• Stood only 5’3”
• Born in 1769
• In 1785, he finished school and became a lieutenant in the artillery
• When the Revolution broke out, he joined the army of the new government
• In 1795, he defended members of the new government from a rebellion taking place. He was hailed as a hero and a savior of the French people. Eventually, he began to lead French armies.

• What does it mean to be a dictator? What are some characteristics of a dictatorship?

Timeline of the
Napoleonic Era

• When France’s government continued to struggle, Napoleon was urged to seize political power. In 1799, troops under his command surrounded the national legislature and drove out most members. The lawmakers who remained voted for Napoleon. He would eventually assume the power of a dictator. A sudden taking of power like Napoleon’s is known as a coup d’Etat

• In 1804, Napoleon decided to make himself emperor, and the French voters supported him.