What happened during Napoleon’s Hundred Days in 1815?

The Hundred Days refers to the period in 1815 between Napoleon Bonaparte’s return to Paris from exile on Elba and the restoration of Louis XVIII to the French throne.1

After landing at Cannes on March 1, 1815, Napoleon marched to Paris, causing Louis XVIII to flee. Upon regaining power, Napoleon attempted to broaden his support by introducing liberal constitutional reforms, though he struggled to maintain widespread enthusiasm as many feared a return to constant warfare.123

In response, a coalition of Austria, Britain, Prussia, and Russia declared Napoleon an outlaw and mobilized their armies. The conflict culminated in the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, where Napoleon was decisively defeated by the forces of Wellington and Gebhard Blücher.132

Following this defeat, Napoleon abdicated for the second time on June 22, 1815. He eventually surrendered to the British and was exiled to the remote island of St. Helena, where he remained until his death. The period concluded on July 8, 1815, with the return of Louis XVIII to Paris.1423