From his childhood in Corsica, he went on to attend the college of Autun, the military school of Brienne, and the military school of Paris. He read many of the philosophers of his time, and studied the campaigns of the great military leaders of the past. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "These studies left him attached to a sort of Deism, an admirer of the personality of Christ, a stranger to all religious practices, and breathing defiance against "sacerdotalism" and "theocracy". His attitude under the Revolution was that of a citizen devoted to the new ideas." 1
Napoleon rose quickly through the ranks and became a captain in 1792. The following year, he distinguished himself by his part in recapturing Toulon from the English and was promoted to brigadier general. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the commander in chief wrote: "I have no words to describe the merit of Bonaparte. Much science, as much intelligence, and too much bravery." Sounds pretty Swordsy to me! He was then sent to Italy and contributed to victories there. After returning to France, he saved the national convention from a Parisian mob and was given command of the army of the interior. A year later, he drew up a plan for an Italian campaign and was made commander in chief of the French army in Italy.
"Throughout his Italian campaigns, Napoleon won the confidence of his men by his energy, charm, and ability to comprehend complex issues quickly and make decisions rapidly. These qualities, combined with his keen intelligence, ease with words, and supreme confidence in himself, enabled him throughout the rest of his life to influence people and win their firm support." (Western Civilization Volume II)
After returning to Paris, "Bonaparte induced the Directory to take up the plan of an expedition to Egypt. His object was to make the Mediterranean a French lake, by the conquest of Malta and the Nile Valley, and to menace England in the direction of India. ... At Cairo he affected a great respect for Islam; reproached with this later on, he replied: 'It was necessary for General Bonaparte to know the principles of Islamism, the government, the opinions of the four sects, and their relations with Constantinople and Mecca. It was necessary, indeed, for him to be thoroughly acquainted with both religions, for it helped him to win the affection of the clergy in Italy and of the ulemas in Egypt.'
"Besides certain political results, the expedition to Egypt had borne fruit for science: Egyptology dates its existence from the creation of the Institute of Egypt (Institut d'Egypte) by Bonaparte." 1
Napoleon then became First Consul of France--in effect, a dictatorship--and directly controlled the executive authority. He centralized the government, selected (formerly elected) departmental officials, appointed military officers, and reorganized the judicial and financial administrations. He established an educational system with secondary and technical schools. Napoleon reorganized many things--roads, factories, harbors--making France one of the first efficiently-organized modern states.
While establishing his regime at home, Napoleon also dealt with France's enemies, crossing the Alps at the St. Bernard pass and defeating the Austrians at Marengo, Italy. France soon became paramount on the Continent. In 1802, Napoleon was proclaimed First Consul for life. This proclamation "increased in him the sense of his responsibility towards the religion of the country, and in Pius VII the desire to be on good terms with a personage who was advancing with such long strides towards omnipotence." 1
Napoleon had himself proclaimed emperor of the French, and invited Pope Pius VII to crown him. In the Cathedral of Notre Dame (not the traditional Reims), Napoleon took the crown from the hands of the pope and placed it upon is own head. "Out of respect for the pope, this detail was not recorded in the "Moniteur". ...the most important of the very moderate concessions made by the emperor was his promise to substitute the Gregorian Calendar for that of the Revolution after 1 January, 1806." 1
Napoleon became master of the Continent, and the whole map of Europe was rearranged.
Napoleon was one of the greatest military commanders in history. He dominated so completely that European history between 1800 and 1815 is commonly described as the Napoleonic era. He has been portrayed as a power hungry conqueror, but Napoleon denied being such a conqueror. He argued that he was building a federation of free peoples in a Europe united under a liberal government. But if this was his goal, he intended to achieve it by taking power in his own hands. However, in the states he created, Napoleon granted constitutions, introduced law codes, abolished feudalism, created efficient governments and fostered education, science, literature and the arts.
Napoleon's own opinion of his career is best stated in the following quotation:
I closed the gulf of anarchy and brought order out of chaos. I rewarded merit regardless of birth or wealth, wherever I found it. I abolished feudalism and restored equality to all regardless of religion and before the law. I fought the decrepit monarchies of the Old Regime because the alternative was the destruction of all this. I purified the Revolution.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume X; Copyright © 1911 by Robert Appleton Company; Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by Kevin Knight; http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10687a.htm
Additional sources:
http://www.moonchild.ch/Tarot/court/SKn/sknnap.html