The Hundred Days

Chapter by Alan Forrest (GC)

How popular was Louis XVIII?

Not popular - not fulfilling constitutional monarchy. No great enthusiasm for him.

Why did Napoleon leave Elba in early March 1815?

Sources told him that the regime was unpopular - people were looking back at N’s reign with nostalgia (grass is always greener). Tax had increased and Louis XVIII was unpopular.

How well prepared was N to invade France?

650 men of the guard, 40 horses, Polish lancers & local volunteers

Where did he land and what route did he follow?

Landed on the southern coast near Antibes, then went north via Grenoble and Lyon to Paris

What resistance did her face?

Not much - unreasonably easy, local people began to join him

How was N received in Grenoble?

French regiments sent to arrest him but they refused to strike him due to N’s theatrical performance

How successful was Marshal Ney in apprehending him?

Swore an oath of loyalty to Louis XVIII but when he faced N, he couldn’t bring himself to arrest Napoleon.

When did Napoleon reach Paris?

20th March 1815

What happened to Louis XVIII?

Escaped from Paris - didn’t want to be in the hands of N

How did Napoleon appeal to the French population?

His rule will be a constitutional monarchy - there will be liberty & equality before the law

How did he appeal to the army?

Restored the Legion of Honour

What was the Acte Additionnel?

New & liberal constitution - written by Benjamin Constant. N claimed that he had always been this liberal (secretly had private concerns about the constitution).

New, liberal reforms = arguably forced on N by his collaborators (Forrest)

How popular was this with the French people?

Unclear - referendum on the constitution had low turnout and low support

How was news of Napoleon received by the Allies?

The European monarchs understood that there was no alternative but war (in order to force N’s abdication).

How many men are estimated to have died fighting for France in Napoleon’s wars?

1.7 million

How was warfare changing in this period?

Growing use of artillery - aimed to mow down opponents in a largely anonymous slaughter

More mobile guns - increased power

How prepared was Napoleon to face the Allies in yet another war?

Built an army from scratch - by the end of April, N had 4 armies and 3 observation corps in the field as well as tens of thousands of horses.

(not quite the 800,000 which he had talked about)

How successful was Napoleon against the Prussians and Anglo-Dutch armies at the start of the campaign?

Quick, pre-emptive strike by N with remarkable precision. Imposed a total news blackout and spread false intelligence to confuse his opponents. Tactics = working well.

Left Paris to take personal command of the army (without his opponents realising) whilst Wellington was reassuring London that N would not leave Paris.

N launched an incisive attack to separate the allied armies & prevent them from creating a united front

Who won the Battle of Ligny and was it of any significance?

63,000 French vs 83,000 Prussians - bloody encounter.

N won but significance of victory was diminished as Drouet d’Erlon’s army was delayed and Ney failed to take the key crossroads of Quatre-Bras

What happened at Waterloo?

18 June 1815 - an evenly matched affair (N knew that he had to win if he wanted to survive).

Frontal assault led by Jerome and cavalry charge by Ney. HOWEVER Grouchy failed to locate the Prussian army - fatal error?

Why did Napoleon abdicate for a second time?

On 22 June, N was informed that he must abdicate or be deposed - faced a wall of hostility when he returned to Paris.