The Battle of Waterloo and the End of Napoleon, June 18, 1815

The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, was one of the most important battles in European history. It was fought near the present-day Belgian border and ended the Napoleonic era that had defined the political map of the European continent for almost two decades.

Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from exile on the island of Elba and returned to France. He ruled for a short period called the “Hundred Days” before being defeated by allied forces under the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, and the Prussian army led by Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher.

Napoleon lost the battle, abdicated a second time, and was exiled to Saint Helena in the South Atlantic.

Waterloo’s effects were not confined to France. The defeat definitively ended the Napoleonic Wars, and the balance of power in Europe was redefined. France was losing its power, and Britain was getting stronger at sea and in world trade. After the war, the European states set up a system of diplomatic balance to prevent further wars. This system, called “ Concert with Europe ”, was a key factor in ensuring political stability in Europe during the 19th century. It also contributed to the establishment of modern Europe today.