Leipzig and the First Abdication

After the disaster in Russia, Napoleon's enemies saw their chance. Prussia joined Russia in early 1813, and Austria, Sweden and Britain formed the Sixth Coalition. Napoleon raised new, younger armies and won several battles, but at Leipzig from 16 to 19 October 1813, the 'Battle of the Nations', he was decisively defeated by combined coalition armies. German states abandoned him, and in 1814 allied armies invaded France.

Despite skilful defensive fighting, Napoleon could not stop them, and Paris surrendered on 31 March 1814. His marshals refused to keep fighting, and on 6 April he abdicated unconditionally. Under the Treaty of Fontainebleau he was allowed to rule the small Mediterranean island of Elba. The Bourbons returned in the person of Louis XVIII, Louis XVI's brother, who issued a Charter accepting many revolutionary changes, including legal equality and the Civil Code.