NAPOLEON REGAINS HIS ARMY
Napoleon Bonaparte forged an empire through his mastery of military strategy, but then came his catastrophic Russian invasion in 1812. The failed offensive crippled his army, revealed his weaknesses and gave heart to his enemies – leading to another heavy defeat at Leipzig in October 1813. To the coalition of European powers that formed against him, Napoleon had become “the sole obstacle to the reestablishment of peace in Europe”, and the French people, tired of war and reeling from their losses, turned on their emperor. On 6 April 1814, he was forced to abdicate.
"KILL YOUR EMPEROR" MAIN: Napoleon is apprehended by the French 5th Regiment near Grenoble on 7 March 1815. Rather than take him to Paris in chains, the soldiers threw down their arms and joined him
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