This is a miniature oval portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte, also known as Napoleon I, the French military leader and emperor who conquered much of Europe in the early 19th century. Born on the island of Corsica, Napoleon rapidly rose through the ranks of the military during the French Revolution (1789-1799). After seizing power in France in 1799, he crowned himself emperor in 1804, and the rest was history - he successfully waged war against various European nations and expanded his empire. However, after a disastrous French invasion of Russia in 1812, Napoleon abdicated the throne two years later and was exiled to the island of Elba. In 1815, he briefly returned to power, but after a crushing defeat at Waterloo, he abdicated once again and was exiled to the remote island of St. Helena, where he died at the age of 51. The portrait is signed “Napoleon” on the back, but we can’t guarantee the signature is authentic. The paper is old and it looks like his signature, but Napoleon died in 1821 and the signature would have had to have been penned before then, and we don’t know when it was penned for sure. The oval antique bronze frame measures 5 1/2 in. down the center and 4 1/2 in. wide, and the engraved portrait is under domed glass. Image size: 4 x 3 in.