What are Hundred Days in French History?
The Hundred Days is also called the “War of the 7th Coalition”. This marks the time between the return of Napoleon from the island of Elba after spending 11 months of exile to Paris on the 20th of March 1815. It also signifies the 2nd restoration of King Louis XVIII on the 8th of July 1815 and this is 110 days. This time period witnessed the War of the 7th Coalition and comprised the Neapolitan War, the Waterloo Campaign, and many other insignificant campaigns.
In French “Cent Jours” means the hundred days. The phrase “hundred days French cent jours” was used by Gaspard Comte de Chabrol, the prefect of Paris when he made his speech that welcomed the king to Paris on the 8th of July. During this time, Napoleon returned but the Vienna Congress was sitting. On the 13th of March, 7 days before Napoleon returned to Paris, the Congress of Vienna declared him an outlaw. Then on the 25th of March, Russia, the UK, Prussia, and Austria, the 4 supreme powers as well as key members of the 7th Coalition, bound themselves for putting 150,000 men into the field and it put an end to his rule.
This prepared the stage for the final conflict that happened in the Napoleonic Wars besides the defeat of Napoleon. Hundred days french cent jours, the period between the 10th of March 1815, when Napoleon returned from Elba to Paris, and the 28th of June 1815, when Louis XVI was restored to power.
The Journey of Napoleon
On the 20th of March 1815, Napoleon along with his supporters marched into Paris after they escaped from their exile in Elba one month earlier. Due to the terror, Louis XVIII fled the capital at the recurrence of the former emperor and the military hero. Hundred Days of Napoleon did cease the Waterloo battle in June. This compelled his abdication and finally ensured Louis’ restoration to the throne of France in July.
So, hundred days of French history is considered the ultimate scene of Napoleon besides the domination of the French that the French Revolution initiated.
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Hundred Days Significance
The succession of irregular conflicts between England and France that happened during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries was not classed as the War of Hundred Days until the year 1823. Customarily, the war was known to have started in the year 1337 when Philip VI tried to reclaim Guyenne from King Edward 3rd. He responded by claiming the throne of France and it lasted until 1453 when the French people claimed a win over the uncertain country at the Castillon Battle. If you go by this calculation then you will find that the war of Hundred Years lasted one hundred and sixteen years.
Nonetheless, the source of the episodic fight can be traced nearly three hundred years earlier to the year 1066. This was the time when the duke of Normandy, William the Conqueror, conquered English before he was crowned the king.
Theoretically, the French king’s vassal that is the simultaneous novice role of William in the form of the king of England brought forward a multifaceted net of dynastic marriages. Here, descendants of both the English and French kingdoms could claim the same regions. With time, these overseas belongings resulted in some inevitable clashes.
By the year 1337, the declaration of Philip VI that Edward III did forfeit his authority to Guyenne was the push that Edward required for renewing his claim to the throne of France in the form of the nephew besides the King Charles IV’ closest male relative who breathed his last in the year 1328.
If you look from the perspective of the French, then the customary dates that were credited to the war of the 100 Years that began from the year 1337 and ended in the year 1453 show both the beginning and finishing of the hostilities of English on French soil. Nonetheless, the English were successful in retaining the ownership of Calais' port city until 1558. It continued to claim the throne of France until King George 3rd relinquished this title in the year 1800.
Unknown Facts About Hundred Days
After covering the hundred days definition and meaning, it is important to know about some unknown facts associated with the hundred days.
When the French ruler Charles IV died without leaving a son in the year 1328, the first cousin of Charles was selected to succeed and he became King Philip VI. Still, Edward III of England in the form of the nearest male relation to the king was found to possess a stronger claim. It was the French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte who ruled for 100 days and there were 111 days. Napoleon ruled between the 20th of March 1815 and the 8th of July 1815.
After exile, humiliation, and abdication, the ex-French emperor was down though not out. After this, Napoleon did launch his return to greatness besides the battlefield.
Hopefully, we have successfully covered all the vital information on Hundred days French history and other related information.
FAQs on Hundred Days: French History
1. What exactly is the 'Hundred Days' period in French history?
The 'Hundred Days' refers to the period between March 20, 1815, when Napoleon Bonaparte returned to Paris from his first exile, and July 8, 1815, when King Louis XVIII was restored to the French throne for the second time. This brief era marked Napoleon's final, dramatic attempt to regain power, which ended with his ultimate defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.
2. Who was Napoleon Bonaparte, and what was his role in the Hundred Days?
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military general who became Emperor of France. After conquering much of Europe, he was defeated and exiled to the island of Elba in 1814. The Hundred Days began when he escaped from Elba and returned to France to reclaim his title. His return triggered a major conflict with other European powers, making him the central figure of this entire event.
3. What were the most important events during Napoleon's Hundred Days?
The Hundred Days was a fast-paced period marked by several critical events:
- Napoleon's Escape: He secretly left the island of Elba and landed in France on March 1, 1815.
- Return to Power: He gathered popular support and marched to Paris, causing King Louis XVIII to flee. Napoleon took control of the government without firing a single shot.
- Formation of the Seventh Coalition: European powers like Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia declared Napoleon an outlaw and formed a military alliance to stop him.
- Battle of Waterloo: The period culminated in this decisive battle on June 18, 1815, where Napoleon's army was defeated.
4. How did the Hundred Days officially come to an end?
The Hundred Days ended with Napoleon's crushing defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. Faced with the combined forces of the British (led by the Duke of Wellington) and the Prussians (led by Gebhard von Blücher), the French army was overwhelmed. Following the battle, Napoleon abdicated his throne for a second and final time and was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, where he remained until his death.
5. Why is the Hundred Days period considered so significant in history?
The historical significance of the Hundred Days is immense. It was Napoleon's last gamble for power and the final chapter of the Napoleonic Wars. His return forced the European powers of the Seventh Coalition to unite and act decisively. His defeat at Waterloo permanently ended his reign and solidified the new European political map established by the Congress of Vienna, shaping international relations for decades to come.
6. What motivated Napoleon to risk everything by returning from exile?
Napoleon's decision to return was driven by two main factors. Firstly, he believed the French people and army were unhappy with the restored monarchy under King Louis XVIII and would welcome his return. Secondly, he was aware of political disagreements among the allies at the Congress of Vienna and hoped to exploit their divisions before they could form a united front against him.
7. How exactly did the Battle of Waterloo lead to Napoleon's final defeat?
The Battle of Waterloo was the final blow because it destroyed Napoleon's military power. While his army fought fiercely against the Anglo-allied forces led by Wellington, the timely arrival of the Prussian army tipped the scales. The French forces were outflanked and overwhelmed. This complete and decisive military loss left Napoleon with no army, no support, and no choice but to surrender to the British, ending his political and military career for good.
