Napoleon launches an attack on his ally, the Russian tsar Alexander I, with an army of more than 600,000 men

Damage to US trade by British orders in council prompts war (the War of 1812) between the two nations

The British capture Detroit in an early engagement of the War of 1812

The US frigate Constitution, affectionately known as 'Old Ironsides', wins successes against British warships in the Atlantic

The Russian army under Marshal Kutuzov confronts the advancing French at Borodino, and though defeated makes a successful withdrawal

After victory at Borodino, Napoleon enters Moscow to find the city abandoned and burning

Napoleon begins the retreat from Moscow, in arctic conditions and harried by guerrilla attacks

Napoleon arrives back in Paris ahead of the remains of his army, after losing half a million men in the Russian campaign

The king of Prussia, Frederick William III, changes sides and declares war on France

American forces push north into Canada and enter York (the modern Toronto), burning the parliament buildings and archives

Wellington defeats Napoleon's brother Joseph at Vitoria, and captures his valuable baggage train

In a treaty with Russia and Prussia at Reichenbach, Austria agrees to declare war on France

American warships win a victory over the British on Lake Erie, strengthening the US presence in the Great Lakes

Tecumseh is killed fighting for the British against General Harrison east of Detroit in the Battle of the Thames

Wellington crosses the Bidassoa river in the north of Spain, bringing an enemy army on to French soil for the first time in twenty years

The allies inflict a heavy defeat on Napoleon at Leipzig, in the so-called Battle of the Nations

The Russian emperor and the Prussian king take a salute in the Champs Elysées after the allies capture Paris

Napoleon abdicates at Fontainebleau and the French senate invites Louis XVIII to return to reclaim his throne

Ferdinand VII, restored to Spain, imposes a reactionary regime and persecutes his liberal opponents

Napoleon goes into exile on the island of Elba, which he immediately treats as a miniature state in need of improvement

The crowned heads of Europe and their representatives gather in Vienna to tidy up the post-Napoleonic continent

British forces enter Washington, burning the Capitol and the president's new house

Britain and the United States sign the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812

American volunteers under Andrew Jackson defeat British regulars near New Orleans, two weeks after peace has been agreed at Ghent

Napoleon slips away from Elba with a fleet of small vessels and lands on the coast of France