The Ambitions of Napoleon From 1799 to 1814, France was in the hands of a keen military dictator of unheard of ability. Napoleon was one of history's greatest leaders. He realized he was the only one to end civil dispute in France, in order to create unity. Napoleon saw himself as a man of destiny. The glory of war and the empire he wanted to create was irresistible. For years he went from victory to victory, but in the end of his reign he was destroyed by his own restless ambition to take over Europe. Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 15th, 1769. He started school at the age of ten at the College d'Autun. But that didn't last