This Day in History — France

On April 11, 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated his throne after a series of devastating military defeats, including the failed Russian campaign and the fall of Paris. Exiled to Elba, his resignation marked the end of his empire and a major shift in European power, though his story was not yet over.

In 1815, Europe believed Napoléon was finished. Exiled to Elba, he escaped with a small loyal force and landed in France, marching toward Paris. Instead of resistance, soldiers joined him and towns welcomed him. Without a major battle, he reclaimed the throne, beginning the dramatic “Hundred Days” that shocked the world.