Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769 in Corsica, France. He rapidly rose through the ranks of the French military during the Revolution and eventually crowned himself Emperor of France in 1804. As emperor, Napoleon revolutionized military organization and training. However, after a disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812, Napoleon abdicated the throne in 1814 and was exiled to Elba. In 1815, he briefly returned to power but was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, forcing his final abdication.