War of the VII Coalition · 1815

Name: War of the VII Coalition
Start: 1815

After exile to Elba, Louis XVIII was restored and the powers at the Congress of Vienna prepared a "definitive peace". On 1 March 1815 Napoleon landed at Golfe-Juan and within twenty days entered Paris without resistance — the Hundred Days began and the Seventh Coalition formed against Napoleon.

Marshals of the campaign

5 marshals

Key events

1 Mar
Politics
Napoleon landed at Golfe-Juan and marched on Paris; the army and provinces rallied to him — the Hundred Days overturned the Bourbon restoration.
13 Mar
Politics
The Congress powers declared Napoleon an outlaw and formed the Seventh Coalition: Great Britain, Prussia, Austria and Russia.
2 May
Battle
At Tolentino Murat was defeated trying to raise Italy against Austria — the southern flank of the Hundred Days collapsed before the main battles in Belgium.
June
Politics
The allies concentrated in Belgium: Wellington near Brussels, Blücher to the north — Napoleon sent the Army of the North to separate them.
16 Jun
Battle
At Quatre Bras Ney attacked Wellington's positions but failed to destroy the allied army before reinforcements arrived.
16 Jun
Battle
At Ligny Napoleon routed Blücher's Prussian army but did not destroy it — the Prussians fell back toward Wavre.
18 Jun
Battle
At Waterloo Napoleon failed to defeat Wellington before Blücher appeared; the Guard's final attack broke down.
18 Jun
Battle
At Wavre Grouchy engaged Thielmann's corps and never reached the fighting at Waterloo — a fatal delay on the right wing.
22 Jun
Politics
After defeat Napoleon abdicated again; power passed to Talleyrand and a provisional government.
8 Aug
Politics
A British frigate carries Napoleon to Saint Helena — final exile after the second abdication.
20 Nov
Treaty
The Second Treaty of Paris defines the post-war borders and brings the Napoleonic Wars to a close.

Sides and key participants

Frederick William III

Campaign results

For France

The Hundred Days showed Napoleon still commanded loyalty, but the army could not gather all its forces in time
Victory at Ligny did not destroy the Prussians — they appeared on the flank at Waterloo
Grouchy followed his orders to the letter but could not save the campaign at Wavre
Second abdication and Saint Helena — Napoleon's final end
Ney was shot by the Bourbons for breaking his oath

For the coalition

The Seventh Coalition united at the Congress of Vienna against the "usurper"
Wellington and Blücher shared command in Belgium
Allied stubbornness at Waterloo bought time for the Prussian flank attack
The Bourbons were restored; Europe gained the long peace of the Congress system
The era of the Napoleonic Wars was over

War of the VII Coalition · 1815

Key events

1 Mar

Politics

Napoleon landed at Golfe-Juan and marched on Paris; the army and provinces rallied to him — the Hundred Days overturned the Bourbon restoration.

13 Mar

Politics

The Congress powers declared Napoleon an outlaw and formed the Seventh Coalition: Great Britain, Prussia, Austria and Russia.

2 May

Battle

At Tolentino Murat was defeated trying to raise Italy against Austria — the southern flank of the Hundred Days collapsed before the main battles in Belgium.

June

Politics

The allies concentrated in Belgium: Wellington near Brussels, Blücher to the north — Napoleon sent the Army of the North to separate them.

16 Jun

Battle

At Quatre Bras Ney attacked Wellington's positions but failed to destroy the allied army before reinforcements arrived.

16 Jun

Battle

At Ligny Napoleon routed Blücher's Prussian army but did not destroy it — the Prussians fell back toward Wavre.

18 Jun

Battle

At Waterloo Napoleon failed to defeat Wellington before Blücher appeared; the Guard's final attack broke down.

18 Jun

Battle

At Wavre Grouchy engaged Thielmann's corps and never reached the fighting at Waterloo — a fatal delay on the right wing.

22 Jun

Politics

After defeat Napoleon abdicated again; power passed to Talleyrand and a provisional government.

8 Aug

Politics

A British frigate carries Napoleon to Saint Helena — final exile after the second abdication.

20 Nov

Treaty

The Second Treaty of Paris defines the post-war borders and brings the Napoleonic Wars to a close.

Campaign results

For France

The Hundred Days showed Napoleon still commanded loyalty, but the army could not gather all its forces in time
Victory at Ligny did not destroy the Prussians — they appeared on the flank at Waterloo
Grouchy followed his orders to the letter but could not save the campaign at Wavre
Second abdication and Saint Helena — Napoleon's final end
Ney was shot by the Bourbons for breaking his oath

For the coalition

The Seventh Coalition united at the Congress of Vienna against the "usurper"
Wellington and Blücher shared command in Belgium
Allied stubbornness at Waterloo bought time for the Prussian flank attack
The Bourbons were restored; Europe gained the long peace of the Congress system
The era of the Napoleonic Wars was over