Napoleon Bonaparte

Who is Napoleon Bonaparte?

Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, shortly after the island was transferred to France. Rising rapidly through the ranks during the French Revolution, he became a celebrated general in the campaigns in Italy and Egypt. In 1799 he seized power in the coup of 18 Brumaire, becoming First Consul, and in 1804 he crowned himself Emperor of the French. He reformed French law through the Napoleonic Code, reorganised administration, education and finance, and dominated continental Europe through a series of wars. His invasion of Russia in 1812 ended in catastrophic retreat, and after defeat he was exiled to Elba. He briefly returned to power during the Hundred Days before his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. He was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, where he died in 1821. His legal and administrative legacy endures across much of Europe.

Sources: Andrew Roberts, 'Napoleon: A Life' (2014) · Philip Dwyer, 'Napoleon: The Path to Power' (2007)