In March 1815 Napoleon escaped from exile on Elba and seized power in France. With the armies of Europe mobilising against him he decided to strike first. His nearest enemies were in present day Belgium.
The Waterloo Campaign
15 June Napoleon’s army invades Belgium. Two armies face him: a Prussian army under Field Marshal Blucher and a multi-national force under the Duke of Wellington.
16 June Wellington’s army hold off the French at Quatre Bras. But the main French army defeats the Prussians at Ligny. The Prussians retreat.
17 June The Prussians withdrawal obliges Wellington to retreat as well. His army falls back to a ridge near the village of Waterloo. Wellington plans to fight there until the Prussians come to his support.
18 June Wellington’s army beats off a succession of French attacks. The arrival of the Prussians completes Napoleon’s defeat.
7 July The victorious allies enter Paris. Napoleon surrenders to the British and spends the rest of his life a prisoner on St Helena.
source: The british militry museum
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