October 15
Napoleon Begins Permanent Exile on St. Helena
The defeated French emperor arrived on the remote South Atlantic island under British guard, closing the chapter on his final attempt to regain power.
Summary
After defeat at Waterloo and a second abdication, Napoleon surrendered to British forces in July 1815. The British government chose remote Saint Helena in the South Atlantic to prevent further escapes or influence. On October 15, 1815, HMS Northumberland anchored off the island, and Napoleon disembarked the next day with a small entourage including generals Bertrand and Montholon. He initially stayed at The Briars before moving to Longwood House. The exile isolated him from European politics until his death in 1821.
Context
Following his decisive loss at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, and his second abdication four days later, Napoleon Bonaparte sought to escape to the United States aboard French frigates. A British naval blockade trapped him near Rochefort, leading to his surrender on July 15 to Captain Frederick Maitland of HMS Bellerophon. British authorities, wary of his history of escape from Elba earlier that year, rejected pleas for residence in Britain or milder exile and instead selected Saint Helena, a volcanic island roughly 1,200 miles off the African coast then administered by the East India Company.
What Happened
On October 15, 1815, HMS Northumberland anchored off the island’s only practical landing sites after a voyage of more than two months. Napoleon disembarked the next day accompanied by a small entourage that included Grand Marshal Henri-Gratien Bertrand and his wife, General Charles de Montholon and his wife, General Gaspard Gourgaud, former chamberlain Emmanuel de Las Cases, and several servants. He took temporary lodging at The Briars, a pavilion on the estate of the Balcombe family, while preparations continued at Longwood House on a windswept plateau seven miles inland.
Aftermath
Napoleon transferred to Longwood on December 10, 1815, where Admiral Sir George Cockburn oversaw initial custody arrangements. The island’s isolation, steep cliffs, and limited harbors simplified surveillance. In April 1816 Sir Hudson Lowe assumed the governorship and implemented stricter regulations that denied Napoleon imperial honors and limited his movements and correspondence.
Legacy
The six-year exile removed Napoleon as an active political force, reinforcing the post-Napoleonic settlement negotiated at the Congress of Vienna and underscoring British naval dominance in maintaining European stability. Memoirs dictated at Longwood by Las Cases, Montholon, and others helped shape the enduring Napoleonic legend that portrayed the former emperor as a defender of revolutionary ideals rather than a conqueror.
Why It Matters
The banishment ended the Napoleonic Wars' immediate threat and reshaped the European balance of power through the Congress of Vienna system. It set precedents for handling defeated leaders and highlighted Britain's naval dominance in securing global order.
Related Questions
Why was Saint Helena chosen instead of a location closer to Europe?
British leaders sought an island so remote that escape or renewed political influence would be virtually impossible, and Saint Helena’s position in the South Atlantic met that requirement.
Who accompanied Napoleon into exile?
A small group of loyal officers and servants, including Generals Bertrand and Montholon with their wives, Gourgaud, Las Cases, and several valets and attendants.
Where did Napoleon first stay on the island?
He lodged briefly at The Briars, a pavilion belonging to the Balcombe family, before moving to Longwood House.
How did the exile affect European politics?
Napoleon’s permanent removal helped consolidate the Congress of Vienna settlement and removed the immediate threat of renewed French expansion under his leadership.
What role did memoirs play after his death?
Accounts dictated at Longwood and later published by companions such as Las Cases and Montholon created the romanticized Napoleonic legend that influenced 19th-century European culture.
Explore More
Related Events
Sources
- Napoleon's exile to St. Helena - Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed 2026-07-06.
- Napoleon I - Exile, St. Helena, Emperor - Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed 2026-07-06.