An Introduction of the Abdication of Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte was a general of the military in France. He became the first emperor or ruler of France. Napoleon was forced to abdicate his throne on 11th April 1814 in the Treaty of Fontainebleau and was exiled to the Mediterranean island of Elba. But within a year he returned to France and regained his control.
The second time he abdicated his throne was in 1815 after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. This defeat ultimately became the end of his dominance in France and he was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, in the southern Atlantic Ocean. He lived the rest of his life there and died on 5th May 1821 at the age of 52. In the following article, the Napoleon downfall summary is given with the details of the abdication of Napoleon, 1815.
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Napoleon’s Abdication and Return
Napoleon was forced to abdicate the throne on 6th April 1814. His age was around 40 years during his first abdication. He was exiled with the Treaty of Fontainebleau to Elba which was a Mediterranean island off the coast of Italy.
Napoleon escaped Elba and returned to France by sailing to the mainland of France with a group of supporters in less than a year later time dated on 26th February 26, 1815. He was welcomed in Parish with cheering crowds on 20 March 2. Louis XVIII who was the new king fled and Napoleon embarked on his Hundred Days campaign (the War of the Seventh Coalition).
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo took place on 18th June 1815 in Belgium which is marked in history as the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte. In the Battle of Waterloo, the forces Napoleon was defeated by the British and Prussians is considered as the signal of the end of his reign and of France’s domination in Europe. Napoleon led his army of some thousands of troops against the British army in the south of Brussels near the village of Waterloo. The Duke of Wellington and Marshal Blücher was leading the British army in the battle.
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Napoleon Downfall Summary
At the beginning of the 1800s, Napoleon Bonaparte was successful in restoring order to France. But after ten years of his rule, he faced some failures which eventually led to his downfall.
With the help of the Continental System, he attempted to conquer or gain an advantage over much of Europe. Napoleon enacted this decree which was meant to weaken England. Through it, he stopped the business or trade with England by encouraging the countries who were either neutral or who were allies with France. His intentions were to make England suffer economically. However, he could not succeed because the Continental System failed due to England having natural resources to sustain itself. Eventually, the country that was weakened was France.
France was involved in the Peninsular War against Portugal from the year 1808 to the year 1814 which helped the conflict by Great Britain. Napoleon wanted to conquer the Iberian Peninsula and he was succeeded in doing so in 1808 when he gained control over Spain. He appointed Joseph as the King of Spain who was his older brother. He ruled shortly from 1808 to 1813.
Spaniards, who had once been allied with France became upset about this. The Peninsular War costs a lot of wealth but France won against Spain despite the loss of money. But his allies understood that Napolean is greedy for land and this was marked as the turning point in the reign of Napoleon.
In 1812, the French under Napoleon set to an invasion of Russia. He went on this invasion in hope of gaining political advantage with Poland and Russia and for conquering troops of Russia. But it results in a total disaster for the troops of Napoleon. The environment was not in favor of the French as it freezing cold and also the Russians were certainly not open to any engagements with the French. This invasion was in vain. The French also suffered due to the “scorched earth” policy, which was a strategy of the military to destroy things that might be useful to the enemy so they burned and destroyed all of the stuff along with crops as they moved further away from the French. At the last, the troops of Napolean had nothing to eat. During 6 months invasion, hundreds of men of the French army.
The list of enemies of Napolean had increased by June 1815. Countries Austria, Russia, Britain, and Prussia were against Napolean due to his actions. These four countries all armed themselves for a war with the forces of Napoleon. He invaded Belgium, which turned into the spark which ignited the Battle of Waterloo. Abdication of Napoleon, 1815 was the final downfall of his empire. Napoleon along with his forces faced defeat in this battle, which is considered as the downfall of the region of Napolean.
Do You Know?
After the death of Napoleon Bonaparte was buried on the island. Until 1840, the remains of him were not returned to France. Remains of Napoleon are entombed where other military leaders of France are interred in a crypt at Les Invalides in Paris.
Military training and organizations were revolutionized by Napoleon. He is known for his Napoleonic Code or the French Civil code which is still in use with some necessary amendments.
Conclusion
In the early 19th century, Napolean Bonaparte gained control over much of Europe. During the French Revolution, he rose through the ranks of the French army and in 1799, seized control of the French government and became emperor in 1804. He stretched his empire across western and central Europe through a series of wars. He abdicated his throne two times. Once in 1814 and then next in 1815. The article provided the summary along with the details of his abdication.
FAQs on Abdication of Napoleon
1. What were the primary causes that led to Napoleon's first abdication in 1814?
Napoleon's first abdication on April 11, 1814, was the result of a combination of critical military and political failures. The key causes include:
The disastrous Russian Campaign (1812): The French Grande Armée suffered catastrophic losses in Russia, crippling Napoleon's military strength and breaking his image of invincibility.
The War of the Sixth Coalition (1813-1814): A powerful alliance of European powers, including Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria, was formed to defeat France. They decisively defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig (1813).
Invasion of France and Fall of Paris: Following their victory at Leipzig, the Coalition armies invaded France and captured Paris in March 1814. With the capital lost, Napoleon's own marshals refused to continue fighting and pressured him to step down.
2. How many times did Napoleon abdicate the throne, and where was he exiled each time?
Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated the throne two times. His exiles were under very different conditions:
First Abdication (1814): After the capture of Paris by the Sixth Coalition, Napoleon was forced to abdicate and was exiled to the Mediterranean island of Elba. He was granted sovereignty over the island and allowed to retain the title of Emperor.
Second Abdication (1815): Following his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo during his brief return to power, he abdicated for the final time. This time, he was exiled by the British to the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean, where he remained a prisoner until his death.
3. What was the Treaty of Fontainebleau, and what were its main terms?
The Treaty of Fontainebleau, signed on April 11, 1814, was the legal document that formalised Napoleon's first abdication. It was negotiated between representatives of Napoleon and the victorious powers of the Sixth Coalition. Its key terms were:
Napoleon renounced his rights to the thrones of France and Italy for himself and his descendants.
He and his wife, Marie Louise, were allowed to retain their titles of Emperor and Empress.
He was granted full sovereignty over the island of Elba and an annual income from the French government.
The treaty ultimately failed, as Napoleon escaped from Elba less than a year later, beginning the Hundred Days campaign.
4. What were Napoleon's three major strategic mistakes that directly contributed to his downfall?
Historians point to three major strategic blunders that stretched Napoleon's empire too thin and ultimately led to his abdication. These were:
The Continental System: An attempt to wage economic warfare against Britain by blockading its trade. This policy backfired, harming the economies of France's allies and leading to widespread smuggling and resentment. You can learn more about the Continental System here.
The Peninsular War (1807-1814): A prolonged and brutal conflict in Spain and Portugal that drained France of valuable troops and resources. The Spanish resistance, using guerrilla warfare, tied down hundreds of thousands of French soldiers.
The Invasion of Russia (1812): The catastrophic decision to invade Russia led to the near-total destruction of his Grande Armée, a loss from which he never fully recovered.
5. How did the 'Hundred Days' lead to Napoleon's second and final abdication?
The Hundred Days refers to the period between Napoleon's escape from Elba and his final defeat. His return to power directly caused his second abdication because it re-mobilised his enemies. Here is how the events unfolded:
Escape and Return: In March 1815, Napoleon escaped from Elba and landed in France, quickly gathering popular support and regaining the throne without firing a shot.
Formation of the Seventh Coalition: The European powers, who were meeting at the Congress of Vienna, immediately declared Napoleon an outlaw and formed a new coalition to remove him from power permanently.
Defeat at Waterloo: The coalition forces, led by the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard von Blücher, decisively defeated Napoleon's army at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815.
Final Abdication: With his army shattered and no hope of victory, Napoleon returned to Paris and abdicated for the second time on June 22, 1815, ending his rule forever.
6. How did Napoleon's first abdication in 1814 differ from his final one in 1815?
While both abdications resulted in Napoleon losing power, the circumstances and consequences were vastly different. The key differences were:
Nature of Defeat: In 1814, he abdicated after his marshals refused to continue a losing war, even though he personally wanted to fight on. In 1815, he abdicated after a complete and irreversible military annihilation at Waterloo.
Terms of Surrender: The first abdication was negotiated via the Treaty of Fontainebleau, which allowed him to retain his title and gave him a sovereign island (Elba). The second abdication was unconditional; he became a prisoner of war to the British.
Outcome of Exile: From Elba, he was able to escape and attempt a return to power. His exile to Saint Helena was specifically chosen for its extreme remoteness to ensure he could never escape again.
7. What was the immediate political impact on France and Europe after Napoleon's final abdication?
Napoleon's final abdication in 1815 had a profound and immediate impact, reshaping the political map of Europe. The main consequences were:
The Second Bourbon Restoration: King Louis XVIII was restored to the French throne, marking a return to monarchy in France, although under a constitutional charter.
The Congress of Vienna: The work of the Congress of Vienna was finalised. It aimed to create a long-term peace plan for Europe by settling issues arising from the Napoleonic Wars. It redrew national boundaries and established a balance of power to contain French ambition.
Rise of Conservatism: The defeat of Napoleon ushered in an era of conservative reaction across Europe, where monarchies worked together to suppress revolutionary and nationalist movements that had been inspired by the French Revolution.
