One of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, figures in modern Western history was Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon Bonaparte came from humble origins and with hard work and dedication rose quickly and steadily through the military and eventually political ranks. Napoleon Bonaparte became the young, charismatic and intelligent leader of France. However, just as quickly as he stood up, he fell. Napoleon Bonaparte's fall from power was largely attributed to the fact that he himself became less "a man of the people" and more like the monarchs of the past. He became too fixated on some issues, which in turn hurt other issues. Finally, Napoleon Bonaparte fell from power because he tried to gain too much of it. His subsequent military campaigns decimated his army, leaving France vulnerable to rival states. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769 in Corsica, Italy. He was part of a noble, yet mediocre, family and had Italian lineage. At the age of 10 he was sent to France to study, then studied at the prestigious Military Academy in Paris.1 He prepared for a career as an artillery soldier in the French army. It is widely believed that Napoleon chose this field because there was less aristocracy than in other divisions. He was a minor officer until 1793, but the Jacobin seizure of power gave him the opportunity to advance his career. He shared political ideas with the Jacobins. As a result, the Jacobins gave Napoleon the title of brigadier general for parts of France and Italy. When the Jacobs fell, Napoleon lent his services to the government of the Directory.2 Napoleon led French soldiers on many campaigns throughout Europe and conquered many lands for the French, becoming a national hero. During one of Napoleon's campaigns, Napoleon learned that the director......middle of paper......principal rulers or modern history. Perhaps it is clearer that Napoleon Bonaparte also had many flaws, which in turn led to his ultimate death. Napoleon fell from power because he moved away from his initial beliefs and morals, becoming less of a man of the people. He also became too fixated on things, becoming obsessive and losing control. And finally, Napoleon Bonaparte fell from power because he wanted too much power, Napoleon gained a lot of power at a young age, he wanted to continue gaining power instead of maintaining it. A combination of all these flaws led to the great downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte. If Napoleon had maintained the ideals he created as a young man, and perhaps curbed his attempts to gain more power, he might have lasted longer as ruler of France and might have maintained France's position as the most powerful country in Europe..