"The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of conflicts fought between the First French Empire under Napoleon (1804–1815), and a fluctuating array of European coalitions."
A series of wars fought between France and its allies against Great Britain and various other European countries from 1803 to 1815. It was dominated by the military conquests of Napoleon Bonaparte, and marked a significant turning point in European history.
The French Revolution: The events leading up to the Napoleonic Wars, including the fall of the Bourbon monarchy in France and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Rise of Napoleon: The rise of Napoleon as a military and political leader in France, including his military campaigns and victories.
The Continental System: Napoleon's economic policy aimed at isolating Britain and strengthening the French economy.
Battle of Austerlitz: A significant battle between France and the Austro-Russian coalition during the War of the Third Coalition.
Peninsular War: The conflict between Napoleonic France and Spain, Portugal, and their allies in the Iberian Peninsula.
Battle of Borodino: The bloodiest battle of the Napoleonic Wars, fought between French and Russian forces during the invasion of Russia.
Invasion of Russia: Napoleon's failed attempt to conquer Russia, resulting in a devastating retreat and the eventual downfall of his empire.
Congress of Vienna: The post-Napoleonic peace settlement that aimed to restore stability in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars.
Waterloo: The final battle of the Napoleonic Wars, resulting in Napoleon's defeat and exile to Saint Helena.
Napoleonic Code: Napoleon's legal framework that replaced the fragmented laws of France with a unified, rationalized legal system.
War of the First Coalition (1792-1797): The first major conflict involving revolutionary France against a coalition comprising Austria, Prussia, Great Britain, and other European monarchies.
War of the Second Coalition (1798-1802): A continuation of the first war that involved France's struggle to maintain its territorial gains against an expanded coalition comprising Russia, Turkey, Portugal, and Naples.
War of the Third Coalition (1803-1806): A conflict in which Britain, Austria, and Russia allied against France after Napoleon became Emperor and began expanding his territory.
War of the Fourth Coalition (1806-1807): A battle waged between France and Prussia along with their respective allies.
Peninsular War (1808-1814): The Napoleonic War fought in Spain and Portugal against French occupation.
War of the Fifth Coalition (1809): A campaign that resulted in the victory of France against Austria, followed by Austria's re-entry to a coalition against France.
Invasion of Russia (1812): Napoleon's greatest military defeat during which he invaded Russia with a massive army, which suffered huge losses due to harsh winter conditions and Russian resistance.
War of the Sixth Coalition (1812-1814): A coalition formed against France by the United Kingdom, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, following Napoleon's defeat in Russia.
Hundred Days War (1815): A brief war fought between Napoleon and the coalition forces after his escape from exile and which ended his reign.
War of the Seventh Coalition (1815): The final military conflict in the Napoleonic Wars, which saw the defeat of France by Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia leading to Napoleon's second exile to Saint Helena.
"The wars originated in political forces arising from the French Revolution (1789–1799) and from the French Revolutionary Wars (1792–1802)."
"Upon realizing the Coup of 18 Brumaire, whereby he became the First Consul of France in 1799, Napoleon assumed control of the politically chaotic French First Republic."
"Britain went to war in 1803 out of a 'mixture of economic motives and national neuroses—an irrational anxiety about Napoleon's motives and intentions.'"
"The British fleet under Admiral Nelson decisively crushed the joint Franco-Spanish navy in the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805."
"Napoleon defeated the allied Russo-Austrian army at Austerlitz, effectively ending the Third Coalition and forcing Austria to make peace."
"Concerned about increasing French power, Prussia led the creation of the Fourth Coalition with Russia, Saxony, and Sweden, which resumed war in October 1806. Napoleon soon defeated the Prussians at Jena-Auerstedt and the Russians at Friedland."
"After occupying Lisbon in November 1807, and with the bulk of French troops present in Spain, Napoleon seized the opportunity to turn against his former ally, depose the reigning Spanish royal family and declare his brother King of Spain in 1808 as José I."
"The Spanish and Portuguese revolted with British support and expelled the French from Iberia in 1814 after six years of fighting."
"Russia routinely violated the Continental System, prompting Napoleon to launch a massive invasion of Russia in 1812."
"The resulting campaign ended in disaster for France and the near-destruction of Napoleon's Grande Armée."
"Austria, Prussia, Sweden, and Russia formed the Sixth Coalition and began a new campaign against France, decisively defeating Napoleon at Leipzig in October 1813 after several inconclusive engagements."
"Coalition troops captured Paris at the end of March 1814 and forced Napoleon to abdicate in April."
"Napoleon escaped in February 1815 and reassumed control of France for around One Hundred Days."
"The allies formed the Seventh Coalition, defeated him at Waterloo in June 1815."
"He was exiled to the island of Saint Helena, where he died six years later."
"The wars had profound consequences on global history, including the spread of nationalism and liberalism, the rise of Britain as the world's foremost naval and economic power, the appearance of independence movements in Spanish America and subsequent decline of the Spanish and Portuguese Empires, the fundamental reorganization of German and Italian territories into larger states, and the introduction of radically new methods of conducting warfare, as well as civil law."
"After the end of the Napoleonic Wars, there was a period of relative peace in continental Europe, lasting until the Crimean War in 1853."
"The Peninsular War (1807–1814) and the French invasion of Russia (1812)."
"The Congress of Vienna redrew the borders of Europe and brought a period of relative peace." Note: The above quotes are paraphrased excerpts from the provided paragraph and may require further context for a more comprehensive understanding.