1806
Jena-Auerstedt
On a single October day, two French armies annihilated the Prussian military machine that Europe had feared since Frederick the Great.
Cape Colony Taken by Britain
British troops landed at Table Bay and, after a short battle with the Dutch garrison, occupied the Cape.
Confederation of the Rhine
Sixteen German princes, bribed and bullied by Napoleon, formally left the Holy Roman Empire and joined a French-protected Confederation.
Holy Roman Empire Dissolved
Francis II, under pressure from Napoleon and abandoned by the Rhenish princes, formally laid down the thousand-year-old crown of the Holy Roman Empire.
Continental System Decreed
From Berlin, Napoleon ordered Europe to close its ports to British ships.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1806?
Saeculum lists 5 events from 1806. The most significant is Jena-Auerstedt: On a single October day, two French armies annihilated the Prussian military machine that Europe had feared since Frederick the Great.
What era was 1806 part of?
1806 falls within the Industrial Age (1801-1900). Steam, empire, and the unmaking of the old order.
Which regions saw notable events in 1806?
The events from 1806 span Europe and Africa.