June 18 - The Battle of Waterloo

This Day in History: 18 June 2020

 

18 June 1815

 

205 years ago, today, the Battle of Waterloo was fought, ending in the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the hands of the Duke of Wellington, ending the Napoleonic era. Two days prior, Napoleon had defeated the Prussians under Gebhard von Blucher, and sent 33,000 men in pursuit of their retreating army. His remaining 72,000 troops faced the Duke of Wellington's 68,000-men army at the Battle of Waterloo. Foolishly, Napoleon waited until mid-day to give the command to attack, to let the ground dry, allowing Blucher's troops, who had escaped their pursuers, time to march to Waterloo and join the battle. The French were finally routed when the Anglo-allied army drove back the French Imperial Guard, throwing the troops into panic and a disorganised retreat.

 

The French suffered around 25,000 casualties from the battle, with an additional 9,000 captured, while the allies lost about 23,000. When Napoleon returned to Paris, he soon abdicated in favour of his son, and decided to leave the country before the opposition could rally against him. On July 15, he surrendered to British protection, hoping to travel to the United States. Instead, Britain sent him to Saint Helena, where he would live for six years. He died in 1821, most likely of stomach cancer, at 51 years old. His body was returned to Paris almost two decades later, where a grand funeral was held.

 

Want to find out more about the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon Bonaparte? Click here for more on the significance of Waterloo, or here for information about Napoleon's personality traits that led to his downfall.