Contents
Napoleon Bonaparte
Building a European empire through military conquest and reshaping French law.
Civil Code · Austerlitz
- Born
- 15 August 1769
- Birthplace
- Ajaccio, Corsica, France
- Died
- 5 May 1821
More people
Napoleon Bonaparte
A Corsican-born army officer who rose during the French Revolution, seized power and became emperor. His reforms endured, while his wars and colonial policies left extensive human losses.
Early life
Corsican roots
Born into a family of minor nobility shortly after Corsica came under French rule.
Military education
Studied at French military schools and trained as an artillery officer.
Career
- 1793–1796
Military rise
Success at Toulon and command in Italy raised his standing.
- 1799
Seizes power
A coup made him First Consul.
- 1804
Emperor
Crowned himself emperor and consolidated personal rule.
- 1815
Final defeat
Waterloo ended his brief return; Britain exiled him to Saint Helena.
Campaigns & reforms
Civil Code
Standardised major areas of French civil law while entrenching unequal rights for women.
Austerlitz
Defeated Russian and Austrian forces in a major military victory.
Russian campaign
An invasion ended in catastrophic losses and weakened his empire.
Power & private life
Colonial slavery
His government restored slavery in French colonies in 1802, reversing revolutionary abolition.
Family and succession
Married Joséphine, then Marie Louise of Austria; their son was his intended heir.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Jacques-Louis David. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
