On 22 June 1815, in the aftermath of his crushing defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon Bonaparte was forced to abdicate the throne of France for the second time.
Faced with mounting pressure from his enemies and dwindling support, Napoleon conceded power, naming his young son, Napoleon II, as his successor.
This act marked the end of Napoleon's tumultuous reign and the brief and largely symbolic beginning of his son's reign.
Despite the abdication, Napoleon II's rule was never fully realised, as political instability and the resurgence of the Bourbon monarchy soon overshadowed his nominal ascension.
