Open the left elba menu. The eleventh episode from the life of Napoleon Bonaparte ... Elba Island How to get from Milan to Elba Island

Elba is a large island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, administratively part of the Italian region of Tuscany and located 20 km from the coastal town of Piombino. It is the largest island in the Tuscan archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia - it covers an area of \u200b\u200b223 square kilometers. Together with the neighboring islands of Gorgona, Capraia, Pianosa, Montecristo, Gilo and Gianutri, it forms the Tuscan Archipelago National Park. There are eight communes on the Elba, in which about 30 thousand people live - Portoferraio, Campo nel Elba, Capoliveri, Marciana, Marciana Marina, Porto Azzurro, Rio Marina and Rio nel Elba.

Even in antiquity, Elba was famous for its iron deposits - the Etruscans were the first to create mines here, and in the 5th century BC. they were replaced by the Romans. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the island was repeatedly attacked by barbarians and Saracens until it became part of the powerful Pisa Republic in the early 11th century. Three centuries later, Elba came into the possession of the Appiani family, who ruled the island for two centuries. Then the island was bought by Cosimo I Medici, by whose order a fortress was built in Portoferraio, but soon this part of the Elbe returned to Appiani. Two more fortresses were built in the 17th century when Porto Azzurro was captured by the Spanish king Philip II. Finally, in 1802, Elba became a French possession, and a period of prosperity for the island began. The French brought the island worldwide fame - it was here that the once great Napoleon Bonaparte, who bore the title of Emperor of Elba, was in exile. And in 1860, Elba became part of the united Italy.

Today Elba is known as the birthplace of fine Muscat wine and a popular holiday destination. Tourists are attracted not only by historical sites, but also by the extraordinary beauty of the island - on a small, in general, territory there are steep rocky cliffs, moorlands, chestnut and pine groves, in which wild boars and deer roam, sandy beaches and secluded bays and coves ... You can get here from Piombino by ferry.

Of course, the main attractions of Elba are the places associated with the stay on Napoleon's island, and, above all, two museums - Villa San Martino and Palazzo Mulini. The latter was built on the site of windmills, from which it got its name (mulino - mill). It is said that Napoleon personally took part in the construction of the palace and the design of the surrounding garden. And Villa San Martino (6 km from Portoferraio) was rebuilt by Prince Anatoly Demidov, wife of Countess de Montfort, Napoleon's niece. Interestingly, Demidov built a villa specifically for the Bonaparte Museum - today this neoclassical building houses a collection of relics of the imperial family. Various cultural events and thematic exhibitions are also held here.

In Portoferraio you can see the ancient fortress walls of the Medici times, in the vicinity of Porto Azzurro - the ruins of the Roman villa Le Grotte and the Castel Volterraio castle, and not far from the Rio Elba there is the Mon Serrato gorge with a church with the mysterious icon of the Black Madonna.

On the Elbe, many ancient mines have survived, which once mined iron ore, and which are now turned into historical museums - in them you can see giant rock samples, learn about methods of ore extraction and further soil restoration. In addition, in some museums you can ride a special trolley through the entire production cycle.

The Elbe's coastline is 147 km long, most of which is occupied by beaches, both sandy and pebble. In total, there are more than 70 beaches, picturesquely framed by pine groves and citrus plantations. The most famous is Barabarka Beach with crystal clear water in the lagoon and amazing views of Stella Bay. Another popular beach is Le Gyaye, famous for its pink pebbles. According to legend, it was on this beach that the Argonauts stayed, and the multicolored blotches in the local pebbles are nothing more than their sweat.

To the services of lovers of active recreation - dive centers and riding schools, tennis courts and golf courses, jet skis and catamarans, surfing and yachting. And in the town of San Giovanni there is a thermal spa center, which Sofia Loren often visits.

Map of the island of Elba, portrait and facsimile of Napoleon and a view of his place of residence
for 9 months and 21 days - the city of Porto Ferraio.
engraving by Thomas BENSLEY

View of San Rafael from the Undaunted
Engraving from an original drawing by Royal Navy Lieutenant S. Smith, an officer of this frigate.

The port of San Rafael is notable not only for the fact that the French emperor set out for his first exile from here, but also for the fact that it was on this coast that General Napoleon Bonaparte set foot after the triumphal Egyptian campaign of 1799.

On board Undaunted Napoleon was greeted with honors. Russian and Prussian commissars Count Pavel Andreevich Shuvalov and Friedrich Ludwig Waldburg-Truchsess came to say goodbye to him. The emperor, who was kind to both of them, nevertheless thanked for the services, asked to convey to Alexander I sincere gratitude, but did not mention a word of King Frederick William II. The Austrian Baron General Koller and the British Commissioner Colonel Neil Campbell accompanied Napoleon to Elba.

Elba island view
Johann Adam KLEIN

Fortress of Porto Ferraio on Elba Island
Karl (Antoine Charles Horace) VERNET
Illustration for Histoire de l'empereur Napoléon, Paris, 1840

Porto Ferrairo view

And on May 3, Elba appeared in the distance. Napoleon, impatiently, ascending to the tank, as soon as the ground became visible from the deck, tried to discern whose flag was flying on the batteries. As the frigate approached, the Imperial flag flew over the bastions of Porto Ferraio. This was ensured by General Drouot, Count Klam and the senior lieutenant Hastings sent ashore in advance with instructions from Napoleon to take possession of the island. At about 8 o'clock in the afternoon the frigate dropped anchor at the entrance to the harbor, and soon after that a deputation of the island's authorities boarded the ship and, introducing themselves to their new sovereign, congratulated him on his arrival.
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Arrival of Napoleon to the island of Elba

The next day the ship was surrounded by boats with the most famous inhabitants of the island and musicians. Under the screams Vive l "empereur, Vive Napoleon! Bonaparte went ashore, where he was greeted with a royal salute. The inhabitants of the city poured into the streets and, together with the city authorities and the clergy, greeted the emperor. During the enthusiastic meeting, the mayor of Porto_-Ferraio, Pietro Traditi, handed Napoleon on a silver platter the symbolic keys to the Sea Gate of the island - a triumphal arch erected in the 17th century by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Ferdinand II, through which you can enter the city, surrounded by a powerful wall from the sea.

Landing on the Elbe

As eyewitnesses describe, the splendor of the meeting was more reminiscent of a village wedding: the city authorities appeared in old-fashioned clothes, three violins and two double basses were playing a merry march. An old canopy of faded velvet was prepared for the emperor. However, Napoleon accepted all the badges of honor with dignified dignity. The emperor and his retinue were curious and touching to see the simple-hearted joy of the young inhabitants of Elba and the delight of these fishermen, who had long forced the soldiers to talk about the brilliant exploits and glorious battles that extolled the name of Napoleon. His celebrity and misfortune attracted their attention equally. The calmness and gaiety with which the emperor questioned the most insignificant citizens further increased the general delight..

Napoleonic flag of Elba Island

Napoleon would not have been himself if he had not got down to business almost immediately and developed a vigorous activity ... While on the road, he read materials about the history of the island and its current state; on the frigate he sketched the draft of the national flag of the island. He had a book with all the flags of Tuscany, ancient and modern. On a white cloth, he placed a red ribbon with three bees on a diagonal, symbolizing the hard work of the islanders. Bees were also in the emperor's coat of arms. The captain of the frigate instructed the ship's tailor to sew two of these flags to hang on arrival on the Elbe.

And this is the standard of Napoleon during his exile on Elba

First, the emperor rode his possessions on horseback, examined the lands, property, roads, barracks and defensive structures, visited mines, salt works, mines for the extraction of iron, and then began to organize his new possessions. He planned to transform the entire island, turning it into a blooming garden, as he said at landing: It will be an island of relaxation.

Robinson of Elba Island

Napoleon began with administrative reform, appointing the head of the administration of the sub-prefect of the Isle of Balbi, General Antoine Drouot, the governor in charge of military affairs, and his field treasurer, Peirus, in charge of finances. They represented the dwarf council of ministers of the island, headed by the palace marshal Henri Gacien Bertrand. In addition, Napoleon created an appellate court.

General view of the island of Elba

On May 26, General Pierre Jacques Etienne Cambronne arrived on the Elbe with soldiers of the old guard who wished to follow the emperor into exile. He led the island's army of 1,600 people. These were battalions of the Corsican riflemen, the Elbe militia, the old guard, a company of guards gunners and sailors, a small squadron of Polish lancers, and three companies of the gendarmerie. The new fleet was represented by a sixteen-gun brig l "Inconstant and several small ships, the entire flotilla consisted of about 130 people.

Napoleon did not forget about his own residence. At first he was forced to live in a modest house owned by the local municipality. Then he turned his attention to Villa dei Mulini - two connected one-storey houses built on the site of windmills (hence the name), located in the center of Porto Ferraio on the rocky seashore, overlooking Italy. Napoleon added the second floors and turned the house into a small palace with a reception hall, study, salon, library and bedroom. Palazzo Mulini became the winter residence of Napoloen Bonaparte. The emperor personally took part in the construction of the palace and in the design of the surrounding small but very cozy garden, in which he spent a lot of time. Napoleon went out for a walk at night: The silence of these delightful nights, broken only by the waves that break on the rocks below, two hundred steps from the terrace on which he is walking, and the shout of the sentry, "Stop who is coming!" (from the notes of valet Marchand)

Napoleon at Porto Ferraio. Villa dei mullini
Leo von KLENZE

In Palazzo Mulini, Napoleon received numerous visitors, mainly Englishmen, with whom he shared his meals. He tried to impress the person who decided to spend the rest of his days on the island, constantly repeating: ... I do not think of anything outside my small island, I no longer exist for the world. Now I'm only interested in my family, my house, my cows and mules... In his dining room in San Martino, the motto was inscribed: Napoleo ubicumque felix (Napoleon is happy everywhere). In fact, Bonaparte closely followed the events taking place in the world, conducted active secret activities, and through correspondence with secret agents maintained constant contact with the continent.

Portraits of Paulina Borghese and Letizia Ramolini

After settling in the palace of Mulini, Napoleon summoned Maria-Letizia Madame-mother (Madame-mère) and his sister Pauline Borghese. He settled his sister in a large salon on the first floor of the palace, and his mother in a small house on Ferandini Street. In the evenings, mother and son often played whist. Napoleon cheated as usual, Letizia reproached him. To which Bonaparte objected: Madam! You are a rich woman and I am a poor man... The loving beauty Polina revived the life of Porto Ferraio: the orchestras of the guard thundered in the palace, receptions, theatrical performances, carnivals, and dance balls were held.

The first wife, whom he once loved so passionately and then rejected, did not come to the emperor either. Josephine wrote him a tender letter: I do not sympathize with you because you have lost your throne. From my own experience I know that you can come to terms with this. But fate has struck you a much more terrible blow - the betrayal and ingratitude of your friends. Oh, how hard it is! Sire, why can't I fly like a bird and be next to you in order to support you and assure you: exile can affect the attitude of only an ordinary person towards you, but my affection for you remains not only unchanged, but even deeper and tender. I was ready to follow you and devote the rest of my life to you, in the recent past so happy thanks to you. But one reason keeps me from taking this step, and you know it. If, contrary to common sense, no one but me wants to share grief and loneliness with you, nothing will hold me back and I will rush to my happiness. One word of yours - and I'm leaving ...

But Napoleon did not call her. He was in love with Marie-Louise and expected her to come to the island of Elba. Josephine died at her palace in Malmaison near Paris on May 29, 1814.

The second, summer, residence of Napoleon was the charming Villa San Martino, which he drew attention to during one of his horse rides.

Napoleon liked this place on a hillside in the San Martino Valley with a beautiful view of the port, the city and the Volterraio fortress so much that he immediately wanted to buy a villa, despite the very substantial amount requested by the owner of the estate, Lieutenant Manganaro. Sister Polina helped by lending money to her brother. Here he dreamed of making a love nest for himself and his wife Marie-Louise, whose arrival with his son he expected from day to day.

Villa San Martino, Elba

The two-storey villa of Napoleon itself is in the back, and the white-stone gallery in the neoclassical style in the foreground is a later extension of the famous Russian philanthropist Anatoly Nikolaevich Demidov, Prince of San Donato, a great admirer of Napoleon, married to Napoleon's niece Matilda Bonaparte. In his gallery, decorated with paired granite columns, Anatoly Nikolayevich organized a kind of museum dedicated to Napoleon.

The third lady who brightened up the emperor's exile was his former beloved Polish Countess Maria Walewska, with whom he began a close relationship in Poland in 1807. She arrived on the island not only with Napoleon's eldest son, the four-year-old golden-haired Alexander Joseph Florian, but also accompanied by her sister Emilia and her brother, Colonel Theodor Lonczynski. The brig anchored near San Giovanni, in a desolate place, out of the sight of the curious. Napoleon ordered to place Walewska away from human eyes in the town of Marciana Alta in the Hermitage at the Madonna del Monte Church (which could not but offend the Countess). Nevertheless, the news of the arrival of a young woman with a little boy reached Porto Ferraio, whose inhabitants were sure that it was the French empress who had arrived with the heir, the Roman king.

Some memoirists believe that the visit of Maria Walewska was dictated not only by feelings for the emperor, but also by political motives. She allegedly brought letters and documents to Elba, testifying to the mood and growing unpopularity of the Bourbons in France, popular discontent and nostalgia for the French Empire, as well as information about officials and bankers who were ready to support Napoleon after his return to France.

Portrait of Countess Maria Valevskaya
Maria-Victoire JACOTO

Maria Walewska did not stay here for long, only three days from September 1 to September 3, 1814, which also offended her. Nevertheless, she tried to ensure that the hours spent with Napoleon had at least the semblance of a seed of happiness, meals were held together, dances in the open air, Emilia regaled Napoleon with old Polish songs. The emperor shone with joy, playing with his son ... Brother and sister did not leave empty-handed back to the continent either: Maria was taking a letter to Marshal Murat to Naples, Theodore also received various orders from Napoleon. On board the sailing ship, Maria wrote in her diary: How humiliating the precautions he had taken! As soon as I heard of my arrival, I had to move from Porto Ferraio to another place and not let us leave the ship until nightfall. And what a secret landing ashore! And all so that the Empress would not know about my stay on the island. I really wanted to tell him that she was not at all interested in this, that she was a bad wife and a bad mother. Otherwise, she would have been here long ago.

But the one that Napoleon was really looking forward to and for which Napoleon desperately missed, did not come.
He expected that Marie-Louise would alternate between Parma and Elba.

Maria-Louise, second wife of Napoleon I, 1810s
Jean Baptiste ISABE

On May 21, 1814, Marie-Louise returned to Austria and drove into the Schönbrunn family palace to the cheers of a huge crowd, who greeted their Archduchess as if she were returning from four years of painful exile. At first, the Empress planned to visit Elba: The thought that you might think that I have forgotten you causes me unbearable pain, incomparable with what I have experienced before. Far away from you, I drag out a miserable existence and, in order to somehow brighten it up, I embroider a cape for you, hoping that you will be pleased to see my needlework?

But her fate was in the hands of the victors, the cunning Count Metternik and the father of the Austrian Emperor Franz I. They did not insist on divorce or forcible separation of the spouses, but decided to make every effort to prevent the reunification of Napoleon's family. Indiscriminate in the means, Talleyrand ordered to inform the Empress, without skimping on details, all cases of Napoleon's adultery, sending her one of the most famous courtesans and politically sophisticated women of her time, Madame de Brignoles.

Napoleon II of France at Schönbrunn Palace
Karl von SALS, 1815
The Roman king lived separately from his mother in his grandfather's palace.

At first, dejected by her position, Marie-Louise was in upset feelings, but then, despite her affection for Napoleon, either under the influence of the intrusive persuasion of the courtiers, or out of frivolity, weakness and youth, she began to appear in the world, have fun and dance on balach, gradually forgetting about his wife, exhausted from melancholy on the island of Elba. By writing to Napoleon in another letter: I am happy that you are feeling well and intend to start building a country house. I hope it will find a small corner for me too, because you know that I have firmly decided to unite with you as soon as circumstances permit, and I pray that this will happen as soon as possible. You, of course, will order to lay a garden near the house and entrust me with the care of flowers and plants., - Maria Louise, on the advice of doctors, went to the waters in Savoy under the name of the Duchess de Colorno, and then went to admire the mountain meadows and snowy mountain peaks in Chamonix.

Maybe soon everything would have formed between the spouses, but after a while an experienced seducer, the Austrian general Count Adam Albert von Neupperg, was assigned to the empress as a chamberlain, who received an unequivocal secret task: to make her forget France and Napoleon, going as far as circumstances permit (according to the testimony of Claude-Francois de Meneval - personal secretary of Napoleon I, and since 1813 secretary of Marie-Louise)

Adam Albert von Neupperg with his first wife Theresa and sons Alfred and Ferdinand
Joseph LANZEDELLI, 1810

This military officer, who lost one eye at the beginning of his career, was born in Vienna from the secret relationship of the Countess de Neupperg with a French officer. At 39, this seemingly serious and dignified gentleman had a very attractive appearance. The hussar uniform, which he usually wore, combined with his blond curly hair, gave him a youthful look. And the black bandage that covered the empty right eye socket did not spoil at all. Hot blood ran in his veins; he could give odds to many ladies 'men (including Don Juan himself :)) in the art of seduction and conquest of ladies' hearts. This man was well versed in the characters of people, and in the person of Neipperg the Habsburgs received the trump card (English historian and novelist Ronald Delderfield) Apparently not in vain, leaving Milan at the disposal of Marie-Louise, the general prophetically declared: In less than six months I will become her lover, and in the near future, her husband.

Warning with the empress, not taking the fiery gaze of his only eye off her, Neupperg nevertheless strictly followed the secret instructions given to him in relation to Marie Louise: to spy on her, control and suppress even the slightest attempts to correspond, communicate and meet with Napoleon. It was not for nothing that Marie-Louise was suspicious of Neipperg. But she continued her trip to Switzerland in his company. However, soon the witty and gallant Neipperg managed to completely win the trust of Marie-Louise. Excellent manners, courtesy, an insinuating voice, a talent for a storyteller who knows many interesting stories, and an excellent musician quickly won the favor of Marie-Louise, she accepted his courtship more and more favorably every day. But nevertheless, at the cost of incredible efforts, she managed to deceive Neupperg, from time to time receiving letters from Napoleon and answering him.

There was no person near Marie-Louise who could give her good advice and support her. She was guided in her actions not by reason, but by feelings and emotions, constantly hesitated, it was difficult for her to make the right decision on her own. In addition, in one of the letters Napoleon even threatened take her away by force in case she hesitates to leavethat was simply unacceptable for her. The thought of being kidnapped, that she could, like some singer or dancer from the corps de ballet, be shoved into a convertible, disguised in a man's dress for greater reliability, caused a storm of indignation in Marie-Louise. And even more distanced from her husband. She preferred a calm and measured life in the capital of Austria to this adventure.

Adam Albert von Neupperg

Yes, and Neupperg did not doze, the sensual Maria-Louise could not resist the spell of the seducer who was constantly nearby. At the end of September, while the travelers were staying at Lake Four Cantons, a severe thunderstorm broke out. They stayed at the Golden Sun Hotel, located on the slope of Mount Riga. It was here, trembling with fear of the heavenly elements, the Duchess de Colorno was reassured and consoled by Adam Neupperg. They became lovers ...

They say that upon learning of this, Pope Emperor Franz I exclaimed: Thank God! I was not mistaken in choosing a gentleman!

And Napoleon, realizing the futility of his efforts to return his wife and son, more than once bitterly complained to the British Commissioner Campbell: My wife does not write to me anymore ... They took my son away from me, as they once took the children of the vanquished, in order to adorn the triumph of the victors; in modern times, one can hardly find an example of such barbarism.

Napoleon contemplating a portrait of the Roman king during his exile on Elba
Gustave BETTINGER

Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma and Piacenza
Giovani Battista BORGESI

As a reward for exemplary behavior, the Congress of Vienna confirmed the transfer of the duchies of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla, given to her, with the title of Imperial Majesty, under the treaty at Fontainebleau, under the control of Marie Louise. She ruled her duchy effectively enough for the rest of her days and left a good memory for her subjects.

The Rise and Fall of Napoleon, 1814
Johann Michael VOLZ

Probably, being alone, the emperor more than once indulged in memories, analyzing his life, thought about what mistakes and miscalculations he made, which became the reasons for such a rapid decline in his career and the collapse of his personal life.

Caricature Ladder of life of Napoleon I, 1814
Johann Michael VOLZ

However, despite all the hardships, Napoleon continued to work on the transformation of Elba into an island of relaxation. For several months the emperor carried out all kinds of reforms on the island. He delved into every little detail, issued decrees concerning public hygiene, was engaged in the arrangement of aqueducts, sewers, gardens, building bridges, laying new roads, transformed customs, excise taxes and duties. An infirmary, an almshouse with a military hospital was set up, barracks were repaired, fortifications were expanded, and a theater was built. The cities were paved, supplied with water, surrounded by gardens and avenues of mulberry trees.

Napoleon on the island of Elba met his former guardsman who worked as a bricklayer

Napoleon received and listened to his subjects, made orders aimed at improving his dwarf kingdom. In the field of agriculture, innovations also appeared: in addition to distributing land to the peasants, they were encouraged for plowing uncultivated land, planting new vineyards, working on the acclimatization of silkworms, introducing new crops and developing animal husbandry.

From the early morning he was already on his feet, constantly giving orders, supervising the construction, riding a horse, trying to forget himself in this incessant anxiety. The English Colonel Campbell simply knocked himself off his feet, following the restless ruler of the Elbe ...

The events carried out by Napoleon demanded money, and with them the emperor was tense, since the cabinet of ministers ignored the third article of the treaty concluded in Fontainebleau, obliging to pay Napoleon an annual two million rent. And the emperor was forced to cover almost all the costs with money from a small treasury, which he managed to take out of the Tuileries without the knowledge of the provisional government. Of the nearly four million francs at his disposal at the time of his arrival on the Elbe, a third had been spent by January 1815.

Napoleon Bonaparte on the Elba
Horace Vernet

But despite all the worries, Napoleon was impatiently awaiting news from France, eagerly scanning the European press, letters, secret correspondence with his agents. And it should be noted that the news was pleasant enough for the emperor. The patience of the French was beginning to run dry, and dissatisfaction with the Bourbon policy gradually grew. The royalists and emigrant nobles who returned to power behaved very arrogantly. There were cases of beating of peasants, and the beaten could not find a court against the offender in court. Louis XVIII, during his several months on the throne, managed to turn against himself the majority of French society: not only Bonapartists, but also part of the bourgeoisie, the army (especially soldiers and guards), peasants, artisans. After the continental blockade was lifted, unemployment rose, the commercial and industrial bourgeoisie howled, as duty-free English goods flooded the market, bringing it losses. The Bourbons could not declare a customs fight against the British who contributed to the fall of Napoleon.

Congress
Napoleon from the island of Elba watching Alexander I, Franz I and Frederick Wilhelm III
Johann Michael VOLZ

In addition, Bonaparte also closely followed the work of the Vienna Congress, rubbing his hands with pleasure from the fact that confusion and vacillation were observed in the ranks of the Allies. Thus, everyone, to one degree or another, by their actions awakened the formidable lion dormant in the emperor: King Louis XVIII left him without money, Emperor Franz I took his son away from him, Chancellor Metternich gave his wife to the court ladies' man, Viscount Castlereagh dreamed of exiling him far from sight, politician and diplomat Talleyrand planned to be thrown into prison, and some did not even exclude his physical elimination.

And 45-year-old Napoleon Bonaparte made an attempt to turn the wheel of history back ...

Napoleon I Bonaparte on the Elba. 1814-1815 years

The last straw was the visit to the island of the former auditor of the Council of State Fleury de Chabulon, who, on behalf of Napoleon's foreign minister, the Duke of Bassano, told about the true state of affairs in the country, the growing general discontent with the Bourbon policy, and the existence of a conspiracy of Jacobins and generals. In addition, being called upon to watch the exile, Colonel Campbell was inflamed with romantic feelings for a certain Tuscan woman and periodically visited her outside the island. So the direct control over Napoleon's actions weakened somewhat. On February 14, 1815, Campbell left Elba again. When he returned urgently on February 28, Napoleon was gone.

Having taken urgent measures for an early departure from the island, the emperor kept his Napoleonic plans in the strictest confidence and only the day before revealed his intentions to mother: I cannot die on this island and end my career in peace that would be unworthy of me. The army wants me. Everything makes me hope that, seeing me, the army will hasten to me. Of course, I can meet with an officer who is loyal to the Bourbons, who will stop the rush of the troops, and then I will be finished in a few hours. This end is better than being on this island ... I want to go and try my luck again. What's your opinion, mother?

Napoleon announces to his mother the abandonment of his project on the island of Elba
Felix Emmanuel Henri FILIPPOTO
Illustration for the book by Adolphe Thiers History of the Consulate and the Empire, volume 4

Shocked by what she heard, Letizia ( Let me be a minute mother), after some silence, she blessed her son: Go, my son, and follow your assignment. Perhaps you will fail and your death will immediately follow. But you cannot stay here, I see it with sorrow. Let's hope the god who kept you amid so many battles will save you once again... And hugged her troublemaker tightly.

Portraits of Generals Pierre Jacques Etienne Cambronne, Antoine Drouot and Henri Gacien Bertrand

Now, after talking with his mother, Napoleon called on his loyal generals who followed him to the island of Elba: Bertrand, Drouot and Cambronne and announced his decision to return to France. The generals received the news with delight, although Drouot doubted the success. On the eve, Napoleon drew up and ordered to secretly print two fiery proclamations - to the French people and to the army. Of course, in them he attributed all his failures to the betrayal of the marshals Marmont and Augereau, if it were not for them, the allies would have found their graves on the battlefields of France. The Bourbons, imposed on France by foreign powers, have learned nothing and have forgotten nothing. They wanted to replace the right of the people with the rights of the feudal lords. French people! In exile, I heard your complaints and your desires: you demanded a government of your own choice, only this is legal. I swam across the seas and came again to take possession of my rights, which are at the same time your rights- he told the people. Soldiers! Come and stand under the banner of your leader. His existence is closely related to yours; his rights are the rights of the people and yours ... Victory is on a forced march. An eagle with national flowers will fly from the bell tower to the bell tower, up to the tower of Notre Dame Cathedral, - he proclaimed to the armies ...

February 26, 1815. Napoleon with troops in Porto Ferraio

On February 26, everything was ready. Leaving the square in front of the Sea Gate, Napoleon's carriage stopped.
Those gathered shouted: Long live Napoleon!

Napoleon leaves Elba from Porto Ferraio to return to France on February 26, 1815
Joseph BOHEME (1796-1885) Versailles Museum

The Emperor addressed the audience: Elbians! I do not know how to remain ungrateful. I will always keep the kindest memories of you. Farewell! I love you very much!

Departure of Napoleon from the island of Elba on February 26, 1815
Michel François DAMAME-DEMARTRE
Illustration for the book by Adolphe Thiers History of the Consulate and the Empire, volume 4

Napoleon's mother sobbed inconsolably as she said goodbye to her son. Soldiers and officers (about 1,100 people of the old guard and the Corsican battalion), generals and Napoleon plunged into their boats, and in the evening a small flotilla (brig l "Inconstant and six small ships), with a favorable wind, sailed north.

Hopefully this post won't be the last ...