Widely considered one of the best military generals of all time, Napoleon Bonaparte nearly conquered Europe. His one mistake was trying to take on Russia.
He rose to prominence during the French Revolution, and then proclaimed himself an Emperor. He ruled France from 1804 until 1814, widely considered 10 of the best years of France.
During his reign, France was a military powerhouse, and he dominated Europe winning most of the wars he fought in. He rapidly gained control over continental Europe, before he was defeated in 1815. And it took nearly the entire continent to make an alliance to defeat Napoleon.
What made him so successful? Some would say his ferocity, some would say his courage, and others his military tactics. It is all of those things that made Napoleon such a great military commander. He might not have been a great leader, as he was awful in diplomacy, but when it came to winning a battle on the battlefield, nobody could do it better than Napoleon.
He had a long-term impact on most of the countries he conquered, as nations started reforms after Napoleon. In France he was responsible for implementing liberal policies. His Napoleonic Code is adopted in various forms in many legal systems in the world.
This documentary takes a look at his military tactics, but also at what made him such a great commander.
