Napoleon's return
The greatest emperor
of Europe returns from Elba with a great army.
Napoleon, the great emperor who lost
everything after a prolific ten year reign and being one of the
greatest emperor of Europe, conquering it almost in its totality, is
back to action.
As
you know, in 1812, thinking that Russia was plotting an alliance with
England, Napoleon launched an invasion against the Russians that
eventually ended with his troops retreating from Moscow and much of
Europe uniting against him. In 1814, Napoleon’s broken forces gave
up and Napoleon offered to step down in favor of his son. When this
offer was rejected, he abdicated and was sent to Elba.
Almost
a year ago, on
April 20, 1814, the dethroned Emperor left France for the isle of
Elba, where he was exiled under the terms of the Treaty of
Fontainebleau. Napoleon would be allowed to rule Elba, which had
12,000 inhabitants. Perhaps cruelly, the treaty allowed him to retain
the title "Emperor." On May 4 1814, Napoleon, now 45 years
old, arrived at Elba's capital, Portoferraio. Saying, "I want to
live from now on like a justice of the peace," Napoleon actually
worked hard to improve Elba, and to all observers, it seemed as
though Napoleon was content to a life of relative retirement. All the
while, however, he was plotting his return to Europe.
On
Elba, Napoleon was under the constant watch of Austrian and French
guards. Nonetheless, he was not isolated: he received thousands of
letters from all over Europe and read major newspapers that kept him
abreast of events throughout the world.
On
February 26, 1815, after less than a year in exile, Napoleon escaped Elba and sailed to the French mainland with a group of more than
1,000 supporters. On March 20, he returned to Paris, immediately,
people and troops began to rally to the returned Emperor. French
police forces were sent to arrest him, but upon arriving in his
presence, they kneeled before him. Triumphantly
where he was welcomed by cheering crowds. The new king, Louis XVIII,
fled. All his old supporters kneeled... his reign is back now, and
what will happen is uncertain. Some people say that a war is coming.
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