The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting Napoleon's French Empire against shifting coalitions of European powers.

Napoleon's 'Grande Armée' dominated continental Europe for years, achieving stunning victories like the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805.

His primary and most persistent enemy was Great Britain, which he could not invade due to the supremacy of the British Royal Navy.

The British confirmed their naval dominance at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Napoleon attempted to defeat Britain through economic warfare with the 'Continental System,' a large-scale embargo which ultimately failed.

A major turning point was his disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812, which resulted in the near-total destruction of his army.

This defeat led to the formation of a grand coalition of European powers (including Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria) against him.

The coalition defeated Napoleon and exiled him to the island of Elba in 1814.

He escaped, returned to power for a period known as the 'Hundred Days,' but was finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

The wars spread the ideas of the French Revolution, such as nationalism and liberalism, across Europe.