We inevitably spend a lot of time talking about Napoleon - its only natural. But if we set Napoleon to one side for a moment, who is the most significant/influential/important figure in this period, apart from Bonaparte?
They can be any nationality, have had any occupation (ie they needn't have been a soldier). A few contenders spring to mind that we might want to think about, but I'm not enough of an expert on their lives to make an authoritative case for them:
Metternich? Archduke Charles? Talleyrand? Berthier?
I'm reluctant to say Tsar Alexander, and people may be surprised to hear that I wouldn't make the case for Wellington, or in fact any of the British PMs. Anyhow, what do we all think?
There is one person who saved the lives of dozens of endangered French citizens proscribed by the Revolutionary government. Not so successful was her trying to help the Royal Couple escape France.
This person lobbied the Directors to appoint Talleyrand to his first foreign ministry post. Talleyrand, who helped Napoleon Bonaparte achieve power.
This person was considered by Napoleon such a threat as to be exiled for a decade from Paris. She had operated the most influential salon in town gathering elitists of all persuasions who often seemed to be less attached to Napoleon after their visit (according to Napoleon).
This person was a significant literary figure, having written fiction and non-fiction that elevated the Romantic Period and educated readers of French about culture, politics and literature of Germany and Italy. Wrote a history of the entire Revolutionary/Napoleonic period and a book about suicide.
This person invented a form of "shuttle diplomacy" (later made famous by Kissinger) by escaping her Swiss exile and touring for more than a year Austria, Russia, Sweden and Britain -- all the while lobbying leaders to cement a new Coalition that would find success at Leipzig in 1813.
A Swiss citizen, she exploited for years her husband's post as Swedish minister to Paris, championed the British form of government and promoted German and Italian culture -- all while retaining a French identity, making her a very European woman.
Germaine de Stael could be a contender, eh?