Once a powerful kingdom ruled by a monarchy that claimed divine right, the country had been forever changed by the winds of revolution. The French Revolution had seen the rise of the radical Jacobins, the Reign of Terror, and the fall of the monarchy. In the wake of the chaos, the people demanded liberty, equality, and fraternity.
Out of the turbulent revolution emerged a military general named Napoleon Bonaparte. With his strategic brilliance and charisma, Napoleon ascended to power, as France's First Consul.
He had stabilized the nation, brought about much-needed reforms, and led France to victories on the battlefield. The French people admired him, and Europe watched him with a mixture of fascination and fear.