First French Empire: Map & History
The second largest colonial empire of the 19th and 20th centuries, spanning 11.5 million km² across West and Equatorial Africa, Indochina, and the Maghreb.
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The French Empire, known retroactively as the First French Empire, and colloquially as Napoleonic France, was the empire ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte, who established French hegemony over much of continental Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. It lasted from 18 May 1804 to 6 April 1814 and again briefly from 20 March 1815 to 7 July 1815, when Napoleon was exiled to Saint Helena.
Modern Countries Once Part of First French Empire
At its mapped extent, First French Empire covered territory in 20 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Netherlands1811–1813 CE · nearly all
- Belgium1805–1813 CE · nearly all
- Luxembourg1805–1813 CE · nearly all
- Mauritius1805–1810 CE · nearly all
- Andorra1809–1814 CE · nearly all
- Comoros1805–1814 CE · nearly all
- Vatican (Holy See)1809–1813 CE · nearly all
- France1805–1814 CE · most
- Poland1807–1808 CE · most
- Slovenia1811–1813 CE · a large part
- Spain1809–1813 CE · a large part
- Belarus1812–1813 CE · a large part
- Croatia1811–1813 CE · a large part
- Lithuania1812–1813 CE · a large part
- Germany1805–1813 CE · a large part
- Portugal1811 CE · a small part
- Italy1805–1813 CE · a small part
- Switzerland1805–1813 CE · a small part
- Austria1805–1810 CE · a small part
- Russia1807–1813 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside First French Empire's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
First French Empire in Depth
History
In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte was confronted by Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès—one of five Directors constituting the executive branch of the French government—who sought his support for a coup d'état to overthrow the Constitution of the Year III. The plot included Bonaparte's brother Lucien, then serving as speaker of the Council of Five Hundred, Roger Ducos, another Director, and Charles Maurice de Talleyrand. On 9 November 1799 (18 Brumaire VIII under the French Republican Calendar) and the following day, troops led by Napoleon Bonaparte seized control. They dispersed the legislative councils, leaving a rump legislature to name Bonaparte, Sieyès, and Ducos as provisional Consuls to administer the government.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: First French Empire (CC BY-SA 4.0).
First French Empire: Key Facts
| Capital | Paris |
|---|---|
| Official language | French |
| Form of government | dual monarchy |
| Currency | French franc |
| Founded | 18 May 1804 |
| Dissolved | 7 July 1815 |
Preceded by
- French First Republic
- Duchy of Arenberg-Meppen
- Ligurian Republic
- Kingdom of Holland
- French Consulate
Succeeded by
- Bourbon Restoration in France
- Neutral Moresnet
- Republic of Genoa
- Sovereign Principality of the United Netherlands
- Genoese Republic
Facts from Wikidata Q71084 (CC0).
Interactive map
French Africa on the World War I map →
See French Africa’s territory change day by day from 3 August 1914, with every battle it fought.
Interactive map
French Third Republic on the World War II map →
See French Third Republic’s territory change day by day from 3 September 1939, with every battle it fought.
Imperial History & Territorial Expansion
Divided into the First Colonial Empire (New France in North America and the Caribbean) and the massive Second Colonial Empire forged after 1830 in North Africa (Algeria), West Africa (AOF), Equatorial Africa (AEF), and French Indochina. Following World War I under the League of Nations mandates, the French empire reached 11.5 million square kilometers, fundamentally shaping international diplomacy, the Napoleonic legal code, and the global Francophone community.
First French Empire Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
French exploratory fleet enters the Saint Lawrence River.
Napoleon crowned Emperor; promulgation of the Civil Code.
Beginning of the creation of the Second French Colonial Empire in North Africa.
Empire reaches 11.5 million square kilometers across Africa, Indochina, and the Levant.
Key Monarchs, Architects & Strategists
Enduring Planetary Legacy
- ✓Global dissemination of the Napoleonic Code, forming the base of civil law in over 80 countries
- ✓The worldwide Francophonie community comprising over 300 million French speakers
- ✓Diffusion of Enlightenment values, the metric measurement system, and human rights charters
- ✓Monumental urban architecture and civic boulevards replicated from Paris to Saigon and Dakar
First French Empire: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the First French Empire exist?
The First French Empire is dated to 1534 CE – 1980 CE (Peak: 1920 CE), in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of the First French Empire?
The capital of the First French Empire was Paris.
How large was the First French Empire at its peak?
At its peak in 1920 the First French Empire covered about 1,243,632 km².
Geographic Lifelines
Other Sovereign Realms
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Industrial Era • Capital: London
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Raigad