First French Empire

The **First French Empire**<span style="font-size:x-small"></span>, 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.

## 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.

## Infobox (former country)

- **conventional long name**: French Empire <span style="font-size:x-small"></span>
- **common name**: France
- **continent**: Europe
- **region**: Western Europe
- **country**: France
- **era**: Napoleonic Wars
- **government type**: Monarchy
- **year start**: 1804
- **year end**: 1815
- **life span**: 1804–1814, 1815
- **event start**: Constitution of the Year XII, Constitution adopted
- **date start**: 18 May
- **event end**: Hundred Days
- **date end**: 20 March – 7 July
- **event1**: Coronation of Napoleon I, Coronation of Napoleon I of France, Napoleon I
- **date event1**: 2 December 1804
- **event2**: Treaty of Tilsit
- **date event2**: 7 July 1807
- **event3**: French invasion of Russia, Invasion of Russia
- **date event3**: 24 June 1812
- **event4**: Treaty of Fontainebleau (1814), Treaty of Fontainebleau
- **date event4**: 11 April 1814
- **p1**: French First Republic
- **flag p1**: Flag of France.svg
- **p2**: Holy Roman Empire
- **flag p2**: Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor (after 1400).svg
- **p3**: Kingdom of Holland
- **flag p3**: Flag of the Netherlands.svg
- **p4**: Ligurian Republic
- **flag p4**: Flag of Genoa.svg
- **p5**: SpainKingdom of Spain
- **flag p5**: Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg
- **s1**: Bourbon Restoration in FranceKingdom of France
- **flag s1**: Flag of the Kingdom of France (1814-1830).svg
- **s2**: United Kingdom of the Netherlands
- **flag s2**: Prinsenvlag.svg
- **s3**: Neutral Moresnet
- **flag s3**: Flag of Moresnet.svg
- **s4**: Kingdom of Sardinia
- **flag s4**: Savoie flag.svg
- **s5**: Austrian Empire
- **flag s5**: Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg
- **s6**: LuxembourgGrand Duchy of Luxembourg
- **flag s6**: Flag of Luxembourg.svg
- **s7**: Grand Duchy of Tuscany
- **flag s7**: Flag of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.svg
- **s8**: SpainKingdom of Spain
- **flag s8**: Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg
- **image flag**: Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1974, 2020–present).svg
- **symbol**: Coat of arms of France
- **symbol type**: Imperial Coat of arms
- **image coat**: Grandes Armes Impériales (1804-1815)2.svg
- **image map**: File:French Empire on World 1812.png
- **image map caption**: The First French Empire and its colonies in 1812
- **capital**: Paris
- **national anthem**: _Chant du Départ_
<small>"Song of the Departure"</small>
- **common languages**: French
- **religion**: Roman Catholicism
- **currency**: French Franc
- **leader1**: Napoleon I of France, Napoleon I
- **year leader1**: 1804–1814/1815
- **leader2**: Napoleon II of France, Napoleon II
- **year leader2**: 1815
- **title leader**: Emperor of the French, Emperor
- **legislature**: Parliament of France, Parliament
- **house1**: Senate of France, Senate
- **house2**: Corps législatif
- **stat area1**: 3000000
- **stat pop1**: 96,472,000
- **stat year1**: 1812
- **today**: