Second abdication

Back in Paris during the night of 20-21 June, the Emperor wanted to raise a new army: a hundred and ten thousand men were still under arms and the northern fortresses held. But the Chamber of Representatives, elected in May and dominated by the liberals, declared itself in permanent session on La Fayette's motion and warned that any dissolution would be high treason.

Lucien, back from Italy, urged his brother to dissolve the Chamber and rule by dictatorship. Napoleon refused: "I did not come back from Elba to make the blood of Paris flow." Fouché, Minister of Police and already in contact with Louis XVIII and the Allies, orchestrated the parliamentary pressure.

On the 22nd the Emperor signed: "My political life is over, and I proclaim my son, under the title of Napoleon II, Emperor of the French." The Chamber took note of the abdication but evaded proclaiming the son and appointed a governing commission of five members, chaired by Fouché.

Napoleon withdrew on 25 June to Malmaison, the home of Joséphine, dead the year before. He offered to serve as a simple general: the commission refused and sent him passports. On the 29th, with the Prussians approaching, he left for Rochefort.

Napoleon II, in Vienna, would never learn that he had reigned a fortnight on paper. Louis XVIII returned to Paris on 8 July; the second Restoration began, and with it the White Terror.