The Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon's Last Stand

In the early months of 1815, Europe found itself once again on the brink of war. Napoleon Bonaparte, exiled to the island of Elba after his abdication in 1814, had made a daring return to France. On March 1, he landed on the southern coast and began a dramatic march north to Paris. Along the way, regiments sent to arrest him instead joined his cause. By mid-March, he had reclaimed power in what would be known as the Hundred Days. This return sent shockwaves across the continent and disrupted the fragile peace established by the Congress of Vienna.The leaders of the major European powers—Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia—swiftly moved to form the Seventh Coalition. Their shared goal was simple: defeat Napoleon once and for all. The coalition agreed to raise massive armies and converge on France from multiple directions. Among the key figures in this alliance were the Duke of Wellington, commanding Anglo-allied forces, and Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, leading the Prussians. Napoleon, ever the strategist, understood the urgency of striking quickly before these forces could unite.France, still weary from years of revolution and war, was divided in its support. While many rallied to Napoleon out of loyalty or fear, others viewed his return as a dangerous setback. Nonetheless, he managed to raise an army of around 124,000 men—smaller than the coalition forces, but composed largely of veterans loyal to him. Napoleon's plan hinged on speed: he would drive a wedge between Wellington and Blücher’s armies in Belgium, defeat them separately, and then force a negotiated peace.