Napoleon Bonaparte’s career began at a time of military upheaval.

The Seven Years’ War (1756–1763) and the defeat of Louis XV’s army led to major organisational and technical restructuring.

Theoretical analysis was also on the rise.

Starting from 1793, revolutionary France was at war with most of Europe. The Republic set in motion the mass mobilisation of troops and stepped up weapons manufacturing, forming fourteen armies containing an unprecedented number of soldiers.

A simple artillery officer in 1793, Bonaparte absorbed the changes to the art of war. At Toulon, in Italy and Egypt, he put them into practice with rarely seen expertise. His innovative approach to warfare set him apart from others. He quickly made his way to the top of the military ladder before seizing power: the coup d’état on 18–19 Brumaire Year VIII (9–10 November 1799) made him the First Consul while retaining his role as general and political and military leader of the Republic.