On December 2, 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte is crown Emperor of the French. Having previously been given the title of Emperor of the French on May 14 of the same year, Napoleon's coronation served to establish legitimacy of his rule as well as that of his dynasty. Having risen to the top of French politics of the time through his military service and political maneuvering during the French Revolution, it is little surprise that warfare marked his reign as emperor. From Austerlitz to Moscow, Napoleon and his armies marched. Following the near-destruction of his military during his Russian campaign and the defeat of the French during the War of the Sixth Coalition, Napoleon was forced to abdicate his throne and was subsequently exiled to Elba in 1814; however, he would return from exile in 1815 and attempt to reclaim the throne. This resulted in the War of the Seventh Coalition which in turn ended with Napoleon's surrender to Captain Frederick Maitland of the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Bellorophon. Bonaparte was then exiled to the island of St. Helena where he would spend the remainder of his life, passing away on May 5, 1821, at the age of 51.