1st Empire

The First Empire refers to the period when Napoleon Bonaparte ruled France as Emperor from 1804 to 1814, and briefly in 1815. It marked a time of extensive military campaigns across Europe, intended to spread revolutionary ideals and expand French influence. Napoleon centralized power, reformed legal and administrative systems, and built a vast empire. The era ended when European coalitions defeated him, leading to his exile. The First Empire significantly shaped European history, influencing legal, political, and military developments that persisted beyond Napoleon’s reign.