Download French Revolution notes and more Study notes History in PDF only on Docsity!
The French Revolution 1789-1815: The World on the Eve of 1789: Habsburg Empire: Vienna was the capital. It was considered the leading German state. There were people from many different nationalities living in Austria. It was difficult for Austria to industrialize. It has constant wars with Prussia. Their conflict reached its height in 174, when Prussia invaded the Austrian Province Silesia. It also controlled the Austrian Netherlands (today's Belgium). Prussia: The Hohenzollern dynasty ruled Prussia and Berlin was the capital. Prussia was military-oriented and protestant. It became more powerful towards the end of the 18th Century. Frederick the Great was an enlightened despot. Prussia will eventually be key to unite Germany. United Provinces: Had a powerful navy. It was a Republic and had an alliance with the British. They had a world wide empire. They were Protestant. Today's Netherlands. Holy Roman Empire: It was used by France and Austria to keep (Germany) from uniting, so as not to overpower them. Russia: Ruled by the Romanov family and Saint Petersburg was the capital. Is was extremely vast and was seen as unpredictable. Peter and, subsequently, Catherine the Great tried to make Russia more European, as Saint Petersburg was more accessible than Moscow. However, there was still feudalism and the divine right of kings. Kingdom of the two Sicilies: Extremely poor, people were dominated by the Church. I was ruled by the Spanish Bourbon monarchy. Papal States: Poor, the Pope acted as a King and Spiritual Leader. Republic of Venice: It was a rich, trading empire. Kingdom of Piedmont and Sardinia: Ruled by the House of Savoy. It was the strongest Italian state. Poland: By the 1800s, Poland would vanish. It would become independent at the end of the Cold War. Spain and Portugal: Spain exploited her colonies' resources in the New World by importing all the gold, silver and food. When the resources started to run out, their economy struggled. Spain did not have a good relationship with Britain; on the other hand, Portugal's relationship with Britain was very good, as they had a trade agreement. They were both extremely Catholic and the Inquisition was still present. Ottoman Empire: Constantinople as capital. It was ruled by a Sultan (a King and religious leader). It was Muslim from the beginning of the empire. It reached its peak in 1650. It did not force its subjects' population to be convert to Islam, nor speak Turkish. It controlled the passage between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean and
the one between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea (Egypt). By the 1800s is was very weak, and it was known as the 'Sick man of Europe'. Great Britain: It had the best navy in the world. It was a Constitutional Monarchy since the late 1600s. It was considered to have the best political system and it was envied for her political and economic freedoms, as people were protected by the law. Britain had no internal barriers, every time you crossed an internal barrier/border, you had to pay an additional tax. As a result, Britain's internal trade flourished, and as people had more money, they invested more. Britain's navy helped protects British merchants. They took raw materials from their colonies and they brought them back to the mainland to be worked in factories. There was an agricultural revolution and, as farming techniques changed, a more efficient way of farming was created. As more food was produced, people were healthier and the population grew, with more people working. It had become the manufacturing centre of Europe in 1815. They used canals as the major transport system. From 1792, old animosities between the Great Powers were put aside to fight the greater threat of the French Revolution. From 1792 to 1815 Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia allied together against Napoleon. Napoleon's eventual defeat in 1814-15 was the result of the cooperation between the European States. The height of European international cooperation took place during the Congress of Vienna 1815. The political map of Europe was redrawn to ensure that the Napoleonic Wars would not occur again and to maintain European peace. Causes of the French Revolution: Revolutions don't bring immediate change. Although, they are drastic changes- political or economic revolutions. Many revolutions in the 1700s failed. The elements encouraging a rebellion were present, but the motivations varied and were not necessarily revolutionary. Failed revolutions such as the ones in Poland and Sweden(1772) were not successful mainly because they were countries small enough to be stopped by foreign powers/intervention. The 'revolutionary spirit' had been growing in Europe all throughout the eighteenth century; it was a spirit of rationalist criticism and resistance to the established powers of the time, those being the Roman Catholic Church, the absolute monarchy and the privileged nobility. This spirit had been greatly influenced by the French philosophers such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot and Montesquieu. The main philosophers that influenced the French Revolution were Rousseau (direct democracy), Voltaire (enlightened despots) and Montesquieu (Parliament with a King bound by a Constitution). The doctrines of the philosophers had fostered a critical and irreverent attitude towards all existing institutions, this led to Frenchmen founding themselves questioning the foundation of the old order. Long-term causes:
- Ancien Régime: there was an administration failure. The system of administration was non- existent. There were immense social differences/divisions. There were around 50000 people part of the lower clergy, compared to the 139 Bishops. Only 2% of the papulation was part of the Second Estate
- The Enlightenment: they provided the language, the ideas and the concepts on what was to come
- Absolutism (to keep absolute control within the state): the divine right of kings. The was absolute but powerless, as there were too many internal divisions. The Nobility would restricts the King's absolute power, since the King depended on the nobles- The King's power was absolute, but powerless.
with new taxes and new measures to stimulate economic growth. However, Luis XVI would have had to be a radical revolutionary to reform the state without losing his throne.
- The King's unwise decision: he was well-meaning but weak-willed. His wife used her influence to kill any projects of reform.
- The political crisis of 1789: when the localities prepared the list of grievances (cahiers), the lack of a 'constitution', the need to control taxation, and the elimination of internal custom barriers were mainly listed. The more immediate discontent of the rural population got eliminated from the cahiers. This neglect enhanced their importance as a source of violence in the summer of 1789. **The French Revolution:
- Beginning:** The Estate General, in which the representatives from all the Estates met to discuss and vote, had not met since 1614. Each Estate had one vote, this ensured that the First and Second Estate always outvoted the Third Estate. Great hopes were pinned on the Estates General, which was set to meet in May 1789. People hoped things would change. This new hope started fading when they were told that the Estate General were to meet according to the 1614 norms. This demonstrated that the nobles were not serious about reforming. When hope dies, people riot. The King and his ministers, could not satisfy the demands of the middle class and the peasants of a larger share of political power without destroying the ancient rights France was built on. In addition, challenging and changing the social and political structure of France was an attack to the old order, including royal power itself. The King who claimed to rule by Divine Right was part of a system that denied him autonomy in jurisdiction, as he could only rule through the privileged orders of society, and compelled him to rule by unjust fiscal arrangements, therefore making it impossible for him to wield absolute authority. The King's power was arbitrary, not absolute. Only a King prepared to become a revolutionary could have solved this dilemma. Liberal nobles, magistrates, lawyers, journalists, part of the clergy campaigned for change. 4th May 1789: The King failed to lead/rule the country 20th June 1789: The Third Estate is no longer called that, but it becomes the National Assembly. With the Tennis Court Oath, the French people vowed not to dissolve until a formal Constitution, and with it a Constitutional Monarchy, were established. The National Assembly represented the whole country. July 1789: the people felt the pressure, and the hunger. People felt angry and violent. There were rumors that the King had been hoarding the grain and that he had sent the Royal troops to dissolve the National Assembly. The King dismissed Necker. This lead to radicalism - when people take matters in their own hands. Gun shops were raided, grain hoarders were attacked, people searched for weapons. The Royal troops did nothing. In rural France, peasant rose against their landlords. The Paris Commune and the National Guard were set up. Their aim was to protect Private Property and protect the city from royal troops. 14 July 1789: The attack and fall of the Bastille. The mob needed gunpowder. The Bastille was also a symbol of absolute power. It became the symbol of destruction of absolute power. This marked the beginning of the use of violence. As a result, the troops had to be called back and Necker was reappointed. 17th July 1789: the King wore the Revolutionary Cockade and he promised to lead the revolution. 'Louis XVI, Father of the French and King of a Free people’. The National Assembly conferred the title of 'Restorer of French Liberty' to Luis XVI. Luis XVI had to recognize the National Assembly, the Paris Commune and the National Guard. French people sensed the that the monarchy was weak. They did not want to wait for the
National Assembly and they wanted to take matters in their own hands. The unemployment and bread prices rose. August 1789: The National Assembly passed the August Decrees. The National Assembly had to listen to the people to be able to lead them. Even though they were nobles, or at least they had land, they gave it up. 4th August 1789: The abolition of Feudalism this marked the total dismantling of the Ancién Regime. 26 August 1789: Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. The French people started fight for their rights. The only way the Rights of MAN could to succeed, was if all of Europe stood up for their rights. The King rejected the August Decrees, the food prices rose and the tricolore was trampled on. October Days: The principle of resistance had been invoked again against the King's right to veto all legislation. 5th October 1789: The March of Women. Women were frustrated because they could no feed their children. 6k or 7k women stormed Versailles and entered the palace. As the peasants saw the nobles' richness and their exuberant lifestyle, some had heart attacks. Lafayette had to calm people down. The King became a virtual prisoner of the Paris mob and was forced to approve the August Decrees. He had forfeited any hope of leading the revolution, as well as any chance of resisting it. With this, he set a precedent, in which the King will only act if threatened. Thus, if people acted, they would achieve what they wanted. The National Assembly knew that the Paris mob had power. And whoever had the Paris mob on their side, had a lot of power. The Constituent Assembly met between Sept 1789 and Sept 1791. Its main aims were to create a new constitution, local administration, finance, and deal with the clergy.
- The 1791 Constitution: Civil Constitution of the Clergy: first reform targeted the Church. French needed cash, Church had it. Church men became civil servants. Church privileges were abolished. The result was that there was a split in the Catholic Church in France. The Pope condemned the Civil Constitution. Louis XVI’s unwillingness to accept the decisions of the Constituent Assembly. Louis was troubled over the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, some moderates (nobles and clergy) thought things had gone too far. Others thought that things had not gone far enough. The emergence of Political Parties:
- Jacobin Club: initially moderate and attended by many wealthy liberal-constitutional monarchists. Belief in a limited constitutional monarchy. By 1792, it would move more to the left - left-wing radicals – The radicals increasingly favoured republicanism (Robespierre).
- Cordeliers Club: representing more radical – liberal professionals such as teachers and officials, sans-culottes (artisans and shopkeepers) opinion. Working class based, although few labourers. Led by bourgeoisie leaders Danton, Desmoulins, Marat and Hébert. It was hostile to active/passive distinction of the new constitution. Wanted a direct democracy. Emerging from the Jacobins:
- Feuillant Club: moderate revolutionaries who wanted moderate constitutional monarchy, royalists. Founded among others by Adrien Duport, who had been originally a Jacobin but left it when the club became more radical and republican.
- Girondins: made up of former Jacobins and deputies coming from the Gironde region – favoured moderate constitutional monarchy – and represented the provincial element in French society. They wanted feudalism rather than centralisation. Afraid of Robespierre and the violent sans- culottes. Led by Jacques Brissot – would be willing to try the King and Queen for treason.
France, additionally stated that any land captured by France would be accompanied by the Revolutionary principles, such as the abolition of feudalism.
- France Internal Struggle: The September massacres were a series of killings of prisoners in Paris that occurred in September, killing around 1200 prisoners, usually by sans-culottes. The new Parliament, the National Convention, first met September 21st 1792 and voted to end the monarchy. The First French Republic, 21nd September, under the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. In January 1793 King Luis XVI was sentenced to death and guillotined with his family, found guilty of high treason and other crimes. In March 1793, France declared war on Britain, Holland and Spain. France had invaded Belgium, and it hurt its commercial interests with Britain. During the summer, France suffered defeat and failures at war, causing an economic collapse. The Girondins were blamed for the war failures and, in February 1793, the Vendée Revolt against conscription took place, causing the Girondins to fall from power.
- Reign of Terror: Economic terror from May 1793, providing rationing of food, and the death penalty of hoarders. In September, the Law of the Maximum is introduced, fixed food and wage prices (protectionism – closing on the Free market). The aim was to introduce a degree of social egalitarianism. Religious Terror: Policy of de-Christianisation: Clerical salaries stopped by the Paris Commune. Religious and royal statues and tombs destroyed. All religious signs and symbols destroyed. Street names changed. All Parisian churches were closed. Seizure of Church property. The adoption of a Republican Calendar: The Cult of the Supreme Being by Robespierre. June: the purging of the moderate Girondins. Robespierre pressed the National Convention to purge the Girondins accusing them of treachery and corruption. The Girondin leaders were arrested and later sent to the scaffold. A new radical constitution was passed, giving the vote to all adult males and allowed the mob to legitimately rebel against the government to get what it wanted. A new Declaration of Rights was promulgated, that included the right to work, assistance when in need, right to education and to defend equality by insurrection. Suspect generals were blamed, arrested and guillotined. The French army was reorganized and new strategies introduced. Mandatory conscription (levee en masse). State run factories for the production of weapons and ammunition. Allied disunity (over the Partition of Poland and lack of coordination of war plans) helped ensure France’s safety. September: the Law of Suspects was passed, which ordered the arrest of people suspected of opposing the revolution. The sans-culottes pushed for the use of terror. Massive acts of savagery - farms destroyed, famines, guillotine, mass drowning. 18,000 executed, 30,000 perished in prison or executed without trial. About 60, 000 people were killed. Maximilien Robespierre: had a highly developed ethical and moral code. He disliked differences of wealth and distinctions between active and passive citizens. He disliked the masses but cleverly used them to strengthen his position.
Terror was a necessary tool needed to cleanse France form its enemies and establish true democracy and liberty: ‘despotism of liberty’ (an early form of Totalitarianism). December: The coup by the Committee of Public Safety, who wanted to do away with decentralisation, elections to all posts and also safeguard against personal dictatorships. The action was well timed: Revolutionary armies had crushed country rebellions and were more successful internationally. The Committee of Public Safety was given huge powers over all institutions and officials. Committee of General Security given powers over police and Revolutionary Tribunal. The period between July and December 1793 has been labelled as ‘the anarchic terror’. On the 4-5 September, the sans culottes pressured the Convention to pass more radical measures. After September 1793, the terror was organized and became for the first time a deliberate policy of Government. October 1793: Marie Antoinette was executed. The period between March and July 1794 has been labelled as 'The Great Terror'. Even a mere suspicion of being critical of the CPS was enough for the death penalty. Law of 22 Prairial (10 June 1794): anyone accused of misleading opinion could be tried – no need of defence counsel and no need of witnesses. Danton and Herbert were guillotined. People became tired of all the bloodshed and violence. The patriotic enthusiasm transformed into extreme ferociousness, especially of the Paris mob. The idea of saving yourself by condemning others became very familiar during Robespierre's rule. The execution of the Hébertists, the dissolution of popular societies, the end of direct democracy in Paris government, economic measures raising prices, bread shortages, and the fixing of wages. Robespierre’s Cult of Supreme Being alienated everyone, especially the Catholics. Less need for dictatorship and terrorism. Robespierre's use of Systematic Terror, the use of terror to cleanse France form its enemies, eventually led to his downfall. 1794 - 95: The Thermidorian Reaction. The Thermidorians were a new class of republicans that had gained in wealth and property from the émigrés and the Church. The coup de Thermidor: Robespierre produced a list of accused citizens including Carnot, Fouché and Collot who were prominent members of the CPS. The accused voted to arrest Robespierre and Saint-Just. The Convention outlawed Robespierre. July 1794: The prolonged disorder and the lack of support of Robespierre from the Paris mob, the Reign of Terror came to an end. When the Reign of Terror became intolerable, Robespierre fell victim of the guillotine. Robespierre’s Law of Prairial was repealed and some of the old structures removed. Jacobin Club and the Paris Commune suppressed. The Revolutionary Tribunal was closed down in May 1795.
- The Directory: After the 'Red Terror', the 'White Terror' began. The last 14 months of the Convention are known as the Thermidorian Reaction. In May 1795, the Revolutionary Tribunal was abolished and the Convention drew up a new Constitution, which lasted until November 1799. The new form of government, the Directory, was ill-fated since its birth, as it was led by disreputable politicians. France's success in crushing revolts at home and its failure abroad is one of the causes of how, to prevent a repetition of Robespierre's revolutionary dictatorship, it succeeded in producing Napoleon's military dictatorship.
Egyptian Campaign: May 1798, Napoleon was in command of the Army of the Orient. The aim of the Egyptian Campaign was to cut off Britain from its Eastern possessions, especially India. He left with 38000 men, scientists and 400 ships. He captured Malta on the way to Aboukir Bay. This enraged to Tsar, who had strategic interests in Malta, as he had established the Order of Malta. The Army marched to Alexandria and then Cairo. The Ottoman Empire asks the 2nd coalition, Britain, Austria and Russia, for aid against the French. Nelson arrived at Aboukir and destroyed the French fleet, cutting off communication with France. Napoleon wins the Battle of the Pyramids, overwhelming the Turkish force, the Mamelukes, but Egyptians revolt against him. Napoleon cannot fulfill his plans of going to India, and moves towards Syria, easily captured. But the British blockade tightens. He fails to take Acre form the British and returns to Cairo in with half his men, who mostly died form a plague outbreak. Napoleon receives a British newspaper with news of Austria's war on France, 2nd Coalition. He abandons his troops and sails home, arriving in October 1799. In Egypt, Muhammad Ali fights the French and established its own government overseen by the Ottomans. Coup D'etat of Brumaire: November 1799, the Directory was not a stable nor strong government. Napoleon met Sieyès and he took control of the French garrison. Napoleon spoke first to the Ancients and then to the Five Hundred. They thought Napoleon wanted to seize power and Napoleon was almost shot. He was pulled from the chamber and his brother Lucien informed the troops that assassins had tried to murder Napoleon and that the Council had to be expelled from the building. When the Five Hundred met again, only 100 were left, and Lucien made sure they approved a new government. 3 Councils, under the Law of Brumaire. The 3 Consuls, Napoleon, Sieyès and Ducos. Lucien was key to helping Napoleon become First Consul. To consolidate his control: Napoleon crushed all opposition; he proved his legitimacy through a plebiscite; he bribed people in charge. Napoleon's Consolidation of Power: 1799: Consulate Constitution- authoritarian constitution with a representative government façade. 1802: Consul for life- offered by Senate- End of second coalition (BT,RS,AU, TK) 1804: Emperor- hereditary crown was offered by Senate 1808: New restrictions- assemblies made ineffective 1810: Marriage to Marie-Louise of Austria- hereditary crown assured Napoleon's Sources of Power: NAPOLEON CRUSHED ALL OPPOSITION
- Napoleon's main source of power was the army and the support of the property owning classes. Napoleon guaranteed to keep land taxes static, which increased bourgeoisie support.
- Legitimacy. Napoleon claimed to preserve the ideals of the revolution, universal male suffrage, tolerance, representative assembly, meritocracy. He gained legal rights through the Parliament approval and plebiscites, Coup was approved by Council of 500, Senate and plebiscite approved the Council for life. He married in the Habsburg Family. France became a democratic farce.
- Mechanism of Control. Napoleon ensured the fate of his supporters was the same as his own. By 1814, opposition has been effectively silenced. Government Structures, Napoleon wrote 3 Constitutions in 15 years that guaranteed absolute power. He also created a police-state and effective spy-working system. Patronage, he also bribed many through gifts, jobs, titles. Legion of Honor. Repression, propaganda and censorship, 1809 censorship, license needed by theatres. Napoleonic glory in art and sculptures. Huge investment in public works. Legal codes,
Code Napoleon, male rights over women. Education, was provided to sons of notables. Religion, Concordat of 1801, Organic Articles 1802, French Catechism 1806. Religion kept France united, he got Catholic support, gov support over Church.
- Economically: There was confidence in Napoleon’s system. I was also more efficient. Expenditure was monitored. The Bank of France was founded in 1800 that regulated money supply. Tobacco, alcohol and salt taxes quadrupled. After 1806, the army began to drain the financially system and in 1810 there was an intolerable debt in France. The economy did not grow under Napoleon. Without population growth, agriculture and industry changed little and technology was backwards. The Continental System saw a complete economic disruption, not only to Britain but to France as well. Smuggling was also commonplace. Napoleon’s attempt at extending the Continental System also proved catastrophic, partly due to the invasion of Spain and Russia and partly due to the resentment that cause the growth of Nationalism- towards nation not ruler- and opposition.
- Centralization of power: A police state was established in France. Prefects were loyal administrators in the provinces that ensured taxes were collected, conscription was properly enforced, and they were the eyes and ears of central government. In 1810, the government reintroduced the lettres de cachet, imprisonment without trial. Napoleon’s system was more unified and less liberal, he asserted male rights when he codified laws, he tried to build stability and order and France. He enforced censorship. Opposition had been silenced and/or limited. The only two persistent problems were the avoidance of conscription and the gangs of vagabonds that terrorized rural areas.
- Religious policies: 1801 Concordat signed by Napoleon and Pope Pius VII. It stated that the state would pay the clergy a salary and the position of the Pope as the Head of the Church was recognized. In addition, the Catholic Clergy would obey the State and not try to regain the land lost during the FR. The Revolution had split the Church, especially with the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. Napoleon saw this as an opportunity to regain Catholic support. Napoleon also knew that the Church was powerful, so it was better to have it controlled by the government. Napoleon was also made a saint. If God was respected, so was Napoleon. However, Napoleon also showed a tolerant attitude toward Protestants and Jews who served in France.
- Opposition. Right-wing royalists and emigres, left-wing extremists and Jacobin radicals, moderate republicans and liberals. Right-wing, wanted a return of the Bourbon monarchy. Napoleon offered an amnesty to royalists, ordered to crush the royalist rebellion in 1800. Left-wing, wanted a democratic republic. Supported by lower classes and lower army. Napoleon has spies infiltrating clubs. Moderate republicans, wanted a fair constitution guaranteeing rights. Napoleon rallied support of property owners. By 1814, opposition had been silenced effectively.
- The people wanted order, administration and efficient organization. Napoleon believe this could be granted through legal codes and trained administration, like the Code Napoleon. He implemented this in other acquired countries as well at first. In the West, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Germany. However, it was harder to overthrow already established regimes of the East. Napoleon then relied on diplomacy. He belied that to maintain power he had to aim at the unity of the West and the division of the East. Napoleon's Civil Administration: Civil government. There was the erection of a central administration to assess + collect taxes. Local government was centralized, 1 prefect in charge per department, mayors were centrally appointed. CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT. Economy- Bank of France was founded in 1800, centralized tax collection.
Napoleon sent 5 armies to Portugal through Spain: PR, RS, NAP, AU, SP. In 1808, Charles IV abdicated Napoleon convinced prince Ferdinand to abdicate by tricking him telling him to come to France, he then removed the King and put his own brother Joseph, in charge. He stationed 100000 troops in Madrid. May 2nd 1808 a revolt started in Madrid and asked Britain for help. French troops fired on the crowd of Madrid the next day. Juntas, resistance committees were formed and armed themselves. July 1808, at Baylen, the Spanish won against the French army. The English arrived with Sir Arthur Wellesley, later the Duck of Wellington. French army in Portugal was defeated. In 1812 a new constitution was implemented. Napoleon lost the Peninsular War because of lack of food supplies, Spanish knew Guerrilla Warfare, hit and run tactic, the British assisted the Spanish and Napoleon's absence after 1809. The French Marshals were incapable of managing the army. Napoleon suffered his first serious reverses on land. Napoleon also faced difficulties in France, where his highest servants were also ready to abandon him, as they had done during the monarchy and the Revolution. In addition, Austria decided to resist any other French aggression, so war was declared by France in March 1809. The Moscow Campaign, 1812-13: The main reason for Napoleon's attack on Russia was that the Tsar had refused to accept the Continental System and even cooperated with Britain's blockade. Napoleon also had a marriage alliance with Austria, and the Tsar felt threatened by the closeness of his troops to Russia. In 1812-13, Britain and Sweden allied with Russia, creating the fourth coalition. In June, Napoleon sent 450000 men across the Niemen against a Russian army half its size. The Russian commander avoided battle and retreated, and Napoleon lost men in the battle of Borodino. When Napoleon reached Moscow, it was abandoned and in flames. As winter arrived, there were no signs of surrender. Disease, famine, poor clothing and battle losses depleted the army. He came home with less than 100000 soldiers. The most costly defeat. The Fourth Coalition: Napoleon's army had become loo large to control and the battle losses caused a reliance on raw troops. The Russians and Prussians drove Napoleon west of Elbe. Metternich proposed an armistice, and Napoleon signed in June 1813, but Austria declared war on Napoleon. Napoleon won at Dresden. October 1813, Napoleon lost at Liepzig and at the Battle of the Nations and he had to fall back to the Rhine. Napoleon was outnumbered and he exhausted is resources. The UK, Austria, Prussia and Russia signed the Treaty of Chaumont in March 1814, an alliance that lasted 20 years for the purpose of defeating France. In March France and the Paris were invaded. Paris capitulated and he signed 7 April 1814. He was exiled to Elba. France went back to the old borders and the Bourbons were restored. Hundred Days: After 10 months of exile, Napoleon escaped from Elba and in March 1815, Napoleon entered France as the masses welcomed him back. The Hundred Days were in preparation for the final battle at Waterloo. Napoleon raised an army of 300000. He realized in order to win he had to fight the allies separately. He prevented the Prussians from joining the battle of Waterloo, but the British knew 81000 Prussians were on their way. The results of the battle were Napoleon's exile to St Helena. The second restoration, brought Louis XVIII back as King of France.
