The Sixth Coalition, comprising major European powers including Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Sweden, managed to capture Paris after a series of significant victories that culminated in the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Grande Armée. The coalition forces' advance was marked by organized military campaigns that exploited Napoleon's overextension and the logistical difficulties his army faced in maintaining control over the territories acquired during his reign. After a decisive confrontation at the Battle of La Rothière and with other strategic victories, the coalition pressed towards the French capital. As the coalition troops entered Paris, a symbolic journey for many, it underscored a dramatic shift in European power dynamics and signaled the end of the Napoleonic era. Reports of both celebration and despair emerged from the city as citizens reacted to the entry of foreign troops amidst their own struggle with the consequences of prolonged warfare.

The occupation led to an immediate shift in the political structure of France, as Napoleon was pressured to abdicate shortly thereafter. The international ramifications of the event were profound, as the coalition countries sought to redraw the map of Europe, leading to the Congress of Vienna. The resulting peace negotiations aimed at preventing future conflict in Europe contributed to nearly a century of relative stability until World War I. Furthermore, the occupation altered French public sentiment regarding governance and military engagement and influenced nationalistic sentiments across Europe, notably in France itself, igniting debates on republicanism and monarchy that would shape French politics in the years to come.