Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the latter stages of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Early years 1769 August 15: Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio, Corsica 1785 October 28: Napoleon graduates from Ecole Militaire with the rank of second lieutenant in the artillery. November 3: Stationed in Valence 1793 December 22: For his brilliant tactical command (although a subordinate officer, he was widely credited for the victory) at an internal French battle at Toulon, Napoleon receives the new rank of brigadier general 1794 August 9–20: Napoleon is imprisoned under suspicion of being a Jacobin and a supporter of Robespierre. 1795 October: Royalist 13 Vendémiaire rising put down by Napoleon. Barras helps Napoleon win promotion to Commander of the Interior October 15: At the home of Paul Barras, a Directory member, Napoleon meets Rose de Beauharnais (Joséphine) 2 November: Directory (le Directoire) established 1796 March 2: Napoleon is given command of the French army in Italy March 11: Italian campaign against Austria begins May 10: Napoleon wins the Battle of Lodi November 17: Napoleon wins the Battle of Arcole 1797 January 14: Napoleon wins the Battle of Rivoli October 17: Treaty of Campo Formio with Austria December 5: Napoleon returns to Paris as a hero 1798 May 19: Napoleon begins his Egyptian campaign with an army of 38,000 July 21: Wins Battle of the Pyramids against Mamelukes in Egypt July 24: Fall of Cairo August 3: Under the command of Admiral Nelson, the British fleet destroys the French navy in the Battle of the Nile. Napoleon's army is cut off from supplies and communication Napoleonic era 1799 August 23: Receiving news of turmoil in France, Napoleon relinquishes command in Egypt to Kléber and returns to Paris, a so-called Coup d’état November 9–10: Coup of 18 Brumaire Napoleon overthrows the Directory December 12: Napoleon elected First Consul of the Consulate 1800 June 14: Battle of Marengo December 24: Napoleon escapes an assassination attempt 1801 February 9: Treaty with Austria signed at Lunéville, Treaty of Lunéville July 8: Battle of Algeciras July 15: Concordat of 1801 1802 March 25: Treaty of Amiens May 1: Napoleon restructures French educational system May 19: Légion d'honneur established August 2: New constitution adopted, plebiscite confirms Napoleon as First Consul for life 1803 May 3: Napoleon sells the Louisiana Territory