1808 in France

Decades:	1780s; 1790s; 1800s; 1810s; 1820s;
See also:	Other events of 1808; History of France • Timeline • Years

Events from the year 1808 in France.

Incumbents edit

Emperor – Napoleon I^[1]

Events edit

22 January – The Bragança Portuguese Royal Family arrives in Brazil, having fled the French army.
2 February – French troops occupy Papal States (Vatican).
February – Under the pretext of reinforcing the Franco-Spanish army occupying Portugal, French troops begin filing into Spain.
29 February – A French column, disguised as a convoy of wounded, takes Barcelona by convincing the authorities to open the city's gates.
23 March – Madrid is occupied by French forces.
2 May – Dos de Mayo Uprising, the people of Madrid rebel against the occupation of the city by French troops, provoking a brutal repression by the French.
5 May – Napoleon forces the Spanish royal family to abdicate and hands the throne to his brother Joseph.
25 May – Asturias rises up in arms, casting out its French governor.
17 April – Bayonne decree, ordering the seizure of American vessels in France.
4 June – Peninsular War: Battle of El Bruc, Spanish victory over French forces.
12 June – Peninsular War: Battle of Cabezón, decisive French victory over Spanish forces.
15 June – Peninsular War: Siege of Saragossa begins, as French forces repeatedly attack the city.
14 July – Peninsular War: Battle of Medina del Rio Seco, crushing defeat of Spanish army by the French.
18–22 July – Peninsular War: Battle of Bailén, Spanish forces surround the French and compel the surrender of almost 18,000 men. It was the worst disaster suffered by the French during the Iberian campaign.
30 July – Peninsular War: French forces massacre the population of Évora.
13 August – Peninsular War: Siege of Saragossa ends in defeat for the French who were forced to lift the siege and retreat.
17 August – Peninsular War: Battle of Roliça, British victory over the French, first battle fought by the British army during the war.
20 August – Peninsular War: Battle of Vimeiro, Anglo-Portuguese victory over French forces.
30 August – Peninsular War: Convention of Sintra signed, by which the defeated French are allowed to evacuate their troops from Portugal without further conflict.
27 September – Congress of Erfurt, between Emperor Napoleon I and Tsar Alexander I begins.
14 October – Congress of Erfurt ends.
31 October – Peninsular War: Battle of Zornoza, indecisive battle between French and Spanish forces.
4 November – Napoleon creates the département of Tarn-et-Garonne.
5 November – Peninsular War: Battle of Valmaseda, Spanish victory over French forces.
7 November – Peninsular War: Battle of Burgos, French victory over Spanish forces.
10–11 November – Peninsular War: Battle of Espinosa, French victory over Spanish forces.
23 November – Peninsular War: Battle of Tudela, French victory over Spanish forces.
30 November – Peninsular War: Battle of Somosierra, outnumbered Spanish force fails to prevent Napoleon from moving on Madrid.
1 December – Peninsular War: French patrols reach the outskirts of Madrid.
4 December – Peninsular War: Madrid surrenders and French enter the city for the second time that year.
21 December – Peninsular War: Battle of Sahagún, British victory over French forces.