Napoleon was a second lieutenant at 16, a brigadier general at 24, and ruler of France by 30. Famed for his outstanding military success—which facilitated the greatness of the French Empire—his impressive political achievements also include the civil laws known as the Napoleonic Code. This stunning biography, enhanced with 180 illustrations that range from battlefield reports to intimate love letters, vividly chronicles his incredible rise, legendary battles, conquest of Europe, and eventual fall.