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04.05.

1814: Napoleon Exiled to the Island of Elba

1814: Napoleon Exiled to the Island of Elba
Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons/ Napoleon leaving Elba

Story Highlights

  • Historical event:
  • 4 May 1814
  • The Island of Elba covers an area of 224 square kilometers. Napoleon's exile was not really unpleasant because he owned the whole island, and about 400 people came there with him.

On this day in 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte landed on the Italian island of Elba, after he had abdicated in France (for the first time).



According to the agreement with the foreign powers, Elba was assigned to Napoleon, and the island became something akin to an independent state. Therefore, Napoleon became its monarch. Interestingly, the foreign forces gave him sovereignty over the island, and allowed him to retain his imperial title. But, he was the emperor of a state which was actually just an island.

The Island of Elba covers an area of 224 square kilometers. It is located between the coast of Tuscany and the island of Corsica (Napoleon’s native island). Namely, Elba is the remaining stretch of land from the ancient tract which once connected the Italian peninsula to Corsica.

Napoleon’s exile was not really unpleasant because he owned the whole island, and about 400 people came there with him. He had several residences there (the main residence was located in the city of Portoferraio, second was located in the heart of the island, etc).

To Napoleon, it was something of a humiliation, especially compared with his former position. He spent about 300 days on the island. Then, he escaped from Elba, landed on the French mainland, and again took power in France (i.e. “Hundred days”). But, when Napoleon was captured, he was exiled to the island of St. Helena, where his living conditions were worse than those on Elba.




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