Napoleon ordered the construction in 1806 in Paris. The total price of construction came to 9.3 millions French francs. It was not complted until 1836, 15 years after Napoleon's death. Now is it a great tourist attraction for visitors.
Napoleon's purpose in having this structure built was to honor the French army. At the moment they were considered invicible after their conquest of most of Europe. This stands as a reminder of France's history.