Page 45 - All About History - Issue 26-15

Waterloo: The Fall of Napoleon

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YEA R S
1815 - 2015

NAPOLEON Written by Frances White

and some were struck silent with fear as disorder reigned Through war, sacrifice and conquest, Napoleon had come
supreme.Justtwohoursagovictoryhadbeenhis.Inthattime closer than anyone to achieving his ultimate dream – a
hehadlostitall–thebattle,hisempire,andlifeasheknewit. unified, peaceful Europe. But in 1812, his decision to invade
Despite its reputation,
Napoleon’s path to Waterloo, his glorious rise and disastrous Russiacausedallhehadbuilttocomecrashingdown.The Waterloo was a close-
fall,isamongthegreatestandmostterribletheworldhas, campaignwasacatastropheandthemanwhowasusedto run battle that either
side could have won
and will ever, see. General Bonaparte had been far more than winning battles was forced to learn how to deal with losing
simplyamanintherightplaceattherighttime–hispath them. His victories had come in spectacular succession; his
from relative obscurity to glorified emperor had been carved defeats followed in kind. Prussia, Russia and Austria united
by his tactical genius, fearless spirit and electrifying charisma. against France and unleashed a brutal blow at the Battle of
Hehadcarriedacountryfromitskneestothehighestpodium Leipzig in 1813. Swiftly, the empire crumbled and the invader
of the world stage. Under his leadership, France had seized soonfacedaninvasionofhisown.In1814,thealliesarrived
controlofthemajorityofcontinentalEuropeandNapoleon on French shores and, though buffered by Napoleon’s military
became the ruler of 70 million people. acumen along the way, in March they reached the capital.

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