On this day in 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor, and a renowned military leader relinquished his throne and was exiled to Elba, a Mediterranean island, as part of the Treaty of Fontainebleau.
Napoleon, born on August 15, 1769, in Corsica, attended military school and fought for the French Revolution in 1789.
He quickly rose through the military ranks and led French troops in several victorious European campaigns in the late 1700s.
By 1799, he established himself as a military dictator. In 1804, he became the emperor of France and expanded his power through his military conquests, leading to his rule over most of Europe by 1810.
Despite his reputation for being power-hungry and insecure, Napoleon implemented several significant political and social reforms that had a long-lasting effect on European society, including establishing judiciary systems, constitutions, voting rights for all men, and ending feudalism.
He also supported education, science, and literature. His Code Napoleon, which codified fundamental freedoms gained during the French Revolution, such as religious tolerance, remains the basis of French civil law.
In 1812, Napoleon believed that Russia was conspiring with England, so he invaded Russia, resulting in his troops retreating from Moscow. The rest of Europe uniting against him.
In 1814, his weakened forces surrendered, and he proposed that his son become his successor.
However, his proposal was declined, leading to his abdication and banishment to Elba. In March 1815, he escaped from exile and returned to Paris, where he regained his supporters and reclaimed his emperor title, marking the Hundred Days period.
Nevertheless, he was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815.
His defeat marked the end of France's dominance in Europe.
He abdicated for a second time and was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena in the southern Atlantic Ocean, where he spent the rest of his life.
Napoleon died at age 52 on May 5, 1821, purportedly due to stomach cancer, though some theories suggest he was poisoned.
#ThisDayInHistory
April 11, 1814
Great story. I know I used to be obsessed with Napoleon when I was a kid. Read all about him.
Absolutely fascinating