Succession
Named the successor to Emperor Napoleon but the Allies refuse to accept him
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Napoleon III Biography and Timeline
Follow Napoleon III through 75 dated historical records for France.
Napoleon III, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
75Distinct records
1 of 2Page
1814–1859Years on this page
1814
1818
Peerage
Created Duc de Reichstadt by Metternich
1832
Exile of Napoleon III
Exiled following the death of Napoleon II
Role range: 1852-1871
1836
Coup
Stages a failed coup at Strasburg
Role range: 1852-1871
1840
Arrest of Napoleon III
Arrested & condemned to imprisonment at the fortress of Ham
Role range: 1852-1871
Arrest of Napoleon III
Imprisoned in Ham
Role range: 1852-1871
Coup
Stages a failed coup at Boulogne-sur-Mer. Failed military coup in Boulogne-sur-Mer
Role range: 1852-1871
1846
Exile of Napoleon III
Escapes from Ham to London
Role range: 1852-1871
1848
President of France
Appointed President of France, appealing to the nostalgia of the "Napoleonic legend"
Role range: 1852-1871
Election
Elected to the National Assembly
Role range: 1852-1871
National Assembly
Elected to the National Assembly
Role range: 1852-1871
1851
Arrest of Adolphe Thiers, Cavaignac and Republican leaders
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & Republican leaders
Role range: 1852-1871
National Assembly
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & Republican leaders
Role range: 1852-1871
Siege of Paris
Leads an Army, arrests Deputies & the Minister of War & attacks the barracades
Role range: 1852-1871
Constitution of France
The 3rd Republic ends after 3 yrs when President Louis Napoleon makes himself dictator
Role range: 1852-1871
Coup
The 3rd Republic ends after 3 yrs when President Louis Napoleon makes himself dictator. Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & other republican leaders
Role range: 1852-1871
Coup
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & other republican leaders
Legislation
The 3rd Republic ends after 3 yrs when President Louis Napoleon makes himself dictator
Role range: 1852-1871
National Assembly
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & other republican leaders
Role range: 1852-1871
Arrest of Adolphe Thiers, Cavaignac and Republican leaders
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & the Republican leaders
Role range: 1852-1871
Dissolution
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & the Republican leaders
Role range: 1852-1871
National Assembly
Dissolves the National Assembly & arrests Thiers, Cavaignac & the Republican leaders
Role range: 1852-1871
Election
Elected President of France for 10 years
Role range: 1852-1871
1852
Succession
Succeeds as Emperor of France, proclaims himself Emperor
Role range: 1852-1871
Holy Roman Empire
Restores the Empire, assumes the title of Emperor Napoleon III
Role range: 1852-1871
Succession
Succeeds as Emperor of France. Restores the Empire, assumes the title of Emperor Napoleon III
Role range: 1852-1871
1853
Marriage
Marries Eugenie de Montijo, a Spanish Countess
Role range: 1852-1871
1855
Visit to Dover
Arrives in Dover to begin a state visit of Britain.
Role range: 1853-1856
Congress of Paris
Persuades the Allies to hold the Peace Congress in Paris rather than Vienna.
Role range: 1853-1856 – 1852-1871
1856
Congress of Paris
Supports the opening of the Congress of Paris, where the powers negotiate a final peace settlement.
Role range: 1853-1856 – 1852-1871
Treaty of Paris
Treaty settlement of the Congress of Paris.
Role range: 1853-1856 – 1852-1871
Congress of Paris
A commission is established to define the rights of neutrals in war on the Danube.
Role range: 1853-1856 – 1852-1871
Congress of Paris
The Congress ends the war, neutralises the Black Sea and limits Russia's special claims concerning Ottoman Christian subjects.
Role range: 1853-1856 – 1852-1871
Congress of Paris
The settlement returns Kars to the Ottoman Empire, reduces Russian territory near the Danube, and establishes international regulation of Danube navigation.
Role range: 1853-1856 – 1852-1871
Neutrality
The Black Sea is neutralised. A commission is established to define the rights of neutrals in war on the Danube.
Role range: 1853-1856 – 1852-1871
1859
Declaration of War
France declares war Austria
Role range: 1852-1871
Battle of Magenta
Napoleon IIIs army crossed the Ticino River and outflanked the Austrian right forcing the Austrian army under General Gyulai to retreat
Role range: 1859-1859
Peace
Under the peace of Villafranca Parma & Lombardy are ceded to France
Role range: 1852-1871
Rule of Lombardy
Under the peace of Villafranca Parma & Lombardy are ceded to France
Role range: 1852-1871
Rule of Parma
Under the peace of Villafranca Parma & Lombardy are ceded to France
Role range: 1852-1871
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.