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Elba is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea, just 10 km from mainland Europe. From 1814 to 1815, Napoleon served as duke of the island for 10 months, and finally abandoned the island. So why Napoleon became Duke of Elba, and why he gave up the Duchy of Elba, the captain told you in detail.
1. The Principality is established
Napoleon
In 1813, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland formed the Sixth Anti-French Alliance with the Kingdom of Prussia, the Austrian Empire, and Tsarist Russia, and decided to take advantage of the fact that the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte had been seriously injured in the previous Russo-French War to launch a counter-offensive and destroy the French Empire in one fell swoop. The anti-French coalition then defeated the French at the Battle of Leipzig and headed westward towards the French mainland.
On March 31, 1814, the anti-French coalition captured Paris. Tsar Alexander I then issued a warning to France that it would surrender unconditionally and that Napoleon must abdicate. Napoleon was ready to fight to the end, but Marshal Michel Ney and other senior French generals saw that the situation was gone and demanded that Napoleon agree to the terms of the anti-French alliance and force him to abdicate.
France
On 3 April, the French Senate, under duress from Russia, passed a resolution declaring Napoleon deposed. Subsequently, Napoleon announced his willingness to abdicate in desperation, but hoped that his son Napoleon II would succeed to the throne of France. However, Tsarist Russia insisted that Louis XVIII of the Bourbon dynasty ascend to the throne, and thus rejected Napoleon's proposal.
Alexander I then decided to exile Napoleon to a small island to keep him away from mainstream European society. Alexander I then gave Napoleon a choice between Corfu and Elba, promising him to be the ruler of the island. Due to the proximity and climate of The island of Elba to Napoleon's hometown of Corsica, he chose to be exiled to the island.
Elba
On 11 April, Napoleon signed the Treaty of Fontainebleau with the anti-French forces. The treaty stipulates that Napoleon and his descendants promised to renounce the right to inherit the throne of France, Italy and other countries, but retain the title of Emperor of France; Elba became an independent principality, the private property of Napoleon, who owned full sovereignty over the island, which, after his death, would be transferred to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany; The French government gave Napoleon an annual allowance of 2 million francs.
On April 12, Napoleon was so moved by Tsarist Russia's arrogant attitude of "taking advantage of your illness and asking for your life" and forcing it to sign a treaty, so he committed suicide by poisoning. Fortunately, the people around him found out in time for Napoleon to survive. Two days later, the treaty was ratified and the Duchy of Elba was formed, about 10 kilometers from the Italian peninsula, with an area of only 252 square kilometers and a population of only 13,000.
Second, Napoleon ruled
Principality of Elba
On 4 May, Napoleon arrived on the island of Elba under the protection of hundreds of guards and under the surveillance of the British. Napoleon, Duke of Elba, then issued a decree to the island's more than 10,000 inhabitants, declaring himself to take over Elba and begin his short ten-month reign over the island.
Napoleon appointed Antoine de Ruo as Governor of Elba, overseeing all matters of the island; Pierre Combrand was the commander of the Guard, responsible for the island's defense; Henri Gadien Bertrand was minister of the interior and was responsible for the island's home affairs; Guillaume Perus was Minister of Finance and was responsible for finance.
Elba
Napoleon then inspected various parts of Elba to understand the actual situation on the island. This was followed by reforms to improve the local economic situation and improve the quality of life of the population. Napoleon then planned to build roads and bridges connecting the island's towns, grow crops such as potatoes and mulberry trees, and build hospitals. However, due to Napoleon's desire to double the size of the Guard and build a fortress, which placed a heavy financial burden on the principality, his reforms were not carried out.
Third, the duchy was destroyed
Louis XVIII
Although Napoleon was on the island of Elba, he maintained contact with the European continent through telegraphs and paid close attention to the situation in France. At that time, France under the rule of Louis XVIII restored absolute monarchy, and the nobility lived a luxurious life, so the French people's resentment boiled over, the people were very dissatisfied with the rule of the Bourbon Dynasty, and many people missed the good days of the Napoleonic period.
At the same time, the Anti-French League met in Vienna to discuss the map of post-war Europe. Russia wanted to swallow up all of Poland, and Prussia wanted to swallow up all of Saxony. The Russian-Prussian expansion attempt caused strong resentment between Britain and Austria, and the two sides almost broke out into war. There were also rumors that the Anti-French Alliance was preparing to tear up the Treaty of Fontainebleau and banish Napoleon to a more remote island.
Vienna Conference
Seeing that Louis XVIII's rule was unpopular and that there was discord between the anti-French alliances and that the treaty had not yet been fulfilled (Louis XVIII did not pay Napoleon's allowance due to financial difficulties), Napoleon decided to return to France to regain power.
Napoleon then showed an attitude in front of neil Campbell, the British commissioner who was monitoring him, and never wanted to return to France. Then Neil Campbell, deluded by Napoleon's lies, thought he really did not want to go back, and let his guard down.
Alexander I
On 26 February 1815, Napoleon took advantage of Neil Campbell's departure from his post and sneaked away from Elba with his guards, ending his rule over the island and the Duchy of Elba survived in name only. In June, the Anti-French Alliance defeated Napoleon and at the Congress of Vienna the island of Elba was assigned to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, and the Duchy of Elba officially collapsed.