Napoleon's Empire and Legacy
Napoleon's military forces seemed unstoppable across Europe. Led by "the greatest general of the age" and with officers chosen for talent rather than noble birth, French armies dominated Iberia, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and western Germany. These campaigns humiliated traditional powers like Austria and Prussia while spreading French influence.
These conquests unexpectedly sparked the origins of modern nationalism across Europe. When Napoleon's ambitions finally overreached, his downfall came swiftly. In 1812, his massive invasion of Russia ended in disaster when Russians burned Moscow and over 600,000 French soldiers perished, mostly from the harsh winter during retreat. By 1814, Napoleon was forced to abdicate after allied forces united against France.
Though briefly returning from exile, Napoleon's final defeat came at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. France returned to a constitutional monarchy under Louis XVIII, while Napoleon died in remote exile. Yet his impact lived on far beyond his reign.
Did You Know? Napoleon's conquests accidentally fueled nationalist movements in the very countries he invaded, including Germany, Italy, and Egypt.
Napoleon's political restructuring—like forming the Confederation of Rhine from small German states—laid groundwork for later nation-states. His Egyptian invasion awakened national consciousness there, while his overthrow of the Spanish monarchy created opportunities for South American independence movements. Even in defeat, Napoleon had redrawn the political map of Europe and beyond.