The Battle of Waterloo marked the end of the 23-year-long Napoleonic War. The war was fought by the French, who aimed to dominate Europe, and it successfully defeated Napoleon Bonaparte’s imperial power. The French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, was the commander in general of this battle. He came to prominence during the French Revolution, and finally, the Battle of Waterloo marked the end of his rule.
In this article, we will discuss the Battle of Waterloo, its history, dates, list of dead officers, etc. We will also read about Napolean’s defeat and related factors.
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What was the Battle of Waterloo?
Held on June 18, 1815, in the area of the town of Waterloo in modern-day Belgium, the Battle of Waterloo was a historic military battle. In this battle, Napoleon Bonaparte and his French forces were crushed by a coalition of British, Dutch, Belgian, and German troops under the leadership of the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian army under the command of Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. This marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars.
History of the Battle of Waterloo
As discussed above, the Battle of Waterloo marked the end of the Napoleonic era. The battle was fought in a town near Waterloo in present-day Belgium. The battle took place between Napoleon’s army, called the Grande Armee, Allied forces of the Duke of Wellington, and the Prussian Army. The battle started with a French attack on the key positions of the battle. The battle continued until the Prussian forces stepped up and finally defeated the French forces.
As the battle came towards its end, Napoleon made a final push, sending his best soldiers, the Imperial Guard, to attack the center of the Allied forces. Even though they started strong, the Imperial Guard struggled, and when they retreated, it demoralized the entire French army. Realizing how serious the situation was, Napoleon admitted defeat and stepped down from power for the second time on June 22, 1815.
The Allies’ victory in the Battle of Waterloo had a big impact on the course of European history. Napoleon was sent away to Saint Helena, where he lived out the rest of his life in exile. The battle itself became a symbol of a clear loss, and people started using phrases like “meeting one’s Waterloo” to describe a final and unchangeable failure.
Who Won the Battle of Waterloo?
The battle was fought between the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte and the allied armies. Eventually, the Allied forces won the Battle of Waterloo. This force was a coalition between the British, Dutch, Belgian, and German troops led by the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian army led by Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher. The victory of the Allied forces in the Battle of Waterloo played an important role in shaping the political landscape of Europe.
Dates of the Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo lasted for one whole day and was marked by several stages, depending on the intensity of the battle. The battle started on June 18, 1815, and continued till late afternoon. During the first stages of the Battle, the French had took charge of the key positions until Prussian reinforcements arrived. Finally, the French forces had to surrender at the onset of the Allied force’s counterattack. This led to the end of the battle as well as Napoleon’s defeat.
List of Officers Found Dead in the Battle of Waterloo
The list of officers found dead in the Battle of Waterloo is as follows:
1. French Officers
- Michel Ney
- Jacques-Alexandre-Bernard Law, Marquis de Lauriston
- Antoine Drouot
2. British Officers
- Sir Alexander Gordon
- Sir Thomas Picton
- Sir William Ponsonby
3. Prussian Officers
- August Neidhardt von Gneisenau
- Friedrich Wilhelm Freiherr von Bülow
- August von Thümen
How was Napoleon Defeated in the Battle of Waterloo?
Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo was marked by a series of strategic and military factors. These are described below:
- Strategic Mistakes: One of the major causes of Napoleon’s defeat was his strategic errors. He had miscalculated the strength of the allied forces and hastily moved to attach. Despite initial success, Napoleon’s army faltered and retreated. This also lowered the morale of the French army, leading to their defeat.
- Arrival of Prusian Reinforcement: The arrival of Prusian reinforcement at the time led to the success of the Prussian army, led by Blucher. The Prussians crushed the French armies on Napoleon’s right flank, making them unable to fight the Allied force. This also allowed the Allied forces to counterattack Napoleon’s army, leading to his defeat.
- British Resillience: The resillience shown by the British-allied force led by the Duke of Wellington was a turning point in the Battle of Waterloo. The use of British cavalry was also a clever defense strategy against the French army. And finally, the combined forces of the Prussian army and the British army crushed Napoleon’s effort.
- Imperial Gaurd’s Retreat: The retreat of the Imperial Guard, which was considered the elite of the French army, signaled the collapse of French morale. Napoleon, recognizing the gravity of the situation, conceded defeat, leading to his abdication for the second time on June 22, 1815.
Summarizing important points about the Battle of Waterloo
The summary of Battle of Waterloo is stated below:
- Napoleon Bonaparte gained prominence after winning the Hundred Days War. However, Bonaparte was soon faced with opposition in the face of the European coalition.
- Napoleon led his army to destroy the Allied forces before they could unite. However. The Prussian forces and the Anglo-Allied forces clashed with Bonaparte’s army immediately upon their arrival.
- On June 18, 1815, the main battle occurred at Waterloo. Napoleon faced the combined forces of Wellington and Blücher. The battle was characterized by intense fighting, with both sides having heavy casualties.
- Napoleon was ultimately defeated as a result of the arrival of the Prussian forces. Napoleon’s reign as Emperor of France came to an end when the French army was forced to retreat.
- Following the defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon abdicated for the second time on June 22, 1815. He was also sent to exile on the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic.
Conclusion – Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo marked the end of Napoleon’s reign, and he was eventually exiled to Saint Helena. After this battle, the Congress of Veinna redrew the map of Europe and restored the monarchies in the states that were disrupted by the war. The Congress also took firm measures to prevent any form of domination by one nation. The aftermath of the battle also led to the rise of nationalism, and Waterloo became a site of decisive defeat.
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FAQs on Battle of Waterloo
Who won the Battle of Waterloo?
The Battle of Waterloo was won by the Allied forces. This was a coalition between the British, Belgian, and German army led by the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian army led by Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher.
Which army defeated Napolean?
Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated by a coalition of Allied armies at the Battle of Waterloo. The combined strength of these Allied forces proved decisive in defeating Napoleon’s French army on June 18, 1815, marking the end of the Napoleonic era.
What were the last words spoken by Napolean Bonaparte?
The last words spoken by Napolean Bonaparte were “France, army, head of the army, Josephine. These words reflect his last thoughts, love for his country, his duties as an army general and remeberance of his wife, Josephine.
What makes the Battle of Waterloo famous?
The Battle of Waterloo was famous for several reasons. This included the defeat of Napoeal Bonapart and the end of Napoleanic era and the rise of nationalism in Europe.
After Napolean Bonaparte’s abdication, who ruled over France?
After Napoleon Bonaparte’s abdication in 1815, following the Battle of Waterloo, France underwent a period known as the Second Restoration. The Bourbon monarchy was restored to power with the ascension of Louis XVIII to the throne.