The Emperor and the Imperial Guard on the Island of Elba

Napoleon spent ten months on this island in the Mediterranean. He was able to follow events in France without much difficulty. This initial exile was part of a relatively lenient settlement granted by the allies in 1814 after Napoleon’s initial defeat. France’s opponents did not want to humble the nation so much that it would seek revenge. Further, they believed that a stable France helped maintain a balance of power in Europe. Thus Napoleon first lived with a sizable entourage not far from the mainland.

This source is a part of the The Napoleonic Experience teaching module.