Souvenir Medal Monnaie de Paris 2004 - Musée de l'Armée, Napoléon (75)

Napoleon Bonaparte, born in 1769 in Corsica, is an iconic figure in world history. He distinguished himself with exceptional military talents during the French Revolution, seized power as First Consul in 1799, and proclaimed himself Emperor in 1804. He led military campaigns across Europe, expanding France's influence. His defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 led to his exile on the island of Saint Helena, where he passed away in 1821. Napoleon leaves behind a complex legacy, marked by lasting legal reforms but also controversial military and political consequences.