Napoléon Bonaparte was one of the rare figures in history whose life had farreaching impact. He changed the face of Europe and helped shape the modern era. In the history books, he stands as a brilliant strategist and commander as well as a visionary conqueror. Born in 1769 in Corsica, Napoléon Bonaparte is known for his meteoric rise from general to first consul to emperor of the French. As a ruler, he shook the entire world with innovations such as centralised administration, religious tolerance and, most notably, the Code civil, the first common civil code, which established the equality of all people.