When Britain Briefly Controlled Monaco in 1815
Following Napoleon's return from Elba, British forces occupied the Principality for three months despite Prince Honoré V's objections.
The spring of 1815 brought an unexpected chapter to Monaco's history when British forces took control of the Principality. This occupation occurred in March, immediately after Napoleon Bonaparte's dramatic return from his exile on the island of Elba, marking the beginning of what would become known as the Hundred Days.
Colonel Burke, representing British military interests, established surveillance over Monaco for a three-month period. The occupation was part of broader Allied efforts to contain Napoleon's resurgent influence across Europe following his escape from Elba.
Despite strong protests from Prince Honoré V, Monaco's hereditary prince at the time, the British maintained their presence throughout the spring months. This brief period of foreign control represents one of the more unusual episodes in the Principality's long history of navigating the complex political currents of European power struggles.