First French Empire 1812

Part of the "Euorpe 1812 Series".

In 1812 Napoleon I was at the height of his power. His was the largest European empire since the fall of Rome, covering nearly a million square miles. In June that same year he began his fateful invasion of Russia that would lead to his downfall and change European politics and geography for the next century.

Napoleon's First French Empire (darker orange) is shown here along with its vassals (lighter orange).

Through military victory and political intrigue Napoleon Bonaparte rose from a minor noble family in Corsica to becoming a key player in the French military and French Revolution. He would declair himself Emperor of France in 1804 and lead his army to domination over Europe.

In June 1812, at the height of his power, Napoleon would launch an invasion of Russia that would last six months and claim half a million lives. The illusion of invincibility shattered former allies would turn against him, resulting in his ultimate defeat at Waterloo in 1815. Following his defeat Europe would be carved up, shaping life on the continent for the next hundred years.