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
