On February 26, 1815, Napoleon escapes from Elba and sends Europe into a panic.

Napoleon Bonaparte, Bicentenary of Death
Portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) & Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) on Saint Helena

La Poste France issued May 19, 2021
Designer & engraver Sophie Beaujard  

On Feb 26th, Napoleon and about 1,000 of his followers boarded ships and sailed from his island of exile, Elba. When they landed at Golfe-Juan, on the French mainland, they set off a series of events that are called Napoleon’s Hundred Days (Feb 26 to July 8, 1815).

By March 20, Napoleon had seized control of Paris and began re-establishing the Republic. It all culminated with his defeat June 18 at the Battle of Waterloo.  By June 22, Napoleon abdicated in favour of his son, but was unsuccessful. The 7th Coalition, hot on his heels, marched into Paris July 7th. By the 8th Louis XVIII regained the throne.

Napoleon fled to the port city of Rochefort and boarded the frigate Saale. From there he and his loyal followers hoped to make it to the US.  The British Navy intercepted the Saale on July 15 and Napoleon surrendered to the captain of the HMS Bellerophon. Bellerophon set off for England on July 16, reaching Torbay July 24. The English authorities wouldn’t allow Napoleon to dis-embark and kept him imprisoned about the ship. Within 2 days, it was decided to exile Napoleon to the remote island of St. Helena, where he remained until his death in 1821.