1813–1814Reputable sourceWell documented
The Battle of Leipzig and the First Abdication
On the timeline · around 1813–1814 ·
What happened
A grand coalition of Russia, Prussia, Austria, and others turned on the weakened emperor. At the Battle of Leipzig in 1813 — the 'Battle of the Nations,' the largest battle in Europe before the First World War — Napoleon was decisively beaten. The allies invaded France, took Paris, and in April 1814 forced Napoleon to abdicate and exiled him to the island of Elba.
Why it matters
Leipzig broke French power in Germany, and the first abdication seemed to end the Napoleonic era. But Napoleon was not finished — and neither was the war.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Napoleon Bonaparte · Reputable source