Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power during and after the French Revolution by exercising his military prowess and taking over the French government after participating the 1799 coup d'état. In 1804, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of the newly established French Empire. Napoleon strengthened France through his domestic policies and and exerted French influence across the European continent through his foreign policy. While the first half of his rule was immensely successful, the second half was littered with embarrassing military defeats such as the Battle of Trafalgar and the failed invasion of Russia. Coupled with the failed Continental System, Napoleon ultimately lost to the Quadruple Alliance and was exiled to spend the rest of his days on the island of St. Helena. However, Napoleon’s influence during the peak of his rule would continue on long past his defeat; this can be seen in how the Napoleonic Code is still used in some countries to this day.