Question: Who escaped from exile on the Mediterranean island of Elba in 1815?
Show answer
Napoleon Bonaparte.
Napoleon Bonaparte, the former Emperor of France, escaped from exile on the Mediterranean island of Elba on February 26, 1815. This daring escape marked the beginning of what is now known as the Hundred Days, a brief period during which Napoleon attempted to reclaim his empire before ultimately being defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.
Following his abdication in April 1814, Napoleon was forced into exile on Elba, a small island off the coast of Italy. The Treaty of Fontainebleau had granted him sovereignty over the island, along with a small personal army of about 600 men. Although he was allowed to rule Elba, he was constantly monitored by European powers, particularly Britain and Austria, who wanted to ensure he did not return to France.
Despite being under surveillance, Napoleon managed to plan his escape carefully. He took advantage of lax security and growing discontent in France over the rule of King Louis XVIII, who had been restored to the throne after Napoleon’s abdication. The new monarchy was unpopular, and many still remained loyal to the former emperor.
On the night of February 26, 1815, Napoleon and his followers secretly boarded a small flotilla of ships and set sail for France. He landed on the French coast near Golfe-Juan on March 1, 1815 and began his famous march toward Paris. Along the way, he gathered support from military units sent to arrest him. Instead of capturing him, many soldiers defected and joined his cause. By the time he reached Paris on March 20, 1815, King Louis XVIII had fled, and Napoleon had reclaimed power.
However, his return to power was short-lived. European nations, determined to stop him, quickly mobilized their armies. The final confrontation occurred at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, where Napoleon was decisively defeated by the Duke of Wellington and Prussian forces led by Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. After this defeat, Napoleon was exiled again – this time to the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, where he remained until his death in 1821.
Napoleon’s escape from Elba and the events that followed remain one of the most dramatic episodes in European history, demonstrating his enduring influence and the loyalty he commanded among his troops.
