Battle of Waterloo (1815)

Napoleon Bonaparte had dominated Europe for over a decade, but was forced to abdicate in 1814 and was exiled to the island of Elba. In early 1815 he escaped, returned to France, and quickly rebuilt his army. The major European powers — including Britain — formed a coalition against him for a final time. Napoleon moved quickly to try to defeat his enemies before they could unite their full strength.

On 18 June 1815, the Duke of Wellington — Arthur Wellesley — commanded a combined British and allied force at the village of Waterloo in present-day Belgium. After a long and hard-fought day of battle, the arrival of Prussian forces under Field Marshal Blücher turned the tide. Napoleon's army broke and fled.

It was Napoleon's final military defeat. He abdicated again and was exiled to the remote island of St Helena in the South Atlantic, where he died in 1821.

Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, was Britain's greatest military commander of the era. Born in Ireland, he had won a series of victories in India and in the Peninsular War in Spain and Portugal before defeating Napoleon at Waterloo. He later served twice as Prime Minister. His victory at Waterloo made him a celebrated national hero.