Essay on Napoleon at Waterloo - 1452 Words

On March 20, 1815 Napoleon returned to Paris from his exile on the island of Elba. This day marked the beginning of â€Å"Napoleon’s 100 Days†, as many historians have dubbed the brief episode , which ended July 8, 1815 when Louis XVIII was reinstated as the King of France. Within a period of two months Napoleon, capitalizing on France’s enormous population, conscripted an army roughly 280,000 strong . Napoleon Bonaparte’s forces exceeded those of the Anglo-Allied forces, led by the Duke of Wellington, Field Marshall Blucher, and the Prince of Orange, by 50,000 men. The advantage in numbers and Napoleon’s gift for military strategy would not be enough to prevent his loss at the Battle of Waterloo and his second exile to St. Helena . The would†¦show more content†¦The French forces were incapable of accomplishing these feats due to poor communications with Ney, Ney’s indecisiveness, and the tenacity of the Prussians and Dutch. The Ang lo-Allied forces took a more defensive approach in their strategy to oust Napoleon from a complete return to power. The Duke of Wellington, also known as the â€Å"Iron Duke† , kept a defensive and slow-paced approach to his confrontation with Napoleon. The â€Å"Iron Duke† repeatedly avoided confronting Napoleon’s forces directly by refusing to give up the high ground, and not speeding to the Allied forces aid. This is clearly noted in dispatches from Wellington on the June 15, 1815 which state, â€Å"The Prince of Orange is requested to collect at Nivelles†¦ move the 3rd division of British infantry upon Nivelles†¦ This movement is not to take place until it is quite certain that the enemy’s attack is upon the right of the Prussian army†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Wellington also used an ambush method of attacking the French forces, which Napoleon had never experienced such tactics as Wellington practiced them in Spain . Prince William of Orange and his Dutch/Belgian forces were fortified at the Quatre Bras when Marshall Ney attempted to take the crossroads. This defensive posture and Ney’s slow approach on the Quatre Bras allowed Prince William of Orange to fight the numerous French troops to a draw until the arrival of reinforcements . Ney’s inability to crush the opposition allowed the Dutch/Belgians reinforced with BritishShow MoreRelatedEssay on Napoleon at Waterloo819 Words   |  4 Pagesbattle of Waterloo is universally associated with the last stand of Napoleon. It is (for all intents and purposes) the most significant blow to Napoleons final attempt at a return to power, Napoleons loss sealed his fate and consequently lost his empire (once and for all). However was it truly Napoleon’s faults that resulted in the loss at Waterloo? Or as many have stated was it more accurately Marshal Ney’s inability to follow Napoleons orders and command his troops in a custom that Napoleon not onlyRead MoreThe Consequences of The Battle of Waterloo for Napoleon Bonapartes Reputation1373 Words   |  5 PagesThe Battle of Waterloo was a bloody and gruesome battle for everyone involved. Perhaps one of the worst consequences of the battle, however, was that it tarnished the reputation of Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon, who was at one time, regarded as a tactical genius and prodigy for his day, became the laughing stock of the world after a number of foolish military mistakes that probably would not have been made if the French forces been commanded by another military leader. Nevertheless, the Battle ofRead MoreThe Battles And Disadvantages Of The Battle Of Waterloo1471 Words   |  6 Pages3. 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The French were nearly unbeatable under his leadership. As a child he was also timid and lacked any sense of power. He read a lot on history and military campaigns. Although he was very smart in the art of war his sense ofRead MoreThe Battle Of Waterloo And Its Effect On Today s Artillery1482 Words   |  6 Pages The Battle of Waterloo and its Effect on Today’s Artillery SSG Aviles-Torres, SSG Blackburn, SSG Letalu, SSG Mageo, SSG Rodgers 13B40 001-18 Senior Leaders Course SFC Metz The Battle of Waterloo and its Effect on Today’s Artillery Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the world’s greatest military strategists, led the French at the Battle of Waterloo. During his time as a General, even in defeat, his tactics in the way he used artillery were beyond reproach. His successes and errors madeRead MoreNapoleons Return to France Essay1037 Words   |  5 PagesNapoleon returned to home to France with only about 10% of his Army still alive. He lost most of his soldiers during the Great White Death, which is one of the largest French disasters to date. Since all the coalition allies knew he was in trouble, they decided to follow him and take him out while he was down and burned out. This is when he decided to give himself up and be exiled to Elba with 1000 guards. Before he left though, he promised his men that he, â€Å"†¦ would return when the flowers bloomedRead MoreNapoleons Greed and Ambition Essay1376 Words   |  6 PagesNapoleon Bonaparte was historically not only the powerful invader but also the ambitio us king. Napoleon made various works that effected France and the other country significantly, conquering almost of countries in Europe. Almost people in France praised Napoleon when he won in any war or any invasion. From successful occupation, people started to consider Napoleon as a god of the war and large numbers of people followed his order. Napoleon seems as the greatest emperor in the world. However, Napoleon