In this hypothetical biography, Napoleon Bonaparte's rise and fall is attributed to his relationship with a noblewoman named Desirée. The film gives a chronological view of Napoleon's life and shows his love for a woman he wanted to marry; he spurned the relationship to focus on his career. Both Napoleon (Marlon Brando) and Desirée continue on with their lives after the relationship; he becomes the unhappily married Emperor of France and she becomes the Queen of Sweden. They meet up again later in the film in a confrontation in which Desirée convinces Napoleon to give up and go to St. Helena.