In short
On June 18, 1815, British forces under the Duke of Wellington and Prussian troops commanded by Gebhard von Blücher defeated Napoleon Bonaparte's army near the village of Waterloo in present-day Belgium. The decisive battle ended the Napoleonic Wars and marked the definitive collapse of French military dominance in Europe, reshaping the continent's political order for decades.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
Waterloo East railway station, also known as London Waterloo East, is a railway station in central London on the line from Charing Cross through to London Bridge towards Kent, in the south-east of England. It is to the east of London Waterloo railway station and close to Southwark tube station.
As it was happening
15 voices, 245 days.
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Napoleon escapes Elba
Napoleon breaks exile from Elba and lands in southern France, triggering the Hundred Days campaign and forcing European powers to mobilize.
Voices from this moment (1)
Napoleon escapes Elba
Mar 20
“Napoleon breaks exile from Elba and lands in southern…”
As it was happening
15 voices, 245 days.
Day 0 · March 20, 1815
Napoleon escapes Elba
Napoleon breaks exile from Elba and lands in southern France, triggering the Hundred Days campaign and forcing European powers to mobilize.
“Napoleon breaks exile from Elba and lands in southern…”
- Napoleon escapes Elba, Mar 20
Day 26 · April 15, 1815
Allied mobilization accelerates
British, Prussian, Austrian, and Russian armies begin coordinated movements to contain Napoleon before he can fully consolidate French support.
“British, Prussian, Austrian, and Russian armies begin…”
- Allied mobilization accelerates, Apr 15
Day 88 · June 16, 1815
Ligny and Quatre-Bras
French forces under Napoleon defeat Prussians at Ligny while British hold Quatre-Bras, preventing French from driving a wedge between allied armies.
“French forces under Napoleon defeat Prussians at Ligny…”
- Ligny and Quatre-Bras, Jun 16
Day 90 · June 18, 1815
Battle of Waterloo begins
French launch major assaults against Wellington's position near Waterloo; British infantry, Dutch-Belgian forces, and cavalry hold the ridge despite repeated attacks.
Day 90 · June 18, 1815
Prussian forces arrive
Blücher's Prussian IV Corps begins arriving on the French right flank in late afternoon, forcing Napoleon to commit reserves and fracturing his attack.
Day 90 · June 18, 1815
French army collapses
British cavalry counterattacks; French Imperial Guard makes final assault and breaks; French army disintegrates into retreat as darkness falls.
“Blücher's Prussian IV Corps begins arriving on the French…”
- Prussian forces arrive, Jun 18
“British cavalry counterattacks; French Imperial Guard makes…”
- French army collapses, Jun 18
“French launch major assaults against Wellington's position…”
- Battle of Waterloo begins, Jun 18
Day 94 · June 22, 1815
Napoleon abdicates
Facing certain capture by allied forces advancing on Paris, Napoleon signs unconditional abdication at Malmaison.
“NAPOLEON DEFEATED - The Allied Armies Triumph at Waterloo”
- The Times, Jun 22
“Waterloo-Sieg: Europa befreit von der napoleonischen…”
- Wiener Zeitung, Jun 24
“FR: 'La Bataille de Waterloo - Fin de l'Empire' / EN: The…”
- Moniteur Universel, Jun 25
“Die Schlacht von Waterloo - Triumph der Allianz”
- Allgemeine Zeitung, Jun 26
“Facing certain capture by allied forces advancing on Paris,…”
- Napoleon abdicates, Jun 22
Day 117 · July 15, 1815
Napoleon surrenders to British
Napoleon surrenders to HMS Bellerophon off the French coast, placing himself under British custody.
“A Narrative of the Victory at Waterloo - and the Prospects…”
- The Gentleman's Magazine, Jul 15
“Napoleon surrenders to HMS Bellerophon off the French…”
- Napoleon surrenders to British, Jul 15
Day 140 · August 7, 1815
Exile to Saint Helena announced
British government announces Napoleon will be exiled to remote Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, ending any possibility of escape.
“British government announces Napoleon will be exiled to…”
- Exile to Saint Helena announced, Aug 7
Day 245 · November 20, 1815
Treaty of Paris signed
Allied powers formally partition European territory and establish the Concert of Europe, ratifying a new geopolitical order without French hegemony.
“Allied powers formally partition European territory and…”
- Treaty of Paris signed, Nov 20
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: The Times, Moniteur Universel, Wiener Zeitung.
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
5 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
The Times
Newspaper · United Kingdom · Jun 22, 1815
"NAPOLEON DEFEATED - The Allied Armies Triumph at Waterloo"
The decisive battle fought near Brussels on 18 June has resulted in the complete rout of Bonaparte's forces. The Emperor's hopes of recovering power have been utterly extinguished by the combined efforts of British, Prussian, and Dutch armies under the Duke of Wellington.
- Jun 25, 1815
Moniteur Universel
Newspaper · France
"FR: 'La Bataille de Waterloo - Fin de l'Empire' / EN: The Battle of Waterloo - End of the Empire"
Synthesized from period reporting - The French official gazette confirmed the catastrophic defeat at Waterloo, acknowledging the fracture of the Grande Armee and Napoleon's forced abdication. The restoration of the Bourbons and European stability is assured.
- Jun 24, 1815
Wiener Zeitung
Newspaper · Austria
"Waterloo-Sieg: Europa befreit von der napoleonischen Bedrohung"
Synthesized from period reporting - DE: 'Waterloo Victory: Europe liberated from Napoleonic threat' / EN: The Austrian press hailed the triumph as a watershed moment for continental order, with Wellington and Blucher's armies delivering the definitive blow to tyranny.
- Jun 26, 1815
Allgemeine Zeitung
Newspaper · Germany
"Die Schlacht von Waterloo - Triumph der Allianz"
Synthesized from period reporting - DE: 'The Battle of Waterloo - Triumph of the Alliance' / EN: The German press coverage emphasized the coordinated strength of the Sixth Coalition, praising Prussian General Blucher's timely arrival on the battlefield.
- Jul 15, 1815
The Gentleman's Magazine
Magazine · United Kingdom
"A Narrative of the Victory at Waterloo - and the Prospects for Peace"
Synthesized from period reporting - This month's principal article chronicles the eighteen-hour engagement that sealed Bonaparte's fate, with detailed accounts from officers in the field and reflection on the restoration of legitimate monarchy across Europe.
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Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.Waterloo East railway station
en.wikipedia.org