They say history repeats itself. And last month, it looked like Waterloo, in Belgium, was the scene of another battle as more than 100,000 people descended upon one of the most famous battlefields in history.
However, no deadly fire was exchanged as the battle was a two-day re-enactment to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.
Nowadays, we may be forgiven for having a faded understanding of the significance of the Battle of Waterloo, when a military alliance commanded by the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon Bonaparte. After all, none of us were there and our only knowledge comes from history books.
However, the Battle of Waterloo, fought on Sunday, June 18, 1815 was an epic point in European history. It was a fierce battle contested between the British, Dutch, Belgian and Hanoverian army led by the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon with his French Imperial Guard. Both sides suffered horrific losses. After 10 hours of fighting, historians estimate that Napoleon’s army suffered more than 33,000 casualties while the Duke of Wellington’s alliance lost around 22,000 men.
After 10 hours of fighting, historians estimate that Napoleon’s army suffered more than 33,000 casualties while the Duke of Wellington’s alliance lost around 22,000 men
It was a titanic battle that put an end to Napoleon’s ambitions to rule Europe, eliminated the threat of an invasion to Britain and reshaped Britain’s relationship with the rest of the European continent. Without taking sides, let’s just say that had Napoleon won at Waterloo, Europe and probably the world would be a different place.
After the battle the Duke of Wellington went on to serve as British prime minister. Napoleon was forced to abdicate and was exiled to the island of St Helena, where he died in 1821 aged 51.
In Belgium, the king and queen led the official commemorations at the Lion’s Mound monument on the battle site. The bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo was also commemorated during a ceremony held at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
During this ceremony, members of the Royal Family and British Prime Minister David Cameron paid their respects together with representatives of the British Armed Forces and descendants of the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Waterloo.