Napoleon rose to power through his military successes in Italy and Egypt in the late 18th century. After returning to France, he launched a coup in 1799 and became the First Consul. He later proclaimed himself Emperor in 1804. As leader, Napoleon reformed many French institutions, established the Napoleonic Code, and expanded French territory across Europe through military campaigns. However, his invasion of Russia in 1812 proved disastrous, leading to the collapse of his empire and his eventual exile on St. Helena, where he died in 1821.