IMAGE Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) is considered to have been a military genius, and is known for commanding many successful campaigns. Over the course of little more than a decade, he acquired control of most or all of the western and central mainland of Europe until his defeat at the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig in October 1813, which led to his abdication several months later. A Young Napoleon Bonaparte, created in 1804 by Antoine-Jean Gros.