20 March 1815
The Hundred Days

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Napoleon returns to power in Paris, three weeks after landing with a boatful of supporters at Cannes. French troops sent to oppose him have instead joined him, including the chief of the French army, Marshal Ney, who had promised Louis XVIII to bring the ex-emperor to Paris 'in an iron cage'. Louis himself has fled the city. The period from now until 8 July, when Louis is reinstalled on the throne, will come to be known as the 'Hundred Days'. Napoleon's fate is sealed, however, by defeat at Waterloo in June.

'Great events ever depend but upon a single hair. The adroit man profits by everything, neglects nothing which can increase his chances; the less adroit, by sometimes disregarding a single chance, fails in everything.' Napoleon

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