v11_1580 - 20 francs or Napoléon tête laurée, Empire français 1811 Paris F.516/16

PREMIER EMPIRE / FIRST FRENCH EMPIRE

(18/05/1804-6/04/1814)

Napoleon Emperor laureate head - French Empire

In April 1809, Pius VII excommunicated Napoleon who had him sequestered in retaliation. The allies form the fifth coalition, but the Austrians are defeated at Eckmühl on April 12, Essling on May 21 and Wagram on July 6, 1809. At the Treaty of Vienna, Austria cedes Carniola, Carinthia and Croatia which will form the Illyrian provinces which are incorporated into the Empire. The Vendôme column was inaugurated in 1810. That year, Napoleon was at the height of his power and France had 130 departments from the Tiber to the Elbe. After divorcing Josephine in December 1809, he married Marie-Louise of Austria on April 2, 1810. Louis abdicated from the throne of Holland on July 9, 1810, refusing to apply the Continental Blockade and the Kingdom was annexed to the France. On March 20, 1811, the King of Rome, son of Napoleon and Marie-Louise, was born in the Tuileries. Franco-Russian relations deteriorated after the Austrian marriage. Finally, Napoleon crossed the Niemen on June 24, 1812. This was the start of the Russian campaign.