This Day in History — France
June 18, 1815 — Battle of Waterloo - Napoleon Bonaparte
On June 18, 1815, the Battle of Waterloo ended Napoleon Bonaparte’s quest for European dominance. British-led Allied forces under the Duke of Wellington, joined by Prussian troops commanded by Field Marshal von Blücher, defeated the French army in a decisive battle that reshaped Europe and ended the Napoleonic Wars.
April 11, 1814 — Napoleon Abdicates and Is Exiled to Elba
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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.
February 26th, 1815 - Napoléon Leaves Elba
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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.