The French Emperor

guerrilla

a member of a band of irregular soldiers that uses guerrilla warfare, harassing the enemy by surprise raids, sabotaging communication and supply lines, etc.

Blockade

a war measure that isolates some area of importance to the enemy

Battle of Trafalgar

an 1805 naval battle in which Napoleon's forces were defeated by a British fleet under the command of Horatio Nelson.

concordat

the peace agreement made between Napoleon and the Pope following the chaos of the French Revolution.

Scorched-earth policy

the practice of burning crops and killing livestock during wartime so that the enemy cannot live off the land

Napoleonic Code

A comprehensive and uniform system of laws established for France by Napoleon

plebiscite

A direct vote in which a country's people have the opportunity to approve or reject a proposal

lycée

A secondary school in France that is funded by the government.

coup d'etat

A sudden overthrow of the government by a small group

Continental System

Napoleon's policy of preventing trade between Great Britain and continental Europe, intended to destroy Great Britain's economy.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Overthrew the French revolutionary government (The Directory) in 1799 and became emperor of France in 1804. Failed to defeat Great Britain and abdicated in 1814. Returned to power briefly in 1815 but was defeated and died in exile.

Peninsular

People living in the New World Spanish colonies but born in Spain.

Hundred Days

The brief period during 1815 when Napoleon made his last bid for power, deposing the French King and again becoming Emperor of France

Waterloo

The site of Napoleon's defeat by British and Prussian armies in 1815, which ended his last bid for power