Napoleon Bonaparte I (1769-1821) was a French general, politician and Emperor of France (1804-1814, 1815). Born in Corsica, he joined the French army and was noted for his military strategy and victories during the Revolutionary Wars. After the collapse of the First French Republic, he took power in a coup d’état in 1799 and established the Concordat. In 1804, he was proclaimed Emperor of France, seeking to unify Europe under French hegemony.

During his reign, he introduced important social and legal reforms, most notably the Napoleonic Code, which influenced the law of many states. Despite his military successes, his campaign in Russia in 1812 and his defeat at Waterloo in 1815 led to his downfall. He was exiled to St Helena, where he died in 1821.

There is evidence that Napoleon was a Freemason. He supported Freemasonry and many of his relatives and associates were members of the Brotherhood. As Emperor and general, he held absolute power in France and Europe during his reign.