4. The Hundred Days

Why did Napoleon decided to make a return?

He saw that the allies were disagreeing about peace terms and also that the restored King Louis XVIII was becoming unpopular so decided to make a return.

On the 1st of March 1815 what did Napoleon do?

He landed near Cannes with 1000 men and rapidly advanced north

He urged his old troops to rally to him and spoke about saving France from ‘the priests and the nobles’ by a second revolution.

How did Napoleon get back into his old palace?

Troops sent under his old comrade Marshal Ney refused to arrest Napoleon and both they and Ney joined him.

He progressed to Paris and Louis XVIII fled.

By 20th 1815 March Napoleon was back in his old palace.

What was the new and more liberal constitution created by Napoleon called?

Acte Additionnel

Explain the Acte Additionnel:

It was known as ‘le Benjamine’ after its author, the writer and thinker Benjamin Constant.

Napoleon claimed that he had always been a liberal, wanted more democracy and had worked for national freedom in Europe

After the Acte Additionnel what did Napoleon send a message about?

He sent a message to the monarchs of Europe saying he wanted peace and accepting the Treaty of Paris.

After Napoleons return what did the Allies do?

They renewed their 1814 Treaty of Chaumont and tried to raise forces.

On the 20th of March what was Napoleon’s numbers like?

140,000 men and 200,000 reserve

Where were the allies when Napoleon advanced military action?

The main allied forces were in the Netherlands, with Wellington at Brussels and the Prussians under Blücher at Liége.

Napoleon advanced against them, hoping to inflict defeats on them separately and discourage any further military action.

Explain the Prussians Vs Napoleon?

He had initial success against the Prussians.

However, he failed to inflict a crushing defeat and detached part of his force under his subordinate, Grouchy, to pursue them and prevent any union with his next enemy the British.

What was the initial encounter between Napoleon and the British called?

Explain it:

Quatre Bras

• but it was indecisive and Wellington withdrew to Waterloo to defend Brussels

Explain the Battle of Waterloo 18th June 1815:

On 18th June the last great battle of the Napoleonic Wars took place .

Despite all Napoleon’s efforts on a rain-soaked battlefield he could not break Wellington’s defences before the Prussians arrived.

The British offered heroic resistance at the key points on the battlefield of Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte.

Grouchy had failed to stop the Prussian forces joining the battle and Napoleon had failed in a series of unimaginative frontal assaults on Wellington’s men.

Explain Napoleons second abdication and the second Treaty of Paris

While Napoleon wanted to continue the war, he lacked the political and popular support to do so.

For a second time he had to abdicate on the 22nd of June 1815 and this time the British took him into a more secure exile on the isolated island of St Helena.

Meanwhile France lost more territory by the second Treaty of Paris, 20th November 1815

When was the fate of the rest of Napoleons empire decided?

Vienna on 9th June 1815

What did the Vienna Settlement decide?

In some places the victors turned the clock back; in others they built upon the changes Napoleon had started.

One key aim was to surround a weakened France with strong neighbours to prevent any future attempts at expansion.

What happened to Belgium and Holland in the Vienna settlement?

They were united to creat a strong state to the north.

What happened to Spain in the Vienna Settlement?

It was returned to its Bourbon rulers.

What happened to Switzerland in the Vienna Settlement?

their independence was guaranteed

What was created in the south-east?

A strengthened Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont

In the north west what was created?

The German Confedration

What happened to Italian States in the Vienna Settlement?

They were returned to Austrian influence or to their former rulers, such as the Pope in the Papal States and the Bourbons in Naples.

What did Prussia and Russia get from the Vienna Settlement?

Prussia gained control of a number of German states and Russia took most of Polands.