Battle of Waterloo

The Battle of Waterloo was fought on 18 June 1815 and took place near Waterloo in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (present-day Belgium). It marked the final battle of the Napoleonic Wars and the end of Napoleon Bonaparte's rule as the Emperor of the French. The opposing forces that fought against each other in the Battle of Waterloo were Napoleon's French army and the British-led Allied forces commanded by the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian army led by Field Marshal von Blücher.

Background In 1814, Napoleon had lost and been compelled to resign. He was banished to Elba, an island in the Mediterrenian sea. Yet, he was able to leave Elba in February 1815, and swiftly regained his position of authority in France. An era known as the Hundred Days began with Napoleon's return. He wanted to reestablish the French Empire and solidify his rule during this time. The European powers banded together to oppose him upon his return.

Napoleon's return and the danger it opposed prompted the formation of the Seventh Coalition. Among its allies were Russia, Britain, Austria, and Prussia. Their shared objective was to overthrow Napoleon and bring stability back to Europe. Napoleon underwent several military campaigns in Belgium and the Rhine in order to strike out ahead of the coalition forces assembling against him. Napoleon's ultimate goal was to split up and destroy the coalition forces before they could come together.

The Battle Three different armies fought in the Battle of Waterloo: Napoleon's Armée du Nord, a multinational army under Wellington, and a Prussian army commanded by General Blücher. Wellington's choice for Waterloo as the final location for the battle was a major key factor in how the Battle of Waterloo turned out. The Allies benefited strategically from their location at Waterloo, which included a secure withdrawal route, better visibility, flank protection, control of important buildings, and a defensible ridge. These elements supported the Allied victory at Waterloo, as did the Prussian army's and Wellington's forces' efficient coordination.

The battle began with Napoleon attacking key Allied positions, including Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte. Fierce fighting ensued as the French attempted to break through the Allied lines. The Prussian army, led by Blücher, arrived to assist the Allies as the battle progressed. The Prussians changed the direction of the battle by engaging the French forces on the eastern flank. The center of the Allied lines was the target of the French last-ditch attack. The British defensive positions and squares withstood several attacks. After regrouping and fortifying themselves, the Prussians decisively counterattacked the French right flank. The French position was weakened by this well-planned attack, which greatly aided the Allies in their victory.The French forces started to withdraw as the British held their ground and the Prussians pressed in on their right flank. As the Allies closed in on them, the retreat descended into a disorderly rout.

Aftermath The Battle of Waterloo has inflicted considerable losses on both opposing forces. About 17,000 soldiers were killed or injured at Waterloo on Wellington's side, and Blücher lost about 7,000 soldiers. Between 24,000 and 26,000 men were killed or injured on Napoleon's side, with an additional 6,000–7,000 captured and 15,000 deserting during the next few days.

Following the defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon's support from the French public and his own army vanished,which ultimately led to Napoleon's abdication on 22 June, 1815. The Hundred Days of Napoleon's return from exile came to an end with the defeat at Waterloo. It sparked the First French Empire's demise and Napoleon's second and final abdication as Emperor of France. It established a historical turning point, known as the Pax Britannica, that separated decades of largely peaceful living between a string of European wars. Napoleon was eventually exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, where he allegedly spent the rest of his life.