Meanwhile, back in France, many people were worried that
the new king, Louis XVIII, might try to reverse the positive effects
of the Revolution, such as legal equality. With Napoleon gone,
a pro-Bonaparte movement started to form. Napoleon learned of
this development by reading the newspapers. Figuring that the
French army would remain loyal to him, he debated whether he should make
an attempt to return to Europe. When he asked his mother for her
counsel, she told him to "fulfill your destiny." As his previous
accomplishments had indicated, this destiny was an extraordinary
one; Napoleon made it off Elba with a large contingent of his volunteer
troops.
When Napoleon escaped Elba and returned to France, the
ease with which he rallied troops was a true measure of his popularity.
Napoleon drew most of his support from the workers and peasants.
They loved him not so much because he was an "Emperor", but because
they believed he was a true son of the Revolution who would never
reverse the Revolution's reforms, something many feared Louis XVIII
might soon do. Furthermore, Napoleon pledged himself to constitutional
government in hopes of winning more support. The aristocracy and
the middle class were unsure of how to feel about Napoleon's return.
However, since he had the support of the lower classes, the aristocracy
and middle class said little, waiting to see what would happen.
Thus, Napoleon was able to regain control of France bloodlessly;
indeed, not a shot was fired. Yet, while beloved in France, Napoleon
was hated in the rest of Europe: international conflict was inevitable.
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