Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of France, summoned Volta to Paris to demonstrate his voltaic pile. Napoleon was greatly impressed and recognized the significance of Volta's invention.

Volta demonstrated the voltaic pile to the Institut National (now the Académie des Sciences) in Paris. He was awarded a gold medal and received high praise from the scientific community.

Napoleon showered Volta with honors, including making him a Count of the Kingdom of Italy and a Senator. He also received numerous other titles and awards, reflecting the high esteem in which he was held.

Volta was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Reunion, a Napoleonic order recognizing civil and military merit. This further cemented his status as a prominent figure in the Napoleonic era.

Following the fall of Napoleon, Volta's honors were largely maintained by the Austrian government, which had regained control of Lombardy. This demonstrated the widespread and enduring recognition of his scientific achievements.

Volta retired from his position as Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Pavia after a distinguished career spanning several decades. He had made immense contibutions to the field of Experimental Physics