Napoleon I Bonaparte (Ajaccio, August 15, 1769 - Saint Helena, May 5, 1821) was a French soldier and ruler, Republican general during the Revolution and the Directory, architect of the coup d'état of 18 Brumaire that made him First Consul (Premier Consul) of the Republic on November 11, 1799; consul for life since August 2, 1802, on May 18, 1804 he was proclaimed Emperor of the French (Empereur des Français) and crowned on December 2; proclaimed King of Italy on March 18, 1805 and crowned on May 26, he held both titles until April 11, 1814, and again from March 20 to June 22, 1815.
Over a period of little more than a decade, he gained control of almost all of Western and Central Europe through conquest or alliance, and it was only after his defeat at the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig in October 1813 that he was forced to abdicate a few months later. He returned to France in what is known as the Hundred Days and was decisively defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium on June 18, 1815, being banished by the English to the island of Saint Helena, where he died.
Napoleon is considered one of the greatest military geniuses in history, having commanded very successful war campaigns, although with some equally resounding defeats. His aggressive wars of conquest became the largest wars known up to that time in Europe, involving a number of soldiers never seen in the armies of the time. In addition to these warlike feats, Napoleon is also known for establishing the Napoleonic Code and is considered by some to be an "enlightened monarch" due to his extraordinary talent and ability to work. Others, however, consider him a tyrannical dictator whose wars caused the death of millions of people, and one of the most megalomaniac and nefarious characters of all time.[4]
He is considered the key character who marked the beginning of the 19th century and the subsequent evolution of contemporary Europe.