Curated playlist
First French Empire
- Sénat conservateurThe Sénat conservateur chose its own members, with no election at all. Napoleon's 1799 constitution created it.
- TribunatFrance's Tribunat could debate Napoleon's laws but never vote on them. The Senate ended it in 1807.
- French ConsulateThe French Consulate gave Napoleon power as First Consul, not king. It lasted less than five years.
- Antoine Christophe SalicetiAntoine Christophe Saliceti opposed Napoleon's 1799 coup, yet Napoleon kept using him.
- Corps législatifFrance once had a legislature whose members could vote on laws but not debate them.
- Berlin DecreeNapoleon declared the British Isles blockaded from conquered Berlin in 1806. France had no navy to enforce it.
- Jacques-Louis DavidNapoleon never sat for David's painting of his own coronation. Pope Pius VII did, and blessed the painter.
- First French EmpireSoldiers ordered to arrest Napoleon joined him instead. He had escaped Elba with a thousand men and four cannons.
- Roger DucosRoger Ducos voted to execute King Louis XVI, and it later cost him his life.
- Coronation of NapoleonAt his 1804 coronation in Notre-Dame, Napoleon crowned himself. Pope Pius VII watched as he then crowned Josephine.
- Napoleon and the JewsA French newspaper reported in May 1799 that Napoleon had invited Jews to rebuild Jerusalem.
- Napoleon IINapoleon II was Emperor of the French for only two days. He was three years old and never ruled.
- French Imperial EagleNapoleon told his troops in 1804 to defend a small bronze eagle with their lives. Losing it cost a regiment its honor.