From the desperation of the radical phase of the French Revolution emerged a great military hero who would overthrow the extremist Directory and build a formidable empire out of the struggling nation of France. After gaining publicity for his military victories, the young general quickly rose to power. Napoleon Bonaparte's government marked the end of the Revolution and the beginning of a new era for France and the entire European continent. During his rule as First Consul and then Emperor of France, Napoleon completely renovated his revolution-stricken country with a new code of laws that would later be recognized as his most important contribution to history. But this legal code did not grant women any of the just rights that were granted to men in excess. The determined emperor also introduced new military tactics, which allowed him to triumph over opposing forces still fighting in the archaic European line formation. Yet long after the death of the great leader of the French Empire in exile on the island of St. Helena, his legal code would become the basis of European and American law. (And abroad, Napoleon conquered much of Europe, extending his influential ideas and laws to subject nations.) Throughout his military and political career, Napoleon Bonaparte introduced new reforms that would both positively and negatively reshape the French nation and European society as a whole. .Perhaps Napoleon's most productive reform was his Civil Code, later renamed the Napoleonic Code. This code, which was the first major revision of French laws since Roman times, implemented many of the reforms called for by the Revolution, such as the end of feudalism and equality for all male citizens, and addressed new issues such as freedom of religion. ...... middle of paper ......European continent, putting many nations on the path to a republic. Despite Napoleon's military genius, his arrogance caught up with him, leading to his downfall at the Battle of Waterloo. Ultimately, the French Revolution and Napoleon's visions remained little more than a dying spark: after Napoleon's final exile on St. Helena, legitimate monarchs were restored to the thrones of Europe, including Louis XVIII on the throne of France. Nearly 30 years of France's history, from the start of the Revolution in 1789 to the fall of Napoleon in 1815, had been physically swept away, leaving only ideas for the future. Works Cited Biskupic, Joan. “From two friezes, great figures of legal history gaze upon the Supreme Court bench” Washington Post March 11, 1998, page H01. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/supcourt/stories/frieze031198.htm