'Napoleon Bonaparte' Gold Coin

He was one of the most powerful men in world history and considered by many to be the most skillful general of all time.

Napoleon Bonaparte was born on 15th August 1769, in Corsica, he was only a young man when he embarked on a campaign to conquer all of Europe.

He rapidly rose through the ranks of the military during the French Revolution. After he staged a military coup, he first became Consul for Life, later he would crown himself Emperor. During his reign he demonstrated that he was not only a great conquerer but als an excellent statesman. After his crowning as "Emperor of the French" he said: 'I am the successor, not of Louis XVI, but of Charlemagne'.

After the unsuccessful Russian campaign in 1814, the allied countries exiledhim to the island of Elba. However, Napoleon escaped and returned to France and was reinstated as Emperor for 100 days.

Only his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, against a combined British- Prussian Army sealed his fate. Napoleon was exiled to the remote British island of Saint Helena, where he would die on the 5th May 1821, aged 51.