Napoleon I Bonaparte (Ajaccio, August 15, 1769-Longwood, May 5, 1821) was a French soldier and statesman, republican general during the French Revolution and the Directory, and architect of the coup d'etat of 18 brumaire that converted him first consul (Premier Consul) of the Republic on November 11, 1799. He was also consul for life from August 2, 1802 until his proclamation as Emperor of the French (Empereur des Français) on May 18, 1804, being crowned on December 2; he was also proclaimed King of Italy on March 18, 1805 and crowned on May 26. He held both titles until April 11, 1814, and from March 20 to June 22, 1815.
For little more than a decade, he took control of almost all of Western and Central Europe through a series of conquests and alliances. Only after his defeat at the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig in October 1813 was he forced to abdicate months later. He returned to France and power during the period known as the Hundred Days and was defeated forever at the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium, on June 18, 1815, when he was banished by the British to the island of Saint Helena, where he passed away.
Napoleon is considered one of the greatest military geniuses in history, since he commanded very successful war campaigns, although with certain equally resounding defeats. His aggressive wars of conquest became the largest military operations known up to that time in Europe, in which he involved a number of soldiers never seen in the armies of the time. In addition to these war exploits, he is known for the Napoleonic Code; He is considered by some to be an "enlightened despot" due to his extraordinary talent and hard work. Others, however, consider him a tyrannical dictator whose wars caused the death of millions of people. He is judged as the key character that marked the beginning of the 19th century and the subsequent evolution of contemporary Europe.
His soldiers called him the Little Corporal (le Petit Caporal), while the British referred to him with the derogatory Boney and the European monarchies as the tyrant Bonaparte, the Ogre of Ajaccio or the Universal Usurper.
