French Empire

The French Empire refers to a period when France was governed as an empire under an emperor, most notably under Napoleon Bonaparte from 1804 to 1814 (and briefly in 1815). During this time, France expanded its territory through military conquests and established a centralized government with a strong emperor at its helm. The empire sought to spread revolutionary ideals, reform legal systems, and influence Europe politically and culturally. It ended with Napoleon’s defeat, leading to the restoration of the French monarchy and the reshaping of European borders.