The Congress of Vienna restores the Spanish Bourbon king Ferdinand to the Neopolitan throne in 1815.

Joachim Murat realizes that the European powers, meeting as the Congress of Vienna, have the intention to remove him and return the Kingdoms of Naples to their pre-Napoleonic rulers.

Five days before Napoleon's return to Paris and the beginning of his Hundred Days, Murat deserts his new allies before the War of the Seventh Coalition and, after issuing a proclamation to the Italian patriots in Rimini, moves north to fight against the Austrians in the Neapolitan War to strengthen his rule in Italy by military means.

Napoleon had made Murat a Marshal of France on May 18, 1804, and also granted him the title of "First Horseman of Europe".

He was created Prince of the Empire in 1805, appointed Grand Duke of Berg and Cleves on March 15, 1806 and had held this title until August 1, 1808, when he was named King of Naples.

He was in charge of the French Army in Madrid when the popular May 2 uprising that started the Peninsular War broke out.

Murat had been equally useful in Russian Campaign of 1812 and during the German Campaign of 1813 in the Battle of Leipzig.

Murat originally ruled Naples following the same legal and social system used in France, while still participating in Napoleon's campaigns, but following the disastrous Battle of Leipzig, Murat had abandoned La Grande Armée to try to save his throne.

As defeat in the War of the Sixth Coalition loomed, Murat had  increasingly moved away from Napoleon, eventually signing a treaty with Austria in January 1814 and joining the Allied side in order to save his own throne.

As the Congress of Vienna progresses, Murat's position becomes less and less secure as there is growing support to restore Ferdinand to the throne.

The most vocal of all Murat's opponents is the United Kingdom, which has never recognized Murat's claim to the throne and moreover has been guarding Ferdinand in Sicily, ensuring he retains the Sicilian throne.

Informed of Napoleon's plan to escape from exile in Elba on March 1, 1815, Murat had sided with him once more, and declares war on Austria as soon as he learns of Napoleon's return to France.

Murat is defeated at Tolentino by Frederick Bianchi, a general of Francis II of Austria, on May 2–3, 1815.

The battle at Tolentino has severely damaged the morale of the Neapolitan troops and many senior officers have been casualties in the battle.

The battered Neapolitan army falls back in disarray.

On May 5, a joint Anglo-Austrian fleet begins a blockade of Ancona, eventually taking the entire garrison of the city as prisoners.

Bianchi, who is now in command of both his and Neipperg's corps, had taken the town of L'Aquila along with its castle by May 12.

The main Austrian army is now marching on Popoli.

General Nugent had meanwhile continued to advance from Florence,

Having arrived in Rome on April 30, allowing the Pope to return, Nugent advances towards Ceprano.

By mid May, Nugent has intercepted Murat at San Germano (now Cassino).

Here, Murat attempts to check Nugent's advance but with the main Austrian force under Bianchi in pursuit, Murat is forced to call off the action on May 16.

The Austrian armies unite near Calvi soon afterwards, and began the march on Naples.

Murat is forced to flee to Corsica and later Cannes disguised as a sailor on a Danish ship, after a British fleet blockading Naples destroys all the Neapolitan gunboats in the harbor.

Neapolitan Generals Pepe and Carrascosa sues for peace and concludes the Treaty of Casalanza with the Austrians on May 20, bringing the war to an end.

On May 23, the main Austrian army enters Naples and restores King Ferdinand to the Neapolitan throne.

Murat, meanwhile, will attempt to reclaim his kingdom.

Murat returns from exile, landing with twenty-eight men at Pizzo in Calabria on October 8, 1815.

However, unlike Napoleon months earlier, Murat is not greeted with a warm welcome and is soon captured by Bourbon troops.

Five days after he lands at Pizzo, he is executed in the town's castle, exhorting the firing squad to spare his face.

This ends the final chapter of the Napoleonic Wars.