First French Empire

This article has a list of references or other websites, but its sources are not clear because it does not have inline citations. Please help to improve this article by adding more citations to the body of the article where they should be. (November 2025)

French Republic République française (1804–1808) French Empire Empire français (1808–1815)
Template:Ubc
Top: Flag with coat of arms Bottom: Flag Imperial coat of arms
Motto: Liberté, Ordre Public ("Liberty, Public Order")
Anthem: Chant du départ ("Song of the Departure"; official)[dubious – discuss] Veillons au salut de l'Empire ("Let's ensure the salvation of the Empire"; unofficial)
The First French Empire at its peak territorial control in September 1812:   Directly administered   Client states   Military occupation   Sphere of influence   De jure borders of client states, but under neither French nor client control
Capital	Paris
Official languages	French
Religion	Catholic Church (Concordat of 1801) Calvinism Lutheranism Judaism
Demonym(s)	French
Government	Monarchy
Emperor
• 1804–1814, 1815	Napoleon I
• 1814, 1815	Napoleon II (claimant)
President of the Executive Commission
• 1815	Joseph Fouché
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Tribunat (until 19 September 1807) Chamber of Peers (from 22 April 1815)
• Lower house	Corps législatif (until 4 June 1814) Chamber of Representatives (from 22 April 1815)
Historical era	Napoleonic era
• Constitution adopted	18 May 1804
• Coronation of Napoleon	2 December 1804
• Treaties of Tilsit	7 July 1807
• Invasion of Russia	24 June 1812
• Treaty of Fontainebleau	11 April 1814
• Hundred Days	20 March – 7 July 1815
Area
1812	2,100,000 km2 (810,000 sq mi)
Population
• 1812	44 million
Currency	French franc
Preceded by Succeeded by French First Republic Kingdom of Holland Ligurian Republic Andorra Kingdom of France S. Principality of the United Netherlands United Kingdom of the Netherlands Neutral Moresnet Luxembourg Grand Duchy of Tuscany Andorra Monaco Principality of Elba Provisional Government of Belgium (1814–1815)
Today part of	France  Spain  Germany

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.

Maps

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.

History

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 90 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.

References

1. ↑ Domestically styled as French Republic (French: République française) until 1808: compare the French franc minted in 1808 and 1809, as well as Article 1 of the Constitution of the Year XII.