After multiple defeats, Napoleon's empire ended, and he was forced into exile on the island of Elba.
Here is a step-by-step explanation of the events leading to Napoleon's exile:
1. Napoleon Bonaparte was a military and political leader who rose to power in France during the French Revolution.
2. Through a series of military victories and political maneuvering, Napoleon declared himself Emperor of the French in 1804.
3. Napoleon embarked on a series of military campaigns, known as the Napoleonic Wars, to expand his empire and exert control over Europe.
4. However, his military ambitions were eventually met with several defeats, most notably the disastrous Russian campaign in 1812 and the Battle of Leipzig in 1813.
5. In 1814, the combined forces of Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia launched an invasion of France, known as the War of the Sixth Coalition, and ultimately captured Paris.
6. Napoleon was forced to abdicate his throne on April 6, 1814, effectively ending his empire.
7. As part of his surrender terms, Napoleon was granted the title of Emperor of Elba and was exiled to the Mediterranean island of Elba.
8. He arrived on the island on May 4, 1814, and was allowed to rule over the island with a small army under his command.
9. However, Napoleon's time on Elba was short-lived, as he managed to escape and return to France in March 1815, a period known as the Hundred Days.
10. This led to the start of the Napoleonic Wars' final phase, with Napoleon facing the Seventh Coalition.
11. Napoleon was eventually defeated at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, by the British and Prussian forces.
12. Following his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon was once again forced into exile, this time on the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, where he spent the remainder of his life until his death in 1821.
So, to summarize, after multiple defeats, Napoleon's empire ended, and he was initially forced into exile on the island of Elba.