(My answer from Quora)
Napoleon was so famous because he had the courage and the talent to stand up to the oppressive autocrats of Europe who had held the people back under a quasi-slavery now called feudalism.
Some people in power are very threatened by his example so they twist his story - making him only more famous. Some people like me are tired of all the lies so we talk about him - which makes him more famous.
Napoleon was a fascinating study in contradictions and a real life paladin.
