French Empire

The French Empire, historiographically the First French Empire, was the empire of Napoleon Bonaparte and the dominant power of Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. At its height, the Empire possessed territory on two continents—Europe and North America—though the American territories of Louisiana and Saint-Domingue were sold and lost to a slave rebellion, respectively, before Napoleon's final defeat.

History

Born out of the rapidly expanding French Republic, Napoleon was crowned Emperor of the French on 18 May 1804. Using the recently reclaimed Apple of Eden to lead his armies to numerous victories during the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon's power expanded across the European continent.

In 1805, during the Battle of Trafalgar, Admiral Horatio Nelson led the Royal Navy in defending the United Kingdom from Napoleon's naval advances. It was a victory that would be immortalized with the construction of Trafalgar Square in London.

In 1808, Napoleon appointed his older brother Joseph as the king of Spain. Spanish Francophiles welcomed him, anticipating that cooperation with France would usher in modernization, liberty, and the abolition of the Spanish Inquisition.

Following Napoleon's failed invasion of Russia in 1812, a weakened France was itself invaded two years later, forcing Napoleon to abdicate. The Kingdom of France was briefly re-established for several months under the House of Bourbon, until Napoleon seized power again in a coup d'état in March 1815. After his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo three months later, Napoleon was exiled from France, and his Empire was dissolved for good.

Gallery

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  Imperial Coat of Arms

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed II (indirect mention only)
• Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment – Employee Handbook (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (mentioned in Database entry only)
• Assassin's Creed film (promotional material only)