Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution. A successful general in Italy and Egypt, he seized power in the coup of 18 Brumaire (1799) and became First Consul, later crowning himself Emperor of the French in 1804. His rule reshaped France through administrative and legal reforms, including the Napoleonic Code, while his wars redrew Europe. Defeated after the 1812 Russian campaign and the 1813–14 coalition, he abdicated, returned briefly during the Hundred Days, and was finally defeated at Waterloo (1815). Exiled to St. Helena, he dictated memoirs and left extensive letters and proclamations.