Battle of Waterloo

18 June 1815. Final battle of the Napoleonic Wars and the end of Napoleon Bonaparte's rule as the Emperor of the French. French army versus the British-led Allied forces commanded by the Duke of Wellington, and the Prussian army led by General Blücher.

Background

In 1814, Napoleon had been forced to resign. He was banished to Elba, an island in the Mediterranian. However, he was able to leave Elba in February 1815 and swiftly gained back his position of authority and power in France. Napoleon's return to France resulted in an era known as the Hundred Days, in which his intention was to reestablish the French Empire and to solidify his rule once again.

Napoleon's return and the danger it opposed for the other European countries resulted in the formation of the Seventh Coalition. Among the allies of this coalition were Russia, Britain, Austria and Prussia. They all shared the aim to overthrow and diminish Napoleon. Napoleon's aim was to split up and destroy the coalition forces before they could come together.

Two days prior to The Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon faced General Blücher's Prussian army at the Battle of Ligny on 16 June 1815. At the same time, French forces and an Anglo-Dutch-Belgian combined force under the command of the Duke of Wellington fought in the Battle of Quatre Bras. The Prussian Army was weakened by this prior attack but successfully withdrew from the Battle of Ligny. With the Prussians withdrawn, Napoleon saw an opportunity to defeat Wellington at Quatre Bras on the morning of 17 June. Wellington recognized the danger and began withdrawing toward Waterloo.

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 of Waterloo as the location for the battle was a major factor for success. The Allies benefited strategically from their location, which included a secure withdrawal route, better visibility, flank protection, control of important buildings, and a defensible ridge.

The battle began with Napoleon attacking key positions of the Allies, including Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte, while the Prussian Army was not at Waterloo, yet. Fierce fighting ensued as the French attempted to break through the Allied lines. The Prussian army arrived to assist the Allies as the battle progressed and 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 attack, yet the British defensive positions and squares withstood several attacks. After regrouping and fortifying themselves, the Prussians decisively counterattacked the right flank of the French. The French position was weakened by this well-planned attack, which aided the Allies in their victory. The French forces started to withdraw from Waterloo as the British held their ground and the Prussians pressed in on their right flank.

Aftermath

The Battle of Waterloo has inflicted considerable losses on both opposing forces. The Hundred Days of Napoleon's return from exile came to an end with the French defeat at Waterloo. Following his defeat, Napoleon's support from the French public and his own army vanished, which ultimately led to Napoleon's abdication on 22 June 1815. Napoleon was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, where he spent the rest of his life. It sparked the First French Empire's demise and Napoleon's second and final abdication as Emperor of France. The Battle of Waterloo established a historical turning point, since it initiated a period of relative peace and stability in Europe after 23 years of wars [Pax Britannica is a very tricky term. Please try to rephrase].

Sources

Black, Jeremy. The Battle of Waterloo. Random House, 2010.

Geoghegan, Patrick. "'A BATTLE OF GIANTS': WATERLOO, WELLINGTON AND IRELAND." In: History Ireland, vol.23, no.3, 2015, p. 22-26.

Kirkpatrick, David. "The Battle of Waterloo." Royal United Service Institute, 2015.

Rose, Edward PF. "The Battle of Waterloo, 18 June 1815: some geological reflections to mark the bicentenary." In: Geology Today, vol.31, no.3, 2015, p.103-108.

Simms, Brendan. The longest afternoon: The 400 men who decided the battle of Waterloo. Basic Books, 2015.

Teague, Lieutenant-Colonel George E. "Waterloo and Gettysburg: A Campaign Comparison." U.S. Army War College, 2014.

Veve, Thomas D. "Wellington and the Army of Occupation in France, 1815–1818." The International History Review 11.1 (1989): 98-108.