In the wake of the violent tumult of the French Revolution and subsequent purges and executions, Napoleon Bonaparte worked his way up from artillery commander in the French Army to unchallenged emperor of a French colussus that stretched across Europe from Spain to Prussia and Austria. Napoleon and France seemed to have complete control over the continent, but were challenged on the seas by the British and on their eastern border by the Russians. Failing to launch a seaborne invasion against the British, Napoleon and his Grand Armee chose to invade Russia instead. It would turn out to be one the worst military decisions ever.