 |
| Napoleon's Generals Conspire |
After
Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813, Napoleon withdrew
back into France, his army reduced to 70,000 soldiers and 40,000 stragglers
against more than three times as many Allied troops. Paris was captured by the
Coalition in March 1814.
When Napoleon
proposed that the army march on the capital, his marshals decided to mutiny. On
4 April, led by Marshall Ney, they confronted Napoleon. Napoleon asserted the
army would follow him, and Ney replied the army would follow its generals.
Napoleon had no choice but to abdicate. He did so in favor of his son. However,
the Allies refused to accept this, and Napoleon was forced to abdicate
unconditionally on 11 April.
