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Medal, 1814, AE, ALEXANDER I SOJOURN IN PARIS, Russian Empire, NGC MS62, Cert# 3786255-001. Size: 40 mm. By Andrieu. For Alexander’s Sojourn in Paris, 1814. Diakov 378.1, Reichel 3280, Sm--. Laureate head r., signed Andrieu F. on truncation, Denon. D. below / Genius seated l. inscribing tablet, signed Andrieu. F. and Denon. Dir. at edge. Lustrous dark toffee. History: In 1814, the Battle of Paris was fought. The defeat of the French in that fight became the direct cause for the downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon I Bonaparte. It came about as follows: In 1813, the French army was on its retreat from a luckless invasion of Russia. In October, the allied forces of Russians, Prussians, Austrians and Swedes crushed them in the Battle of Leipzig. Then the allied forces invaded France, and the end of March 1814 conquered the city of Paris. The Battle of Paris was waged under the lead of the Russian Tsar Alexander I, who had a personal score to settle with Napoleon: Not even one and a half years before, the French had taken Moscow; during the invasion the city had been burned. Just as Napoleon had entered Moscow, Tsar Alexander now entered Paris. A few days later Napoleon was forced to abdicate, and sent into exile on the island of Elba; his imperial title, he was allowed to keep. Tsar Alexander had medals struck in Paris to celebrate his triumph. The obverse bore his portrait wearing a laurel wreath, an ancient symbol of victory. The reverse depicted a winged genius, in antique Roman religion a personal tutelary spirit. He was writing "Séjour d'Alex à Paris" on a tablet, "Alex' sojourn in Paris." Below the date is given, MDCCCXIV for the year 1814.