When the Bourbons returned in 1814 the gaggle of displaced royalists that accompanied them demanded their old privileges back and wanted the country to return to the pre-1789 period. Loyal French officers were forced out of the army to be replaced by returned royalists who either had no military service or experience or by those who had served against France.

Senior officers, such as Massena, were mistreated by the Bourbons and some senior officers wives, Madame Ney is a perfect example were snubbed and insulted by those now at court.

The Napoleonic nobility had earned their titles and privileges, and the 'new' nobility had usually by being shot at by various enemies of France and many times wounded (Oudinot, for example, was wounded 34 times by bullet, artillery round, or bayonet and sabre thrust). the scions of royalists had not been under fire and were not veterans. That is a significant difference. Old Marshal Lefebvre mentioned that it was better to be an ancestor than to have them, commenting on the inexperienced and somewhat ignorant royalists.

At one official function at his estate, Lefebvre overheard a young upstart complaining about how well the Lefebvre's were living. Lefebvre interrupted the youngling and told him he could have all Lefebvre had as long as he would stand and let Lefebvre shoot at him fifty times. If he survived, then Lefebvre would vacate and move. He mentioned that he had been shot at many more times than that during his active service. The young man declined the offer.