Napoleon leaves Elba and enters Paris without a shot in March 1815

So the brief but dazzling novella known as "Napoleon's Hundred Days" began 209 years ago. On 25 February 1815 he left his captivity of his own accord, sailing from the island of Elba aboard the brig L'Inconstant together with six ships, passing calmly through the patrolling vessels and putting in at the mainland.

Antibes, the first town to meet Napoleon's detachment on its way, closed its gates against him and did not submit, even managing to take 25 men prisoner. But the next towns along the route, Cannes and Grasse, recognised the authority of the returned emperor at once and came over to him. Every town on the way to Grenoble surrendered to Napoleon. At Grenoble itself, however, he found locked gates and government troops, which did not frighten Bonaparte. He approached the ranks of the royal soldiers and uttered a truly historic line: "Soldiers of the 5th Regiment! Recognise your emperor! If any man among you wishes to kill him, here I am!" The answer was the command "Fire!", but the soldiers did not obey and proclaimed "Long live the Emperor!" By 20 March Napoleon entered Paris, likewise without a single shot.

His power had 100 days left to run.