Napoleon Bonaparte was the French military leader who rose to power during the Revolution. Initially gaining prominence as a general in the Revolutionary Army, he effectively utilized military tactics during campaigns in Italy and Egypt. By 1799, he orchestrated a coup d'état, establishing himself as the First Consul of France. His consolidation of power brought stability post-Revolution, and he later crowned himself Emperor in 1804. Napoleon's reforms, including the Napoleonic Code, shaped modern legal systems in France and beyond. His ambitious expansion across Europe, however, ultimately led to his downfall and shaped the continent's balance of power.