Everything Everywhere Daily: Napoleon’s 100 Days (Encore)
Host: Gary Arndt
Date: October 19, 2025
Main Theme & Purpose
This episode takes listeners through the dramatic and improbable return of Napoleon Bonaparte from exile on Elba, his 100 days’ reign, and his ultimate downfall at Waterloo. Gary Arndt vividly recounts the sheer audacity of Napoleon’s comeback, the political and military whirlwind it created across Europe, and the lasting legacy of one of the most incredible "last gasps" in world history.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Napoleon's Rise and Fall Prior to Exile
- Background: Napoleon first rose to power after the French Revolution—“He held the newly created position of first consul in 1799 and then crowned himself emperor of the French in 1804.” (03:13)
- Military Conquests and Overreach: He led France to many victories but overextended—especially during the 1812 Russian campaign.
- First Abdication: Forced to abdicate in April 1814 after defeat by the Sixth Coalition, driven by Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia.
2. Exile on Elba
- Terms of Exile: Granted sovereignty over Elba, allowed to retain the title of "Emperor" (of Elba), with a personal guard, minor family titles, and a stipend. (03:52)
- Challenges: Facing financial constraints and personal setbacks; Napoleon tries—briefly and fruitlessly—to improve Elba’s infrastructure.
- Restoration of the Bourbon Monarchy: King Louis XVIII is installed in France, reversing much of the Revolution's progress.
3. The Stage is Set for the Comeback
- Deteriorating Conditions: Allowance cut, family kept away, rumors of a harsher exile, and growing unpopularity of Louis XVIII among the French. (05:15)
- Decision to Return: “Napoleon realized that he had to do something, if only out of self preservation.”
4. Napoleon’s Astounding Return
- Landing in France (06:04): Arrives near Nice on March 1, 1815, with just 1,000 soldiers.
- Sheer Audacity: “All he had was his name and his reputation. And with that, he was planning to walk to Paris and just take over the government.” (06:47)
Notable Event: Confrontation near Grenoble
- Turning an Army Without Firing a Shot:
- “If there is any man among you who would kill his emperor, here I stand.” (07:19)
- The soldiers of the 5th Infantry Regiment join him with cries of “Vive l’Empereur!”
Notable Event: General Ney's Defection
- General Ney’s Pledge Broken:
- “Ney had promised King Louis that he would bring Napoleon back in an iron cage. That didn’t happen.” (08:12)
- With Ney and his troops, Napoleon’s force swells rapidly.
5. Europe’s Response: The Seventh Coalition
- Panic at the Congress of Vienna: European powers brand Napoleon an outlaw and resign themselves to war. (08:57)
- Dominoes Fall in France: Army after army defect to Napoleon, allowing him to reach Paris untouched and reclaim the throne on March 20, 1815.
6. Napoleon’s Final Campaign
- Preparation for War: Hastily raises a fresh, inexperienced army—198,000 strong by May, but lacking in veterans.
- Coalition Strategy: Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia each pledge 150,000 men, planning to invade France in July.
7. Battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras
- June 16:
- “The forces led by Napoleon defeated the Prussian forces under General Gebhard von Blucher at the Battle of Ligny.” (10:04)
- Simultaneously, Ney holds the British-Dutch at Quatre Bras.
8. The Final Stand at Waterloo (June 18, 1815)
- Outcome: Napoleon “almost won the battle. What turned the course...was the arrival of von Blücher's Prussian army late in the day.” (11:00)
- Collapse: The Imperial Guard breaks; Napoleon’s army disintegrates and the rest is history.
9. Aftermath and Second Abdication
- Flight and Surrender: Flees to Paris, abdicates on June 22.
- Failed Escape: Plans to flee to the US, but is blocked by the British navy; surrendered at Rochefort on July 15.
10. Exile to St. Helena
- Imprisonment: Exiled to the remote island of St. Helena, “an effectual prison for a single person” (12:26)
- Final Years: Reads, writes, entertains visitors; dies in 1821 at age 51.
11. Legacy
- Return to France: His remains are moved to Paris in 1840, met with massive public mourning.
- The Meaning of the “100 Days”: “Despite his ultimate failure, it was one of the most impressive comebacks in world history…Through nothing more than the sheer force of his personality, he managed to assemble an army and came extremely close to vanquishing his enemies on the battlefield.” (13:17)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Napoleon’s audacity:
“He had no real army…If he had to engage in a fight, his military brilliance would not have been able to overcome his lack of weapons and manpower. All he had was his name and his reputation.”
— Gary Arndt (06:50) - Grenoble stand-off:
“If there is any man among you who would kill his emperor, here I stand.”
— Gary Arndt, quoting Napoleon (07:19) - On General Ney:
“Ney had promised King Louis that he would bring Napoleon back in an iron cage. That didn’t happen.”
— Gary Arndt (08:12) - Waterloo in a nutshell:
“Napoleon almost won the battle. What turned the course of the battle was the arrival of von Blücher’s Prussian army late in the day.”
— Gary Arndt (11:00) - On the significance of the 100 Days:
“Despite his ultimate failure, it was one of the most impressive comebacks in world history. Through nothing more than the sheer force of his personality, he managed to assemble an army and came extremely close to vanquishing his enemies on the battlefield.”
— Gary Arndt (13:17)
Important Timestamps
- 03:13 — Napoleon’s rise and first abdication
- 05:15 — Conditions on Elba and return rationale
- 06:04 — Landing in France and the audacity of Napoleon’s plan
- 07:19 — Grenoble “If there is any man…” moment
- 08:12 — General Ney defecting
- 08:57 — European reaction and formation of the Seventh Coalition
- 10:04 — Battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras
- 11:00 — Waterloo and Napoleon’s downfall
- 12:26 — Exile to St. Helena
- 13:17 — Legacy of the 100 Days
Summary Takeaway
Gary Arndt’s tight, compelling narrative details Napoleon’s 100 Days as one of the boldest and swiftest comebacks ever mounted. Listeners come away with a clear sense of how Napoleon leveraged personal charisma and public dissatisfaction to almost reclaim Europe—only to be undone by the combined might of his enemies. History buffs and newcomers alike finish the episode with new appreciation for the scale and drama of the final chapter in Napoleon's legacy.