Why was Claude-Louis Berthollet accused of abandoning Napoleon in 1814?

The claim that Claude-Louis Berthollet abandoned Napoleon in 1814 is considered unjust. While Berthollet was a beneficiary of Napoleon’s patronage—receiving honors, titles, and financial assistance—the accusation stems from his role as a senator.1

Berthollet was accused of betrayal because he signed the Senate’s bill that deposed Napoleon following his defeat. However, historical context suggests this was a formal political action taken by the Senate rather than a personal abandonment of his benefactor.1