The Battlefield of Waterloo during the first re-enactment of the French attack during the battle's bicentenary celebrations (European)

A pivotal battle in European history between the French forces led by Napoleon Bonaparte and the Allied forces consisting of British, Dutch, Belgian and German forces. It took place on June 18, 1815 near the Belgian village of Waterloo after Bonaparte returned from his first exile in 1814 and wanted to regain his influence. The battle ended. With the defeat of the French forces, its results led to the control of European countries over France and the spread of nationalist ideas, and established a new policy in the region.

the beginning

Europe witnessed a series of wars launched by European military alliances against France in the period between 1792 and 1815, which led to the control of the French Empire, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, over most of the continent's lands.

But this control began to decline when Napoleon decided to invade Russia in 1812. This invasion - which lasted half a year - led to the defeat of the French forces. Of the 615,000 soldiers, only 100,000 returned.

Napoleon returned with what remained of his army to France in late 1812 to reconstitute his military power, but the Russian armies not only expelled him from Russia, but also crossed the border into Poland with the aim of ending his dominance in Central Europe.

By 1813, the so-called Sixth Coalition was formed, which was determined to regain Germany from the grip of Napoleon. In it, the allied allies launched the Battle of Leipzig on October 16, 1813, which accelerated the collapse of Napoleon’s empire, his abdication of the throne, and his exile to the island of Elba in 1814.

On March 1, 1815, Napoleon fled from exile to regain control of his empire from the Bourbonnais. Immediately upon his arrival, thousands of defecting French soldiers joined him. He quickly entered the capital, Paris, and took control of power after the escape of King Louis XVIII. Napoleon began his second reign known as the 100th. day.

Part of the celebrations marking the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, "a simulation of Napoleon's life at Waterloo" (Getty)

The great powers of Europe would not allow Napoleon to upset the balance again after spending two decades fighting revolutionary and Napoleonic France, so they officially described him as an outlaw, and formed the Seventh Coalition on March 25, 1815, which included the United Kingdom, Prussia, Russia, and Austria, in addition to... To the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and several German states, the coalition planned to mobilize 5 armies against Napoleon.

the reasons

There were many factors that led to the decision to launch the battle and revolved around the following factors:

  • Napoleon returns from exile.

  • His desire to re-impose influence.

  • Political instability in Europe.

  • Allied opposition.

Battle day

The Duke of Wellington, who commanded the Allied army, took up a defensive position along the Mont-Saint-Jean mountain range just south of the Belgian village of Waterloo. The Prussian army under Marshal Blücher was stationed to the east, and coordination between Wellington and Blücher was crucial for the Allies.

The battle began with a French attack on Hougoumont, a farm located on the right side of Wellington, and Hague Saint Farm on the left. Both sites witnessed heavy fighting throughout the day, and Hougoumont witnessed a fierce struggle for control.

The French cavalry launched several attacks against the Allied lines, but they faced stiff resistance, and the British and Allied cavalry - including the Scottish knights - played a decisive role in repelling the French attacks.

Part of the celebration of the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo in London (Getty)

Napoleon hoped to defeat Wellington before the Prussians arrived. However, Blücher's forces engaged the French at the Battle of Ligny on the same day, and despite suffering losses, the Prussians managed to maintain their fighting ability and began marching to support Wellington.

The Duke of Wellington skillfully defended his position using the hills to his advantage, then repelled French attacks - including infantry attacks and artillery barrages - by well-disciplined and positioned Allied forces.

In the afternoon, the Prussian army under Blücher arrived to reinforce the Allied right flank, and this unexpected intervention had a major impact on the course of the battle.

While the Prussians were pressuring the French right flank, Napoleon launched a final major attack with his Imperial Guard, but the attack was met with firm resistance from the British and their allies, and the Allied forces carried out a counterattack, which led to the collapse of the French army.

The bloody battle ended after nearly 60,000 people were killed, and 4 days later Napoleon abdicated the throne for the last time and was sent into permanent exile on Saint Helena, where he died in 1821.

The Battle of Waterloo marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars and heralded a new balance of power, contributing to a period of relative peace on the continent.

Political results

The Battle of Waterloo was not just a passing military conflict, but rather a historical event that radically changed the course of Europe, redrawing the map of the continent and establishing a new political system.

  • The end of the Napoleonic era

This battle was the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, and ended his rule over the French. After his defeat, he abdicated the throne for the second time and was exiled to the remote island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean.

The armies of the Seventh Coalition defeated the French army at the Battle of Waterloo (Getty)

  • Restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France

Louis XVIII, who had fled during the reign of Napoleon, returned to the throne. However, this period was not without challenges, as the post-Napoleonic era was characterized by political turmoil and conflict between monarchists and liberals.

  • Vienna Conference

The Battle of Waterloo was preceded by the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815), where European powers met to redraw the map of Europe and establish a balance of power to prevent future conflicts. Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo confirmed the decisions made at the Congress of Vienna and reinforced the principles of conservatism and European concord.

  • European stability

The goal of Napoleon's defeat and the subsequent Congress of Vienna was to restore stability to Europe after years of war, as the major European powers - including Austria, Russia, Prussia, and Great Britain - sought to establish a balance of power and maintain the prevailing status quo to prevent the return of revolutionary and Napoleonic ideals.

  • Formation of the Holy Alliance

Russia, Austria, and Prussia formed the Holy Alliance in 1815 in the wake of the Napoleonic Wars. The alliance, based on conservative principles and Christian values, aimed to preserve the existing order and suppress revolutionary movements, however it was not very effective in the long term.

  • The rise of European nationalism

Napoleon's defeat and the subsequent Congress of Vienna contributed to the rise of nationalism in various parts of Europe, and the imposition of conservative policies by the Great Powers inflamed nationalist sentiment, as calls for self-determination and independence rose.

The Battle of Waterloo destroyed Napoleon Bonaparte's plans to restore control again and contributed to his defeat (social networking sites)

  • Impact on Britain

The Battle of Waterloo strengthened Britain's position as a major European power and contributed to the country's political stability.

The victory strengthened the political career of Duke Wellington, who played a decisive role in the battle.

Source: websites