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Revision as of 10:16, 25 April 2003 editTeunSpaans (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,819 edits correction of errors and expansion of description of actual battle.← Previous edit Revision as of 20:16, 7 May 2003 edit undoCadr (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users3,444 edits spelling/grammar. Moved reference to the Imperial Guard. Napoleon did not give Ney charge of thw whole battle.Next edit →
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"A damned near run thing" - ] "A damned near run thing" - the ]


The site of ]'s final battle, ], ]. After Napoleon's exile to ], he was restored to the throne of ] for 100 days. During this time, the forces of the rest of ] converged on him, including ]'s ], and ]'s ]. The Battle of Waterloo, fought on ] , was ]'s last. After his exile to ], he had been restored to the throne of ] for 100 days. During this time, the forces of the rest of ] converged on him, including ]'s ], and ]'s ].


The Anglo-allied and Prussian armies were separated by previous engagements on ] 1815: a French and Anglo-Allied stalemate (] and a French victory over the Prussians ]), but ambiguous orders by Napoleon on the 17th to his subordinate Grouchy to pursue the Prussians with 30,000 men was a contributing factor to Napolean's eventual defeat. The Anglo-allied and Prussian armies were separated by previous engagements on ] 1815: a French and Anglo-Allied stalemate (] and a French victory over the Prussians ]), but ambiguous orders by Napoleon on the 17th to his subordinate Grouchy to pursue the Prussians with 30,000 men was a contributing factor to Napolean's eventual defeat.
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In the night of the 17th/18th, the Prussian army was reinforced by the arrival of van Bulows IV corps, which had not been present at Ligny. In the night of the 17th/18th, the Prussian army was reinforced by the arrival of van Bulows IV corps, which had not been present at Ligny.


After the Prussian defeat at Ligny, Wellintons position at Quattre Bras had become untenable. On a rainy 17th, Wellington with drewhis army to the previously reconaitred position at Waterloo, followed by French marshall Ney. After the Prussian defeat at Ligny, Wellinton's position at Quattre Bras had become untenable. On a rainy 17th, Wellington withdrew his army to the previously reconaitred position at Waterloo, followed by French marshall Ney.


At Waterloo, Wellington had the reinfoced farm or chateaux of Hougomont anchoring his right flank, and some farms to stabilize his left flank. Napoleon left the execution of that days battle to his subordinate Ney. Ney committed his largest corps, the II corps under general Reille, to the assault of Hougomont castle. In teh centre he openened the battle by forming a 'grand battery', which bombarded the allied line. After an hour, in the centre and on the French right flank, he committed general d'Erlons I corps to the assault. Wellingtons habbit of positioning his troops just after the crest shielded them from the worst of the French artillery. Throughout the 18th, Ney assaulted the Allied line with alternating infantry attacks and cavalry charges. At Waterloo, Wellington had the reinfoced farm Hougomont anchoring his right flank, and several other farms on his left. The battle began characteristicly with a French artillary bombardment on an enormous scale. A crucial element of the French plan of battle was to draw Wellington's reserve to his right flank in defense of Hougomont, but French attacks on the farm were eventually unsuccessful (though at one point they suceeded in breaking the door down) and Wellinton's reserves were not drawn away from his center. At 1:30pm, Napoleon ordered Marshal ] to send D'Erlon's infantry forward against Wellington's left. The attack shook the allied lines, but was eventually repelled by cavalry (the famous charge of the ]). A decisive moment in the battle was Ney's decision to asault the allied lines with massed cavalry. Several such attacks were repelled by the allied infantry (who formed squares) and a great amount of time and energy was wasted on the part of the French. Finally, an attack by the French ] was repelled, and with the Prussians making their prescence felt, the French were forced to retreat.


Wellington's hotch-potch command consisted of British, German, Dutch and Belgian troops. Some of these were of very poor quality (some were even sympathetic towards Napoleon), and ran away before the battle began. However, there were several highly capable foreign regiments, most notably the crack ], who defended the farm ] until they ran out of ammunition.
At about 14.00 elements of the Prussian IV and I corps started to arrive at the battle field and put pressure on the French right flank. When at the end of the afternoon, napoleon ordered an assault of his Old Guard aggainst the battered and exhausted British line, the experienced French Old Guard did not manage to break the British trooops. The guard withdrew.
This repulse signalled a general rout of the equally exhuasted French army.


Wellington and Blucher met at the inn 'la belle alliance'. Wellington and Blucher met at the inn 'la belle alliance'.
Shortly after this defeat, Napoleon lost his throne and was exiled to ], where he spent the rest of his life. Shortly after the French defeat, Napoleon lost his throne and was exiled to ], where he spent the rest of his life.

Noticeable is also the gallant defence of ] by the ].
Wellington's hotch-potch command consisted of British, German, Dutch and Belgian troops.


Armies participating in the campaign: Armies participating in the campaign:

Revision as of 20:16, 7 May 2003

History -- Military history -- List of battles

"A damned near run thing" - the Duke of Wellington

The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18 , was Napoleon Bonaparte's last. After his exile to Elba, he had been restored to the throne of France for 100 days. During this time, the forces of the rest of Europe converged on him, including Great Britain's Duke of Wellington, and Prussia's Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher.

The Anglo-allied and Prussian armies were separated by previous engagements on 16 June 1815: a French and Anglo-Allied stalemate (battle of Quatre Bras and a French victory over the Prussians battle of Ligny), but ambiguous orders by Napoleon on the 17th to his subordinate Grouchy to pursue the Prussians with 30,000 men was a contributing factor to Napolean's eventual defeat. Grouchy, being a late riser, started the pursuit late on both the 17th and the 18th. On the 18th, with the French III and IV corps at his disposal, he engaged elements of the Prussian army near Wavre.

In the night of the 17th/18th, the Prussian army was reinforced by the arrival of van Bulows IV corps, which had not been present at Ligny.

After the Prussian defeat at Ligny, Wellinton's position at Quattre Bras had become untenable. On a rainy 17th, Wellington withdrew his army to the previously reconaitred position at Waterloo, followed by French marshall Ney.

At Waterloo, Wellington had the reinfoced farm Hougomont anchoring his right flank, and several other farms on his left. The battle began characteristicly with a French artillary bombardment on an enormous scale. A crucial element of the French plan of battle was to draw Wellington's reserve to his right flank in defense of Hougomont, but French attacks on the farm were eventually unsuccessful (though at one point they suceeded in breaking the door down) and Wellinton's reserves were not drawn away from his center. At 1:30pm, Napoleon ordered Marshal Ney to send D'Erlon's infantry forward against Wellington's left. The attack shook the allied lines, but was eventually repelled by cavalry (the famous charge of the Scots Greys). A decisive moment in the battle was Ney's decision to asault the allied lines with massed cavalry. Several such attacks were repelled by the allied infantry (who formed squares) and a great amount of time and energy was wasted on the part of the French. Finally, an attack by the French Imperial Guard was repelled, and with the Prussians making their prescence felt, the French were forced to retreat.

Wellington's hotch-potch command consisted of British, German, Dutch and Belgian troops. Some of these were of very poor quality (some were even sympathetic towards Napoleon), and ran away before the battle began. However, there were several highly capable foreign regiments, most notably the crack King's German Legion, who defended the farm La Haye Saint until they ran out of ammunition.

Wellington and Blucher met at the inn 'la belle alliance'. Shortly after the French defeat, Napoleon lost his throne and was exiled to Saint Helena, where he spent the rest of his life.

Armies participating in the campaign:

  • Anglo-Allied Army - 106,000 men of Mixed quality (British, Dutch/Belgian, and minor German states)
  • Prussian Army - 128,000 men of Mixed quality
  • French Army (Armee du Nord) - 128,000 men of good quality.

Imperial guard of 25,000, a formidable elite group of units.

Armies participating in the battle of Waterloo:

  • Anglo-Allied Army - 67,000 men of Mixed quality (British, Dutch/Belgian, and minor German states)
  • Prussian Army - 25-60,000 men of Mixed quality (numbers depend on the way of counting, as the Prussians arrived in the afternoon, some divisions arrived on the field but did not really participate)
  • French Army (Armee du Nord) - 73,000 men of good quality.

The battle commenced at about 1120 in the morning and concluded at about 2200 that evening.

General Cambronne surrendered to Col Halkett.


At the time it was the most bloody battle in history.