Principality of Elba

This article is about the former principality. For the island, see Elba.

Elba
Principato d'Elba
1814–1815
Flag Coat of arms Coat of arms
Location of Elba Location of the Principality of Elba within Europe
Capital		Portoferraio
Languages		Italian
Religion		Roman Catholic
Government		Non-hereditary Monarchy
Prince of Elba
•	1814-1815	Napoleon Bonaparte
Historical era		Napoleonic Wars
•	Treaty of Fontainebleau	April 13, 1814
•	Napoleon's Departure	February 26, 1815
•	Congress of Vienna	June 9, 1815
Area
•	1814
Population
•	1814 est.	12,000
Density
Currency		French Franc
Preceded by Succeeded by First French Empire Grand Duchy of Tuscany

The Principality of Elba (Italian: Principato d'Elba) was a non-hereditary monarchy established by the Treaty of Fontainebleau of 11 April 1814.

Sovereignty over the island, which until then had been part of the French département of Méditerranée, was given to Napoleon I of France after his abdication following the War of the Sixth Coalition. Article 3 of the Treaty stipulated that Elba was to be "an independent principality possessed by him in complete sovereignty and as personal property". His rule was to persist until his death, at which point control of the Principality would return to Tuscany. The former emperor was also granted a stipend of two million francs per year to be paid by France.

On 26 February, after a rule of 9 months, Napoleon escaped from Elba and landed in southern France to lead the French again, beginning the War of the Seventh Coalition. After his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, the delegates of the Congress of Vienna agreed to exile Napoleon to the Island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, and the Principality was returned to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

File:Island of Elba 1814.png

Island of Elba 1814