First French Empire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
French Empire
Empire Français
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|---|---|
| 1804–1814 1815 |
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Anthem: Chant du Départ
"Song of the Departure" |
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The First French Empire at its greatest extent in 1812.
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| Capital | Paris |
| Common languages | French |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Government | Monarchy |
| Emperor | |
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• 1804–1814/1815
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Napoleon I |
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• 1815
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Napoleon II |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Senate | |
| Corps législatif | |
| Historical era | Napoleonic Wars |
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• Constitution adopted
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18 May 1804 |
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• Coronation of Napoleon I
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2 December 1804 |
| 7 July 1807 | |
| 24 June 1812 | |
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• Treaty of Fontainebleau
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11 April 1814 |
| 20 March – 7 July 1815 | |
| Area | |
| 1812 | 2,100,000 km2 (810,000 sq mi) |
| Population | |
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• 1812
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44000000 |
| Currency | French Franc |
| ISO 3166 code | FR |
| Today part of |  Andorra Austria Belgium Croatia France Germany Italy Lithuania Luxembourg Monaco Poland Netherlands Slovenia Spain Switzerland Vatican City  Montenegro |
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The First French Empire, 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.
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 44 million people, and had a large military in Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Duchy of Warsaw. The introduction of the Napoleonic Code through the continent increased legal equality, made jury systems, and legalized divorce. 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.
Images for kids
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Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1806
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The Battle of Austerlitz, 2nd December 1805, by François Gérard
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The Arc de Triomphe, ordered by Napoleon in honour of the Grande Armée, is one of several landmarks whose construction was started in Paris during the First French Empire.
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Napoleon reviewing the Imperial Guard before the Battle of Jena, 1806
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Aftermath of the Battle of Eylau, 1807
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Napoleon demanded that Alexander I of Russia and Frederick William III of Prussia meet him at Tilsit in July 1807.
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Napoleon and his staff during the War of the Sixth Coalition, by Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier
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Organigramme of the French Consulate and later the Empire
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The Napoleonic Code
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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
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Europe in 1812, with the French Empire at its peak before the Russian Campaign
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See also
In Spanish: Primer Imperio francés para niños
