Napoleon Begins Permanent Exile on St. Helena
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.
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.