This
piece is a survey of Napoleon's Bonaparte's career. The piece first describes Napoleon's rise and early successes as the leader of several artillery regiments, followed by an impressive squelching of an insurgency which threatened the French Directory. Following several successful opportunistic
military campaigns, the narrative then discusses Napoleon's ability to isolate and conquer France's enemies by building strategic alliances taking advantage of opportunity. Napoleon's
growing ambition to control Europe when he became Emperor, his inability to enforce his own economic policies and his growing arrogance are described as causing the eventual downfall of this brilliant but flawed military strategist.