Napoleon Buonaparte

Napoleon

Born a bare gentleman in the island of Corsica as Napoleone di Buonaparte, or Napoleon Buonaparte, this turbulent and ambitious man became in time the most powerful person in Republican France and ultimately crowned himself Emperor of that unhappy country. For some years he made France the most feared and yet in some ways most admired nation in Europe, before he was finally defeated by allied forces at the Battle of Waterloo. He was then sent into exile, never to return. Even those who deplore his bloodthirsty ambition are forced to admire his military genius and powers of command: his like has perhaps not been seen in Europe since the time of Alexander the Great.

His nickname among the English was 'Old Boney'.

Quite a lot more can be read about Napoleon on his Wikipedia page.