I.

Introduction

Napoleon I (1769-1821), First Consul of the French Republic (1799-1804) as Napoleon Bonaparte, and Emperor of the French (1804-1814; March-June 1815). The single most dominant figure in modern European history before Adolf Hitler, his life has become a modern epic. Napoleon emerged from relative obscurity to lead France and enacted seminal institutional reforms. He then won a series of spectacular campaigns between 1805 and 1807, making France and himself the virtual masters of Europe and securing his almost mythical status as a soldier. He was decisively defeated in Russia in 1812, abdicating in 1814, only to return in 1815 for the “Hundred Days”, and was finally defeated at Waterloo. Napoleon dictated memoirs in exile that forged his own legend. His administrative reforms outlived his military exploits and still mark Europe today.