Today, Napoleon is regarded as both a historical figure and a legend--and it is often difficult for us to separate the two. The events of his life have captured the he imaginations of writers, filmmakers, and playwrights alike, whose works have done so much to create the Napoleonic legend of today. 

    The Napoleonic legend, the picture of a liberal minded conqueror spreading the fruits of  the French Revolution throughout Europe, was an important factor in French history and helped to make Napoleon's nephew, emperor as Napoleon III.  Napoleon dominated his times so completely that the period in history between 1800 and 1815 is often called the Napoleonic era. But Napoleon's legacy is mixed. 

    Napoleon was without a doubt amongst the greatest military commanders in the history of the world. Yet, he is commonly portrayed as a power-hungry conqueror in countries like Austria, Spain and Russia. In his own lifetime he vehemently denied being such a conqueror. Napoleon maintained that his goal he been to create a federation of free peoples in a powerful Europe united under a liberal central government. 

    It is well know that he did intend, though, to achieve his goal by concentrating the power in his own hands. Interestingly, (some would say contradictingly,), in the states he created, Napoleon granted constitutions, codified scattered laws, abolished feudalism, created more efficient and centralized governments, and fostered education, science, literature, and the arts.

   Napoleon promoted the growth of the modern state through his administrative and legal reform. His changes to the map of Europe would stimulate  movements for national unification among the Germans and Italians. However, the use of police chiefs like Joseph Fouché to suppress all opposition to Napoleon's Regime, set an ominous precedent that paved the way for the modern totalitarian state. 

    One last note, it is believed that there are more books written on Napoleon than on any other historical figure.

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