Napoleon abdicates the throne and is exiled to Elba
On this day in 1814 Napoleon Bonaparte emperor of France and one of the greatest military leaders in history abdicates the throne and in the Treaty of Fontainebleau is banished to the Mediterranean island of Elba.The future emperor was born in Ajaccio Corsica on August 15 1769.After attending military school he fought during the French Revolution of 1789 and rapidly rose through the military ranks leading French troops in a number of successful campaigns throughout Europe in the late 1700s.By 1799 he had established himself at the top of a military dictatorship.
In 1804 he became emperor of France and continued to consolidate power through his military campaigns so that by 1810 much of Europe came under his rule.Although Napoleon developed a reputation for being power-hungry and insecure he is also credited with enacting a series of important political and social reforms that had a lasting impact on European society including judiciary systems constitutions voting rights for all men and the end of feudalism.Additionally he supported education science and literature.
His Code Napoleon which codified key freedoms gained during the French Revolution such as religious tolerance remains the foundation of French civil law.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 Napoleons 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.
In March 1815 he escaped his island exile and returned to Paris where he regained supporters and reclaimed his emperor title Napoleon I in a period known as the Hundred Days.However in June 1815 he was defeated at the bloody Battle of Waterloo.Napoleons defeat ultimately signaled the end of Frances domination of Europe.
He abdicated for a second time and was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena in the southern Atlantic Ocean where he lived out the rest of his days.He died at age 52 on May 5 1821 possibly from stomach cancer although some theories contend he was poisoned.
