Waterloo campaign: Waterloo to Paris (2–7 July)

After their defeat at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815, the French Army of the North, under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte retreated in disarray back towards France. As agreed by the two Seventh Coalition commanders in chief, the Duke of Wellington, commander of the Anglo-allied army, and Prince Blücher, commander of the Prussian army, the French were to be closely pursued by units of the Prussian army.

During the following week (18–24 June), although the remnants of the main French army were joined by the undefeated right wing of the Army of the North, the French were not given time to reorganise by the Coalition generals and they steadily retreated towards Paris.

By the end Saturday 24 June (the end of the first week after the defeat at Waterloo) the French who had fought at Waterloo were at Laon under the command of Marshal Soult, while those of the right wing who had fought at the simultaneous Battle of Wavre, under the command of Marshal Grouchy, were at Rethel. The Prussians were in and around Aisonville-et-Bernoville with Blücher's headquarters at Hannapes, and the Anglo-allies were in the vicinity of Cambrai, Englefontaine, and Le Cateau-Cambrésis where Wellington had his headquarters.

During next week (25 June – 1 July) the French reach Paris and the Coalition forces, who were about a day's march behind them also arrive in the Paris area. By July 1 the Anglo-allied army were facing the French, who were positioned behind a strong defensive line in the northern suburbs of Paris, while the Prussians had seized two bridges down stream of Paris, had crossed the river Seine and were about to approach Paris from the south west.

The third week started with the consolidation of the Prussians on the South side of Paris.

After two minor battles (Sèvres (2 July) and Issy (3 July)) the French Provisional Government (1815) and the French army commander Marshal Davout realised that any further delay in surrendering was futile as defeat was inevitable and would lead to a further loss of life and possibly the devastation of Paris, so they initiated a unilateral ceasefire and sent an emissary to request an immediate armistice.

Delegates from both sides met at Palace of St. Cloud and the result of the delegates' deliberations was the surrender of Paris under the terms of the Convention of St. Cloud. As agreed in the Convention, on 4 July, the French Army left Paris for the southern side of the river Loire. On 7 July, the two Coalition armies entered Paris. The Chamber of Peers, having received from the Provisional Government a notification of the course of events, terminated its sittings; the Chamber of Representatives protested, but in vain, and on the following day the doors were closed, and the approaches guarded by Coalition troops.

The following day the French King Louis XVIII entered Paris and was restored to the throne. Over the coming months the French royalist government exerted its authority over all of its domain including some fortresses under Bonapartist governors (the last of which, Charlemont, surrendered on 20 September). A new peace treaty was signed in November of the same year.