The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, marked a decisive turning point in European history. The coalition forces, primarily led by the Duke of Wellington from Britain and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher from Prussia, emerged victorious against Napoleon Bonaparte’s French army. This battle effectively ended Napoleon’s rule and marked the decline of French imperial ambitions.
Wellington’s troops, strategically positioned near the village of Waterloo in Belgium, utilized the terrain to their advantage. They held their ground against repeated French assaults until the timely arrival of Blücher’s Prussian forces, who launched a counterattack on Napoleon’s flank. This surprise move overwhelmed the French, leading to a chaotic retreat.
The coalition’s victory at Waterloo established a new balance of power in Europe, ushering in nearly a century of relative peace known as the Concert of Europe. It also solidified the legacy of both Wellington and Blücher as key military figures in the defeat of one of history’s most formidable leaders.
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