This story will ever form the darkest chapter in the history of Napoleon.
The duke had his residence at a castle in the Duchy of Baden, where, attended by a few noble friends, the partakers of his exile, he was chiefly occupied with the diversions of the chase.

On the evening of the 14th of March, a troop of French soldiers and gens-d'armes, under Colonel Ordonner (who derived his orders from Caulaincourt) suddenly passed the frontier into the independent territory of Baden, surrounded the Castle of Ettenheim, rushed into the apartment of the prince, and seized him and all his company.

He would have used his arms, but his attendants, representing the overpowering number of the assailants, persuaded him to yield without resistance.

He was forthwith conveyed to the citadel of Strasburg, and separated from all his friends except one aide-de-camp, the Baron de St.Jaques, and allowed no communication with any one else.

After being here confined three days, he was called up at midnight on the 18th and informed that he must prepare for a journey.