaignMaltaVictory
27. 2 Jul 1798Prise d'Alexandrie Mediterranean CampaignMameluk EgyptVictory
28. 13 Jul 1798Shubra Khit French Campaign in Egypt and SyriaMameluk EgyptVictory
29. 21 Jul 1798Pyramids French Campaign in Egypt and SyriaMameluk EgyptVictory
30. 21–22 Oct 1798Revolt of Cairo French Campaign in Egypt and SyriaFrench EgyptVictory
31. 11–19 Feb 1799Siege of El Arish French Campaign in Egypt and SyriaMameluk EgyptVictory
32. 3–7 Mar 1799Siege of Jaffa French Campaign in Egypt and SyriaOttoman EmpireVictory
33. 20 Mar – 21 May 1799Siege of Acre French Campaign in Egypt and SyriaOttoman EmpireDefeat
34. 16 Apr 1799Mount Tabor French Campaign in Egypt and SyriaOttoman EmpireVictory
35. 25 Jul 1799Abukir French Campaign in Egypt and SyriaFrench EgyptVictory
36. 31 May 1800Turbigo War of the Second CoalitionKingdom of SardiniaVictory
37. 14 May – 1 Jun 1800Siege of Fort Bard War of the Second CoalitionKingdom of SardiniaVictory
38. 14 Jun 1800Marengo War of the Second CoalitionKingdom of SardiniaVictory
39. 15–20 Oct 1805Ulm War of the Third CoalitionElectorate of BavariaVictory
40. 2 Dec 1805Austerlitz War of the Third CoalitionArchduchy of AustriaVictory
41. 14 Oct 1806Jena War of the Fourth CoalitionKingdom of PrussiaVictory
42. 23 Dec 1806Czarnowo War of the Fourth CoalitionKingdom of PrussiaVictory
43. 7–8 Feb 1807Eylau War of the Fourth CoalitionKingdom of PrussiaVictory
44. 14 Jun 1807Friedland War of the Fourth CoalitionKingdom of PrussiaVictory
45. 30 Nov 1808Somosierra Peninsular WarSpainVictory
46. 1–4 Dec 1808Siege of Madrid[4] Peninsular WarSpainVictory
47. 20 Apr 1809Teugen-Hausen War of the Fifth CoalitionKingdom of BavariaVictory
48. 20 Apr 1809Abensberg War of the Fifth CoalitionKingdom of BavariaVictory
49. 21 Apr 1809Landshut War of the Fifth CoalitionKingdom of BavariaVictory
50. 21–22 Apr 1809Eckmühl War of the Fifth CoalitionKingdom of BavariaVictory
51. 23 Apr 1809Ratisbon War of the Fifth CoalitionPrincipality of RegensburgVictory
52. 21–22 May 1809Aspern-Essling War of the Fifth CoalitionAustrian EmpireDefeat
53. 5–6 Jul 1809Wagram War of the Fifth CoalitionAustrian EmpireVictory
54. 26–27 Jul 1812Vitebsk French Invasion of RussiaRussian EmpireVictory
55. 16–18 Aug 1812Smolensk French Invasion of RussiaRussian EmpireVictory
56. 5 Sep 1812Shevardino French Invasion of RussiaRussian EmpireVictory
57. 7 Sep 1812Borodino French Invasion of RussiaRussian EmpireVictory
58. 15–18 Nov 1812Krasnoi French Invasion of RussiaRussian EmpireDefeat
59. 26–29 Nov 1812Berezina French Invasion of RussiaRussian EmpireWithdrawal
60. 2 May 1813Lützen War of the Sixth CoalitionKingdom of SaxonyVictory
61. 20–21 May 1813Bautzen War of the Sixth CoalitionKingdom of SaxonyVictory
62. 22 May 1813Reichenbach War of the Sixth CoalitionKingdom of SaxonyVictory
63. 26–27 Aug 1813Dresden War of the Sixth CoalitionKingdom of SaxonyVictory
64. 16–19 Oct 1813Leipzig War of the Sixth CoalitionKingdom of SaxonyDefeat
65. 30–31 Oct 1813Hanau War of the Sixth CoalitionDuchy of FrankfurtVictory
66. 29 Jan 1814Brienne War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireVictory
67. 1 Feb 1814La Rothière War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireDefeat
68. 10 Feb 1814Champaubert War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireVictory
69. 11 Feb 1814Montmirail War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireVictory
70. 12 Feb 1814Chateau-Thierry War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireVictory
71. 14 Feb 1814Vauchamps War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireVictory
72. 17 Feb 1814Mormant War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireVictory
73. 18 Feb 1814Montereau War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireVictory
74. 5 Mar 1814Berry-au-Bac (1814)[5] War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireVictory
75. 7 Mar 1814Craonne War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireVictory
76. 9–10 Mar 1814Laon War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireDefeat
77. 12–13 Mar 1814Reims War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireVictory
78. 20–21 Mar 1814Arcis-sur-Aube War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireDefeat
79. 26 Mar 1814Saint-Dizier War of the Sixth CoalitionFrench EmpireVictory
80. 16 Jun 1815Ligny Hundred DaysUnited Kingdom of the NetherlandsVictory
81. 18 Jun 1815Waterloo Hundred DaysUnited Kingdom of the NetherlandsDefeat

[lower-alpha 1]

References
  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
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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