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]
Napoleon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname(s) | "General Vendémiaire", "The Little Corporal", "Napoleon the Great" |
| Born | August 15, 1769 Ajaccio, Corsica |
| Died | May 5, 1821 (aged 51) Longwood, Saint Helena |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service/ | Trained as an artillerist |
| Years of service | 1779–1815 |
| Rank | Commander in Chief (Head of State) |
| Commands held | Army of Italy Army of the Orient French Army Grande Armée |
| Battles/wars | French Revolutionary Wars |
| Awards | Grand Master of the Legion of Honour Grand Master of the Order of the Reunion Grand Master of the Order of the Iron Crown |
| Relations | House of Bonaparte |
| Other work | Sovereign of Elba, writer |
Battle record summary
| No | Date | Battle | Conflict | Opponent | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 29 Aug – 19 Dec 1793 | Siege of Toulon | War of the First Coalition |       | French Republic | Victory |
| 2. | 24–28 Apr 1794 | Saorgio | War of the First Coalition |  | Kingdom of Sardinia | Victory |
| 3. | 21 Sep 1794 | First Dego | War of the First Coalition | | Kingdom of Sardinia | Victory |
| 4. | 5 Oct 1795 | 13 Vendémiaire | French Revolution |  | French Republic | Victory |
| 5. | 11–12 Apr 1796 | Montenotte | War of the First Coalition | | Kingdom of Sardinia | Victory |
| 6. | 12–13 Apr 1796 | Millesimo | War of the First Coalition | | Kingdom of Sardinia | Victory |
| 7. | 14–15 Apr 1796 | Second Dego | War of the First Coalition | | Kingdom of Sardinia | Victory |
| 8. | 16 Apr 1796 | Ceva | War of the First Coalition | | Kingdom of Sardinia | Victory |
| 9. | 21 Apr 1796 | Mondovi | War of the First Coalition | | Kingdom of Sardinia | Victory |
| 10. | 7–9 May 1796 | Fombio | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 11. | 10 May 1796 | Lodi | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 12. | 30 May 1796 | Borghetto | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 13. | 4 Jul 1796 – 2 Feb 1797 | Siege of Mantua | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 14. | 3–4 Aug 1796 | Lonato | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 15. | 5 Aug 1796 | Castiglione | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 16. | 4 Sep 1796 | Rovereto | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 17. | 8 Sep 1796 | Bassano | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 18. | 14–15 Sep 1796 | San Giorgio[3] | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 19. | 6 Nov 1796 | Second Bassano | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Defeat |
| 20. | 12 Nov 1796 | Caldiero | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Defeat |
| 21. | 15–17 Nov 1796 | Arcole | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 22. | 14–15 Jan 1797 | Rivoli | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 23. | 16 Jan 1797 | La Favorite | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 24. | 16 Mar 1797 | Valvasone | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 25. | 21–23 Mar 1797 | Tarvis | War of the First Coalition | | Habsburg Italy | Victory |
| 26. | 10–12 Jun 1798 | Malta | Mediterranean Campaign |  | Malta | Victory |
| 27. | 2 Jul 1798 | Prise d'Alexandrie | Mediterranean Campaign |  | Mameluk Egypt | Victory |
| 28. | 13 Jul 1798 | Shubra Khit | French Campaign in Egypt and Syria |  | Mameluk Egypt | Victory |
| 29. | 21 Jul 1798 | Pyramids | French Campaign in Egypt and Syria | | Mameluk Egypt | Victory |
| 30. | 21–22 Oct 1798 | Revolt of Cairo | French Campaign in Egypt and Syria |  | French Egypt | Victory |
| 31. | 11–19 Feb 1799 | Siege of El Arish | French Campaign in Egypt and Syria | | Mameluk Egypt | Victory |
| 32. | 3–7 Mar 1799 | Siege of Jaffa | French Campaign in Egypt and Syria | | Ottoman Empire | Victory |
| 33. | 20 Mar – 21 May 1799 | Siege of Acre | French Campaign in Egypt and Syria | | Ottoman Empire | Defeat |
| 34. | 16 Apr 1799 | Mount Tabor | French Campaign in Egypt and Syria | | Ottoman Empire | Victory |
| 35. | 25 Jul 1799 | Abukir | French Campaign in Egypt and Syria | | French Egypt | Victory |
| 36. | 31 May 1800 | Turbigo | War of the Second Coalition | | Kingdom of Sardinia | Victory |
| 37. | 14 May – 1 Jun 1800 | Siege of Fort Bard | War of the Second Coalition | | Kingdom of Sardinia | Victory |
| 38. | 14 Jun 1800 | Marengo | War of the Second Coalition | | Kingdom of Sardinia | Victory |
| 39. | 15–20 Oct 1805 | Ulm | War of the Third Coalition | | Electorate of Bavaria | Victory |
| 40. | 2 Dec 1805 | Austerlitz | War of the Third Coalition |  | Archduchy of Austria | Victory |
| 41. | 14 Oct 1806 | Jena | War of the Fourth Coalition |   | Kingdom of Prussia | Victory |
| 42. | 23 Dec 1806 | Czarnowo | War of the Fourth Coalition | | Kingdom of Prussia | Victory |
| 43. | 7–8 Feb 1807 | Eylau | War of the Fourth Coalition | | Kingdom of Prussia | Victory |
| 44. | 14 Jun 1807 | Friedland | War of the Fourth Coalition | | Kingdom of Prussia | Victory |
| 45. | 30 Nov 1808 | Somosierra | Peninsular War | | Spain | Victory |
| 46. | 1–4 Dec 1808 | Siege of Madrid[4] | Peninsular War | | Spain | Victory |
| 47. | 20 Apr 1809 | Teugen-Hausen | War of the Fifth Coalition |  | Kingdom of Bavaria | Victory |
| 48. | 20 Apr 1809 | Abensberg | War of the Fifth Coalition | | Kingdom of Bavaria | Victory |
| 49. | 21 Apr 1809 | Landshut | War of the Fifth Coalition | | Kingdom of Bavaria | Victory |
| 50. | 21–22 Apr 1809 | Eckmühl | War of the Fifth Coalition | | Kingdom of Bavaria | Victory |
| 51. | 23 Apr 1809 | Ratisbon | War of the Fifth Coalition | | Principality of Regensburg | Victory |
| 52. | 21–22 May 1809 | Aspern-Essling | War of the Fifth Coalition | | Austrian Empire | Defeat |
| 53. | 5–6 Jul 1809 | Wagram | War of the Fifth Coalition | | Austrian Empire | Victory |
| 54. | 26–27 Jul 1812 | Vitebsk | French Invasion of Russia | | Russian Empire | Victory |
| 55. | 16–18 Aug 1812 | Smolensk | French Invasion of Russia | | Russian Empire | Victory |
| 56. | 5 Sep 1812 | Shevardino | French Invasion of Russia | | Russian Empire | Victory |
| 57. | 7 Sep 1812 | Borodino | French Invasion of Russia | | Russian Empire | Victory |
| 58. | 15–18 Nov 1812 | Krasnoi | French Invasion of Russia | | Russian Empire | Defeat |
| 59. | 26–29 Nov 1812 | Berezina | French Invasion of Russia | | Russian Empire | Withdrawal |
| 60. | 2 May 1813 | Lützen | War of the Sixth Coalition | | Kingdom of Saxony | Victory |
| 61. | 20–21 May 1813 | Bautzen | War of the Sixth Coalition | | Kingdom of Saxony | Victory |
| 62. | 22 May 1813 | Reichenbach | War of the Sixth Coalition | | Kingdom of Saxony | Victory |
| 63. | 26–27 Aug 1813 | Dresden | War of the Sixth Coalition | | Kingdom of Saxony | Victory |
| 64. | 16–19 Oct 1813 | Leipzig | War of the Sixth Coalition |   | Kingdom of Saxony | Defeat |
| 65. | 30–31 Oct 1813 | Hanau | War of the Sixth Coalition |  | Duchy of Frankfurt | Victory |
| 66. | 29 Jan 1814 | Brienne | War of the Sixth Coalition | | French Empire | Victory |
| 67. | 1 Feb 1814 | La Rothière | War of the Sixth Coalition | | French Empire | Defeat |
| 68. | 10 Feb 1814 | Champaubert | War of the Sixth Coalition | | French Empire | Victory |
| 69. | 11 Feb 1814 | Montmirail | War of the Sixth Coalition | | French Empire | Victory |
| 70. | 12 Feb 1814 | Chateau-Thierry | War of the Sixth Coalition | | French Empire | Victory |
| 71. | 14 Feb 1814 | Vauchamps | War of the Sixth Coalition | | French Empire | Victory |
| 72. | 17 Feb 1814 | Mormant | War of the Sixth Coalition | | French Empire | Victory |
| 73. | 18 Feb 1814 | Montereau | War of the Sixth Coalition |  | French Empire | Victory |
| 74. | 5 Mar 1814 | Berry-au-Bac (1814)[5] | War of the Sixth Coalition | | French Empire | Victory |
| 75. | 7 Mar 1814 | Craonne | War of the Sixth Coalition | | French Empire | Victory |
| 76. | 9–10 Mar 1814 | Laon | War of the Sixth Coalition | | French Empire | Defeat |
| 77. | 12–13 Mar 1814 | Reims | War of the Sixth Coalition | | French Empire | Victory |
| 78. | 20–21 Mar 1814 | Arcis-sur-Aube | War of the Sixth Coalition | | French Empire | Defeat |
| 79. | 26 Mar 1814 | Saint-Dizier | War of the Sixth Coalition | | French Empire | Victory |
| 80. | 16 Jun 1815 | Ligny | Hundred Days | | United Kingdom of the Netherlands | Victory |
| 81. | 18 Jun 1815 | Waterloo | Hundred Days |      | United Kingdom of the Netherlands | Defeat |
References
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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