Waterloo

Welcome to Waterloo, Belgium a smaller city about an hour south of Brussels. And after a solid train ride into the city I started my long day of walking the battlefield. Now for a bit of background and why I'm calling the city a battlefield. In 1804 A Corsican General decided to take total power and name himself Emperor. After he crowned himself, yes he did crown himself, That Corsican General Napoleon and his French Empire was declared war against by the United Kingdom which lead to the war of the third coalition. Napoleon would defeat the coalition and then move onto to invade the middle east. After two more wars, which the historians have decided to creatively call the wars of the fourth and fifth coalition. The war of the fifth coalition would see Napoleon's empire at its height, and then Napoleon decided to make his biggest mistake militarily ever in my opinion and decided to invade Russia to finally conclude the war. Now I would like to tear down the myth that the reason that he lost the invasion because of the Russian winter, while the weather did affect the retreat. The winter mainly became a problem because in case people were unaware Russia is absolutely massive. The fact that the Russian decided to burn down Moscow leaving the French no where to camp and no food or rations to use during the winter. This lead to the Russian drastically out smarted Napoleon who didn't think that the Russians where as heartless as burning down a large city with a  large population would imply they are. This forced Napoleon to turn his army around in retreat, this allowed the coalition forces to raid and attack the retreating and frozen army. From that point their would be one more war and guess what its called the War of sixths coalition. This would lead to Napoleon's exile to the Elba a small island located just west of Italy proper. After about a 3 to four year exile Napoleon said screw it and sailed back into France named himself Emperor again and decided to reclaim all the land he lost (the Coalition Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, and kind of Austria declared war to rid the world of Napoleon. This started what is called the Hundred days war or campaign (see we historians are capable of being creative every once in a while). Napoleon started his march north towards Belgium to attempt his start at reclaiming his Empire, where he meet the coalition forces just outside of Waterloo. 

Now before I get into my time there I think I should say I find Napoleon to be one of my favorite historical figures of all time so I am going to be a bit biased towards him here. I find his story fascinating and at least in his early years a person that I can identify with. Also I am currently listening to a podcast on Napoleon called "The Age of Napoleon" which I highly recommend if you want more details on Napoleon from someone who has done way more research into who he was. That said lets get into it. 

After a few miles of waddling, I should I no long walk I hobble, waddle, or limp now, I arrived the main attraction of the battlefield. The Butte du Lion, and for my American friends or just the people to lazy to google translate that, the Lions Mound. This is the a monument to the battle that took place in 1815 outside of Waterloo which was a crushing defeat for Napoleon and his forces. It would end the Hundred days war, and be the final time Napoleon would lead an army in Europe in a major battle.

I think that it is important to take into account what the battlefield looks like today, and imagine what it would have looked like in 1815. Waterloo and surrounding areas are farm lands and rolling hills, the terrain isn't the most ideal for a battle especially an 19th century battle where the two armies would line up against one another and fire back and forth. The thing that made Napoleon so great was his use of Artillery. And in my extremely non-expert opinion the rolling hills and the fact that it had rained the day before leaving the battlefield fairly muddy and difficult to move around.

I did find the area quite scenic especially with the sun setting in the back ground it made the area even prettier to look at. These pictures are looks out on to what would have been the battlefield and you can see the hills and the vast openness that the field has and what the soldiers would have seen.

 Here is a reconstruction of the French command with Napoleon in the middle surrounded by his generals and commanders, Major General of the Army of the North Marshal Jean-de-Dieu Soult, Commander and Chief of the 2nd Corps Lieutenant General Honore Reille, Commander and chief of the 1st Corp Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste Drouet d'Erlon, Commander and Chief of the right flank Marshall Emmanuel de Grouchy.

And then we have some weapons that would have been used by the soldiers during the battle.

 Now for a few monuments scatter throughout the battle field.

 "This stone marks the last position of the G Troop Royal Horse Artillery Commanded by Captain A.C. Mercer during the battle of Watterloo June 18th 1815. From here the Troop took a conspicuous part in defeating the Attacks of the French Cavalry."

 "Here on June 18th 1815 the 8th Infantry regiment of the Durutte Division attacked successfully the 2nd German Division of Colonel Von Ompteda"

A Monument dedicated to the Hanoverians division (German troops)

 "On June 8th 1815 the unites of the 6th Artillery foot regiment effectively supported the attack of the 1st French Army"

A Monument to the Belgian troops 

With this battle coming to a close and the Coalition forces winning the battle it would put an end to a decade of dominance for France and Napoleon, and nearly 2 decades of constant warfare between European wars. After this battle the nations of the coalition raced to Paris in attempt to be in the most advantage position for the final peace talks. Napoleon would lose the 100 days war and would exiled to St Helena in the Atlantic, as the rest of Europe couldn't risk sending him somewhere close by again. Napoleon would die six years late on the Island. In my opinion Napoleon is one of the greatest European generals of all time, and I think he was a fascinating historical figure. He now rests in the Les invalides in Paris where you can go to see his tomb. 

Next up I will be walking you through my trip to Brussels.