Battle of Waterloo
                     BATTLE OF WATERLOO
INTRODUCTION
 The Battle of Waterloo, which took place in Belgium on June 18, 
1815, marked the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, who 
conquered much of Europe in the early 19th century. 
Source: www.history.com
NAPOLEON
 Napoleon rose through the ranks of the French army during the 
French Revolution, seized control of the French government in 1799 
and emperor in 1804.
 Through a series of wars, he expanded his empire across western 
and central Europe. The Battle of Waterloo, in which Napoleon’s 
forces were defeated by the British and Prussians, marked the end of 
his reign and of France’s domination in Europe. 
Source: www.history.com
NAPOLEON’S RISE TO POWER
 Napoleon Bonaparte, born in 1769 on the Mediterranean island of 
Corsica, rose rapidly through the ranks of France’s military and 
proved himself a talented and daring leader.
Source: www.history.com
NAPOLEON’S RISE TO POWER CONT.
 After seizing political power in France in a 1799 coup d’état, he was 
given the title of first consul and became France’s leading political 
figure. In 1804, he crowned himself the emperor of France in a lavish 
ceremony.
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BATTLE OF LEIPZIG
 In 1812, Napoleon led a disastrous invasion of Russia in which his 
army was forced to retreat and suffered massive casualties. 
 At the same time, the Spanish and Portuguese, with assistance from 
the British, drove Napoleon’s forces from the Iberian Peninsula in the 
Peninsular War (1808-1814).
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DEFEAT OF NAPOLEON’S ARMY 
 In the 1813 Battle of Leipzig, also known as the Battle of Nations, 
Napoleon’s army was defeated by a coalition that included Austrian, 
Prussian, Russian and Swedish troops. 
 Afterward, Napoleon retreated to France, where in March 1814 
coalition forces captured Paris.
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NAPOLEON’S ABDICATION AND RETURN
 On April 6, 1814, Napoleon, then in his mid-40s, was forced to 
abdicate the throne. With the Treaty of Fontainebleau, he was exiled 
to Elba, a Mediterranean island off the coast of Italy.
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NAPOLEON MARCHES ON BELGIUM
 Upon Napoleon’s return to France, a coalition of allies the Austrians, 
British, Prussians and Russians who considered the French emperor 
an enemy began to prepare for war. 
 Napoleon raised a new army and planned to strike preemptively, 
defeating the allied forces one by one before they could launch a 
united attack against him.
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BATTLE OF WATERLOO BEGINS
 Two days later, on June 18, Napoleon led his army of some 72,000 
troops against the 68,000-man British army, which had taken up a 
position south of Brussels near the village of Waterloo.
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END OF WATERLOO
 Ultimately, the Battle of Waterloo marked the end of Napoleon’s 
storied military career. He reportedly rode away from the battle in 
tears.
 Wellington went on to serve as British prime minister, while Blucher, 
in his 70s at the time of the Waterloo battle, died a few years later.
Source: www.history.com