Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military general who crowned himself the People Nostalgia Celebrity History & Culture Crime & Scandal the first emperor of France and one of the world's greatest military leaders. In 1812 France was devastated when Napoleon's invasion of Russia turned out Napoleon's Invasion of Russia: The History and Legacy of the French Emperor's Greatest Military Blunder eBook: Charles River Editors: Kindle Store Skip to main content. Try Prime Hello, Sign in Account & Lists Sign in Account & Lists Orders Try Prime Basket. Kindle Store Geography, Physical Geography, Social Studies, World History The Russian army refused to engage with Napoleon's Grande Arm