Succession1814
Named the successor to Emperor Napoleon but the Allies refuse to accept him
Historical person
Napoleon III Biography
Historical biography and chronological timeline for Napoleon III, based on 75 World History Database records associated with France.
75 records1814–187345 events20 places
Chronological biography
1814
1818
Peerage1818
Created Duc de Reichstadt by Metternich
1832
Exile of Napoleon III1832
Exiled following the death of Napoleon II
1836
Coup1836
Stages a failed coup at Strasburg
1840
Arrest of Napoleon III1840
Arrested & condemned to imprisonment at the fortress of Ham
Arrest of Napoleon III1840
Imprisoned in Ham
Coup1840
Stages a failed coup at Boulogne-sur-Mer. Failed military coup in Boulogne-sur-Mer
1846
Exile of Napoleon III25 May 1846
Escapes from Ham to London
1848
Election1848
Elected to the National Assembly
National Assembly1848
Elected to the National Assembly
President of France10 December 1848
Appointed President of France, appealing to the nostalgia of the "Napoleonic legend"
1851
Arrest of Adolphe Thiers, Cavaignac and Republican leaders2 December 1851
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & Republican leaders
Arrest of Adolphe Thiers, Cavaignac and Republican leaders2 December 1851
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & the Republican leaders
Constitution of France2 December 1851
The 3rd Republic ends after 3 yrs when President Louis Napoleon makes himself dictator
Coup2 December 1851
The 3rd Republic ends after 3 yrs when President Louis Napoleon makes himself dictator. Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & other republican leaders
Coup2 December 1851
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & other republican leaders
Dissolution2 December 1851
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & the Republican leaders
Legislation2 December 1851
The 3rd Republic ends after 3 yrs when President Louis Napoleon makes himself dictator
National Assembly2 December 1851
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & Republican leaders
National Assembly2 December 1851
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & other republican leaders
National Assembly2 December 1851
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & the Republican leaders
Siege of Paris2 December 1851
Leads an Army, arrests Deputies & the Minister of War & attacks the barracades
Election21 December 1851
Elected President of France for 10 years
1852
Holy Roman Empire1852
Restores the Empire, assumes the title of Emperor Napoleon III
Succession1852
Succeeds as Emperor of France. Restores the Empire, assumes the title of Emperor Napoleon III
Succession2 December 1852
Succeeds as Emperor of France, proclaims himself Emperor
1853
Marriage29 January 1853
Marries Eugenie de Montijo, a Spanish Countess
1855
Congress of Paris1855
Persuades the Allies to hold the Peace Congress in Paris rather than Vienna.
Visit to Dover16 April 1855
Arrives in Dover to begin a state visit of Britain.
1856
Congress of Paris1856
A commission is established to define the rights of neutrals in war on the Danube.
Congress of Paris1856
The settlement returns Kars to the Ottoman Empire, reduces Russian territory near the Danube, and establishes international regulation of Danube navigation.
Congress of Paris1856
The Congress ends the war, neutralises the Black Sea and limits Russia's special claims concerning Ottoman Christian subjects.
Neutrality1856
The Black Sea is neutralised. A commission is established to define the rights of neutrals in war on the Danube.
Congress of Paris25 February 1856
Supports the opening of the Congress of Paris, where the powers negotiate a final peace settlement.
Treaty of Paris30 March 1856
Treaty settlement of the Congress of Paris.
1859
Alliance Napoleon III and Sardinia1859
Allies with Sardinia against Austria
Allies with Italian States in gaining unity1859
Allies with Italian States in gaining unity
Declaration of War3 May 1859
France declares war Austria
Battle of Magenta4 June 1859
Napoleon IIIs army crossed the Ticino River and outflanked the Austrian right forcing the Austrian army under General Gyulai to retreat
Peace8 November 1859
Under the peace of Villafranca Parma & Lombardy are ceded to France
Rule of Lombardy8 November 1859
Under the peace of Villafranca Parma & Lombardy are ceded to France
Rule of Parma8 November 1859
Under the peace of Villafranca Parma & Lombardy are ceded to France
Peace10 November 1859
The Treaty of Zurich confirms the peace of Villafranca
Treaty of Zurich10 November 1859
The Treaty of Zurich confirms the peace of Villafranca
1860
Capture of Nice1860
Captures Nice
Capture of Savoy1860
Captures Savoy
Holy Roman Empire1860
Piedmont annexes central Italy, France gains Savoy & Nice
Piedmont annexes central Italy, France gains Savoy & Nice1860
Piedmont annexes central Italy, France gains Savoy & Nice
Rule of Nice1860
Piedmont annexes central Italy, France gains Savoy & Nice
Rule of Piedmont1860
Piedmont annexes central Italy, France gains Savoy & Nice
Rule of Savoy1860
Piedmont annexes central Italy, France gains Savoy & Nice
Unification1860
Piedmont annexes central Italy, France gains Savoy & Nice
Holy Roman EmpireJanuary 1860
Creates free trade between Europes 2 largest traders. Agreed by Napoleon & ratified by the British House of Commons
Treaty of CobdenJanuary 1860
Creates free trade between Europes 2 largest traders. Agreed by Napoleon & ratified by the British House of Commons
1864
Invasion of Mexico1864
Installs Archduke Maximilian of Austria as Emperor of Mexico
1870
Constitution of France1870
Wins a plebiscite approving Constitutional Monarchy
Constitution of France1870
A plebiscite approves a constitutional monarchy
Constitution of France1870
Wins a plebiscite approving Constitutional Monarchy
Referendum1870
A plebiscite approves a constitutional monarchy
Referendum1870
Wins a plebiscite approving Constitutional Monarchy
Declaration of War19 July 1870
Expects a decisive victory "we shall come across the glorious tracks of our fathers". Declares war on Germany
Mobilization28 July 1870
France mobilizes its forces but the frontier fortresses are not ready for a siege
Siege of Metz28 July 1870
France mobilizes its forces but the frontier fortresses are not ready for a siege
Battle of Saarbrucken2 August 1870
Napoleon divides his armies between MacMahon & Bazaine. A skirmish between 1st German army & French II corps
Dismissal12 August 1870
Forced to relinquish command
Battle of Sedan1 September 1870
Defeated by the Germans
Battle of Sedan2 September 1870
Surrenders to Bismarck at Donchery, later held at Wihelmshohe near Cassel
Battle of Sedan2 September 1870
Joins the Army but is capture in battle & held as a prisoner near Kassel in Germany
1871
Exile of Napoleon III1871
Joins Eugenie at Chiselhurst in Kent
Abdication1 March 1871
Deposed by the National Assembly & retires to Chiselhurst in Kent
Abdication1 March 1871
Deposed by the National Assembly at Bordeaux
National Assembly1 March 1871
Deposed by the National Assembly & retires to Chiselhurst in Kent
National Assembly1 March 1871
Deposed by the National Assembly at Bordeaux
1873
Burial1873
Buried at Farnborough
Death of Napoleon III1873
Death of Napoleon III
Titles and roles
Emeror · Emperor · Emperor · Emperor of France · Emperor · President of France · King
Record provenance
This biography is assembled from World History Database records filtered by country and personal-name fields. Exact duplicate display records are removed. The database is an index rather than a complete narrative biography; formal research should verify entries against relevant primary or specialist sources.