I. Napoleon rose to power through military victories in Italy and Egypt in the late 18th century. He later seized power in France through a coup d'état in 1799.
II. Between 1803-1809, Napoleon dominated much of Europe through further military campaigns. However, his ill-fated invasion of Russia in 1812 marked a turning point, as his army was decimated in its retreat from Moscow.
III. Napoleon's empire went into decline after 1813, as the Wars of Liberation saw European nations rise up against French rule. He was finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, sending him into exile and bringing an end to his reign.