1796 in France

Events from the year 1796 in France.

Incumbents

 * The French Directory

Events

 * 9 March - Widow Joséphine de Beauharnais marries General Napoléon Bonaparte.
 * 12 April - Battle of Montenotte, French victory over Austria and Sardinian forces. Napoleon Bonaparte's first victory as an army commander.
 * 13 April - Battle of Millesimo, French victory against Austrian and Sardinian forces.
 * 14 April-15 April - Second Battle of Dego, French victory over Austro-Sardinian forces.
 * 21 April - Battle of Mondovì, French victory over the Kingdom of Sardinia.
 * 10 May - Battle of Lodi, French victory over Austria.
 * 15 May - French troops take Milan.
 * 5 July - Battle of Rastatt, French victory against Austria.
 * 3-4 August - 2nd Battle of Lonato, French victory over Austria.
 * 5 August - Battle of Castiglione, French victory over Austria.
 * 11 August - Battle of Neresheim, French victory over Austria.
 * 19 August - Second Treaty of San Ildefonso, signed by France and Spain, to ally against Great Britain.
 * 24 August - Battle of Amberg, Austrian victory over French forces.
 * 3 September - Battle of Würzburg, Austrian victory over France.
 * 4 September - Battle of Rovereto, French victory against Austria.
 * 8 September - Battle of Bassano, French victory over Austrian forces.
 * 15 November-17 November - Battle of the Bridge of Arcole, French victory over Austria.

Births

 * 8 February - Barthélemy-Prosper Enfantin, social reformer (died 1864)
 * 17 February - Louis Eugène Marie Bautain, philosopher and theologian (died 1867)
 * 22 February - Alexis Bachelot, Roman Catholic priest and Prefect Apostolic of the Sandwich Islands (present Hawaii) (died 1837)
 * 17 March - Jean-François Bayard, playwright (died 1853)
 * 24 March - Zulma Carraud, children's author (died 1889)
 * 31 March - Philippe Buchez, author and politician (died 1866)
 * 1 June - Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot, physicist and military engineer (died 1832)
 * 24 June - Charles Cousin-Montauban, Comte de Palikao, general and statesman (died 1878)
 * 17 July - Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, painter (died 1875)
 * 24 September - Antoine-Louis Barye, sculptor (died 1875)
 * 6 November - Jean-Claude-Léonard Baveux, priest and missionary in Canada (died 1865)
 * 21 November - Jean Zuléma Amussat, surgeon (died 1856)

Full date unknown

 * Auguste-Marseille Barthélemy, satirical poet (died 1867)

Deaths

 * 1 January - Alexandre-Théophile Vandermonde, musician and chemist (born 1735)
 * 8 January - Jean-Marie Collot d'Herbois, actor, dramatist, essayist, and revolutionary (born 1749)
 * 23 February - Jean-Nicolas Stofflet, leader of Revolt in the Vendée (born 1751)
 * 6 March - Guillaume Thomas François Raynal, writer (born 1711)
 * 26 March - François de Charette, soldier and politician (born 1763)
 * 1 May - Alexandre Guy Pingré, astronomer and naval geographer (born 1711)
 * 30 July - Nicolas de Pigage, architect (born 1723)
 * 21 September - François Séverin Marceau-Desgraviers, General (born 1769)
 * 27 September - Jean-Bernard Gauthier de Murnan, General (born 1748)
 * 16 October - Antoine-Joseph Pernety, writer (born 1716)

Full date unknown

 * Jean Avisse, furniture maker (born 1723)
 * Pierre-Marie-Jérôme Trésaguet, engineer (born 1716)