Battle of Waterloo

Fateful Defeat For Napoleon & France

Battle Of Waterloo, Bicentenary A Brief Account

F McCullough

The Battle of Waterloo, occurring on 18 June 1815, represented a pivotal moment in French history, bringing an end to the rule of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and setting the stage for a reshaping of the European political landscape. From the French perspective, this monumental battle saw their highly skilled and ambitious leader face a determined coalition of British, Dutch, and German forces led by the Duke of Wellington, and Prussian forces led by Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. Ultimately, the French Army met its demise in a hard-fought contest that would live on in infamy.

Under the command of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, the French Army consisted of a mix of battle-hardened veterans and newly conscripted soldiers. Despite the troops' exhaustion from ongoing campaigns, Napoleon sought to exploit divisions among the coalition forces arrayed against him. He aimed to defeat the British-led forces before turning his attention to the Prussian Army, which was also operating in the area.

Napoleon's plan relied on swiftly overpowering the British and allied forces under the Duke of Wellington before the Prussian reinforcements could arrive. The French Army launched a series of assaults against the well-prepared defensive lines held by Wellington's troops, but found themselves consistently repelled.

As the day wore on, the situation became increasingly dire for the French. The Prussian Army, led by Field Marshal von Blücher, arrived to bolster Wellington's forces, and the French found themselves fighting on two fronts. Despite the mounting challenges, Napoleon remained determined to break through the enemy lines and claim victory.

In a desperate attempt to turn the tide of the battle, Napoleon ordered the deployment of his elite Imperial Guard. Tasked with a final assault on the British lines, the Imperial Guard advanced with great courage and determination. However, they were met with a staunch defence from the coalition forces, and for the first time in their storied history, the Imperial Guard was forced to retreat.

The defeat of the Imperial Guard signalled the end for Napoleon and the French Army. Morale plummeted, and the remaining French forces were overwhelmed by the combined British and Prussian armies. The Battle of Waterloo marked the end of Napoleon's reign and his eventual exile to the remote island of Saint Helena.

From the French perspective, the Battle of Waterloo was a crushing defeat that brought an end to an era of dominance under Napoleon Bonaparte. The battle highlighted the importance of strategic planning and the perils of overconfidence in the face of a determined and well-prepared adversary. The legacy of the Battle of Waterloo would forever be etched into the annals of French and European history as a turning point that led to a new era of peace and stability on the continent.

Table of Contents

Napoleon’s Stand - Poem

Painting Source: Napoléon I, Emperor of the French (1769-1821) Royal Collection Trust

Listen closely, mes amis, and I will tell you true,

Of a great battle fought, where the French army did pursue,

It happened in the year of 1815, on a field in Belgium's land,

And it was here, my dear, that I made my stand.

I led my Grande Armée, with a steadfast hand,

With my cannons and my soldiers, a mighty force so grand,

We charged forward, with a determined fight,

And we fought with all our strength, with guns and dynamite.

The British and the Prussians, they held their ground with might,

And we fought with honour, and felt we were in the right,

We charged forward, loosing much blood,

And we pushed back the British, into the mud.

Then, just when it seemed, the victory was ours,

The Prussians arrived, only after a few hours,

And joining the British, they fought together,

Pushing back the French, in very poor weather.

The battle was lost, the French Army was in rout,

I, Napoleon Bonaparte, had to turn about,

I fled the battlefield, with an anger so strong,

And I vowed that one day, I would be back, where I did belong.

Let us reminisce, mes amis, the lessons of Waterloo,

For though we lost the battle, the French people’s spirit did renew,

Though we were defeated, we fought with all our strength,

And the tale of Waterloo, will always be told at great length.

French Marching - Song

Painting Source: The Battle of Waterloo, 1815 William Sadler Wikimedia Commons

We marched into battle, with determination to win,

On the field of Waterloo, where we knew it would begin.

Our charge was met, with an opposing band,

And we fought hard for Napoleon, in Belgium’s land.

The British and the Prussians, they fought their ground,

And we clashed with British power, but had to turn around.

The battle turned against us, and victory was lost,

And we knew our fate, would come at a great cost.

We fought with courage, and our will was strong,

But in the end, it was useless to prolong.

Our leader, Napoleon, knew we were defeated,

He saw our spirit broken, and we all retreated.

We marched home, beaten and dismayed,

Remembering our losses, on our faces displayed.

For we fought with honour, but to little avail,

At the Battle of Waterloo, where we didn’t prevail.

So let us remember, this story of heroes past,

Of the Battle of Waterloo, where French courage didn’t last.

For we tried our best, and it was of no use,

In a field at Waterloo, where all hell broke loose.

Book

Battle Of Waterloo, Bicentenary A Brief Account

F McCullough

External Links

Navy Army Museum

Fateful Defeat For Napoleon & France

Battle Of Waterloo, Bicentenary A Brief Account

Napoleon’s Stand - Poem

French Marching - Song

Book

Battle Of Waterloo, Bicentenary A Brief Account

Photographs & Art Works

Copyright

My Lap Shop Publishers

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Keywords: Battle of Waterloo, Blücher, British History, Duke of Wellington, European History, French Empire, Napoleon Bonaparte, Prussian Army, Warfare, Waterloo 200

Hashtags: #BattleOfWaterloo, #Blücher, #BritishHistory, #DukeOfWellington, #EuropeanHistory, #FrenchEmpire, #NapoleonBonaparte, #PrussianArmy, #Warfare, #Waterloo200

Created: 21 March 2023

Published: 22 March 2023

Page URL: https://www.mylapshop.com/battleofwaterloodefeatnapoleon.htm