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Waterloo

The Battle of Waterloo was a military engagement fought on 18 June 1815 near the village of Waterloo in present-day Belgium, pitting approximately 72,000 French troops under Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte against an Anglo-allied army of about 68,000 commanded by Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, reinforced by 50,000 Prussian soldiers led by Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher.^[1]^[2]^[3] This clash, the decisive battle of the Waterloo Campaign during Napoleon's Hundred Days return from exile, ended in a coalition victory that compelled Napoleon's abdication on 22 June and his subsequent exile to Saint Helena, thereby concluding the Napoleonic Wars after over two decades of conflict across Europe.^[1]^[4]^[3] Wellington's forces held defensive positions on ridges south of Brussels, enduring intense French artillery bombardment and infantry assaults, including the famed but failed cavalry charges by Michel Ney, while heavy overnight rain had bogged down the muddy terrain and delayed Napoleon's initial maneuvers.^[1]^[2] The Prussian intervention from the east, attacking Napoleon's right flank after marching through the night, proved causally pivotal in fracturing French lines and enabling a coalition counteroffensive that routed the Imperial Guard in the battle's closing hours.^[4]^[1] Casualties exceeded 50,000 combined, with French losses estimated at 25,000 killed, wounded, or captured, reflecting the engagement's brutal close-quarters combat and its role as a hinge point in European power dynamics, paving the way for the Bourbon Restoration in France and the redrawn borders formalized at the Congress of Vienna.^[2]^[3]

Battle of Waterloo

The 1815 Military Engagement

The Battle of Waterloo occurred on 18 June 1815 near the village of Waterloo, south of Brussels in present-day Belgium, as the decisive engagement of the Waterloo Campaign during the Hundred Days of Napoleon Bonaparte's return to power. It opposed Napoleon's Armée du Nord against an Anglo-allied army under Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, reinforced late in the day by Prussian forces commanded by Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher.^[1] Napoleon fielded approximately 72,000–74,000 troops, including veteran infantry corps under Jean-Baptiste Drouet d'Erlon and Honoré Reille, heavy cavalry divisions led by Étienne Gérard and Jean-Baptiste Milhaud, and the elite Imperial Guard in reserve, supported by 246–256 artillery pieces. Wellington's multinational force—comprising British, Dutch, Belgian, and German contingents—totaled about 68,000 men with 156 guns, positioned defensively along a ridge with strongpoints at the Hougoumont chateau and La Haye Sainte farm; Blücher's Prussians contributed around 48,000 troops arriving progressively from the east.^[1]^[5] Preceded by French victories at Ligny (where Blücher was wounded but escaped total destruction) and a tactical draw at Quatre Bras on 16 June, the armies maneuvered through rain-soaked terrain on 17 June, with Wellington withdrawing to the Waterloo position. Napoleon delayed his main assault until nearly noon on 18 June, citing muddy ground that hindered artillery and cavalry mobility, allowing time for Prussian elements to close in despite orders to Marshal Emmanuel de Grouchy to pursue them eastward.^[1]^[5] French operations opened with diversions against Hougoumont (from 11:30 a.m.), escalating to artillery bombardment from a grand battery of about 80 guns, followed by d'Erlon's I Corps (16,000 infantry in four divisions) advancing in column formation against the allied left-center around 1:30 p.m. This assault faltered under allied musketry, canister fire, and a counterattack by Picton's division and William Ponsonby's cavalry brigade, inflicting over 4,000 French casualties. La Haye Sainte fell to French control by mid-afternoon, but repeated unsupported cavalry charges—totaling up to 10,000 sabres under Michel Ney from 4:00 p.m.—broke against allied infantry squares, with minimal breakthroughs despite heavy allied ammunition expenditure.^[5]^[1] As Prussian IV Corps under Friedrich Wilhelm von Bülow engaged French right-flank reserves at Plancenoit from around 4:30 p.m., diverting up to 20,000 French troops including the Imperial Guard's Young Guard elements, Napoleon's position eroded. Wellington's lines held under strain, bolstered by the timely arrival of fresh units like Chassé's Dutch-Belgian division. The battle's climax unfolded around 7:30 p.m. with the Middle and Old Guard's frontal assault on the allied center, repulsed by coordinated fire from Maitland's British brigade, Adam's light infantry, and supporting artillery, triggering a French collapse as panic spread amid Prussian flanking pressure.^[5]^[1] Allied casualties amounted to roughly 22,000 (15,000 Anglo-allied and 7,000 Prussian), including 4,700 British killed or wounded, while French losses reached 40,000—25,000–30,000 killed or wounded, plus thousands captured, with the Imperial Guard suffering disproportionately. The rout continued into the night, pursued by Blücher's cavalry, effectively dismantling Napoleon's field army and compelling his abdication on 22 June, paving the way for the Congress of Vienna's postwar order.^[1]

Historical and Strategic Significance

The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, represented the decisive end to Napoleon Bonaparte's Hundred Days return to power and the broader Napoleonic Wars that had engulfed Europe since 1803, claiming an estimated 5 million lives across the continent.^[6] Napoleon's defeat prompted his unconditional surrender and second abdication on June 22, 1815, followed by exile to Saint Helena, where he died in 1821, thereby extinguishing French revolutionary expansionism and restoring the Bourbon monarchy under Louis XVIII.^[1] This outcome facilitated the finalization of the Congress of Vienna's territorial settlements, which redrew European borders to emphasize a balance of power among Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Britain, fostering the Concert of Europe—a diplomatic framework that maintained relative continental peace until the revolutions of 1848 and the Crimean War.^[7] Strategically, Waterloo exemplified the vulnerabilities of Napoleon's aggressive, maneuver-based tactics when confronted by resilient defensive positions and allied coordination. The Duke of Wellington's Anglo-Allied force of about 68,000 troops employed reverse-slope deployments behind the Mont-Saint-Jean ridge, leveraging farm strongpoints such as Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte to absorb and blunt repeated French assaults, including Marshal Ney's costly cavalry charges that inflicted heavy losses without breaking the center.^[1] Napoleon's Armée du Nord, numbering around 72,000, suffered from divided command—exacerbated by Marshal Grouchy's detachment to pursue isolated Prussians—and delayed artillery deployment due to rain-soaked ground on June 17, which hindered mobility and concentration of fire.^[8] The battle's turning point came with the arrival of Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher's Prussian army, approximately 50,000 strong, which outflanked the French right after 7 p.m., leading to a rout; French casualties exceeded 41,000 (including 25,000 killed or wounded and over 15,000 captured), compared to roughly 24,000 Allied losses.^[1] The engagement underscored causal factors in military outcomes, including the primacy of unified coalition logistics and intelligence over individual genius: Wellington's prior victory at Quatre Bras on June 16 had preserved Anglo-Prussian linkage despite Napoleon's initial successes at Ligny, while French overextension from prior campaigns eroded troop quality and supply lines.^[9] Long-term, Waterloo influenced European military doctrine by validating defensive infantry squares against cavalry and the integration of reserves for counterattacks, lessons echoed in subsequent conflicts, though it did not immediately revolutionize technology or organization amid the era's smoothbore weaponry and line infantry formations.^[10] Britain's naval supremacy, unchallenged throughout the wars, further amplified the victory's geopolitical weight, securing colonial gains like Malta and the Cape Colony that bolstered imperial expansion.^[7]

Geographical Locations

Europe

Waterloo is a municipality in the province of Walloon Brabant, within the Wallonia region of Belgium, situated approximately 16 kilometers south of Brussels. It occupies a position immediately south of the linguistic border dividing the Dutch-speaking [Flemish Region](/page/Flemish Region) from the French-speaking Walloon Region, making it a Francophone enclave in a linguistically diverse area. The municipality encompasses an area of 21.32 square kilometers, including 99 hectares of woodland amid its total 2,102-hectare expanse, which features rolling terrain typical of the Brabant countryside.^[11]^[12] As of 2024 estimates, Waterloo has a population of 30,596 residents, yielding a density of 1,435 inhabitants per square kilometer; the community has grown steadily from 29,706 in 2011, reflecting its role as an affluent commuter suburb for the Brussels metropolitan area.^[12]^[13] The local economy centers on residential living, services, and proximity to Brussels' employment hubs, with limited industry and emphasis on green spaces and heritage preservation. Administratively, it functions as a self-governing commune with facilities for urban planning, education, and cultural events tailored to its suburban demographic. Beyond Belgium, the name Waterloo appears in several minor locales across Europe, primarily in the United Kingdom as districts or suburbs commemorating historical events. Examples include a coastal area north of Liverpool in Merseyside, a suburb in Huddersfield, and the district around London's Waterloo Station, though these lack the independent municipal status or prominence of their Belgian counterpart.^[14] No other significant towns or municipalities bearing the name exist elsewhere on the continent.

North America

Waterloo, Ontario, is a city in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, southeastern Ontario, Canada, with settlement dating to the early 1800s by German Mennonite pioneers on land originally granted to the Six Nations.^[15] It incorporated as a village in 1857, a town in 1876, and a city in 1948.^[16] The city proper had an estimated population of 136,433 in 2025, while the broader Waterloo Region exceeded 700,000 residents as of mid-2024.^[17]^[18] Waterloo has emerged as a major technology and innovation center, often called Canada's "Silicon Valley North," due to the University of Waterloo's strong computer science programs and co-operative education model, fostering high startup density—second globally only to Silicon Valley—and attracting over 1,500 tech firms.^[19]^[20] In the United States, Waterloo, Iowa, serves as the county seat of Black Hawk County in northeastern Iowa, situated along the Cedar River adjacent to Cedar Falls.^[21] Originally settled in 1845 as Prairie Rapids Crossing near Meskwaki tribal camps, it adopted the name Waterloo in 1851, referencing the 1815 battle.^[22] The city grew rapidly as a railroad hub and manufacturing center in the late 19th century, earning the nickname "Factory City" for its role in supply chains and industries like agriculture equipment.^[23] Its 2025 population was estimated at 66,160, supporting an economy anchored in manufacturing (e.g., John Deere), food processing (e.g., Tyson Foods), and regional trade.^[24]^[21] Waterloo's industrial history includes significant wartime production during World War II, contributing to its designation as an American World War II Heritage City.^[25] Numerous smaller communities and townships named Waterloo exist across the United States, including in states such as Nebraska (a village in Douglas County), New York (a village in Seneca County), and Illinois (an unincorporated area), among approximately 30 total locations, often rural or historic settlements named post-1815 in homage to the battle.^[26] No other comparably prominent Waterloos appear in Canada beyond Ontario.^[27]

Australia and Oceania

Waterloo is an inner southern suburb of Sydney in the City of Sydney local government area, New South Wales, situated approximately 3 kilometres south of the central business district.^[28] In the 2021 Australian Census, the suburb recorded a population of 16,379 residents, with a median age of 33 years and a high proportion of renters and young professionals.^[29] The area features a mix of residential, commercial, and creative spaces, including street art and markets, and is bordered by the suburbs of Redfern, Zetland, and Alexandria.^[28] In Western Australia, Waterloo is a small rural town in the Shire of Dardanup, located on the South Western Highway between Bunbury and Brunswick Junction, about 150 kilometres south of Perth.^[30] Established in the late 19th century amid dairying and farming country, it serves as a gateway to the Ferguson Valley wine region and had a population of 136 in the 2021 Census.^[31]^[32] South Australia's Waterloo is a rural settlement in the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council area, positioned off the Barrier Highway between Manoora and Black Springs, roughly 121 kilometres north-east of Adelaide in the Clare Valley wine region.^[33] Founded around 1865, it functions as a service centre for surrounding agricultural lands and is noted as the birthplace of outback mailman Tom Kruse.^[34] In Victoria, Waterloo is a sparsely populated rural locality within the Pyrenees Shire, located about 9 kilometres north of Beaufort and 162 kilometres west-north-west of Melbourne, along the Beaufort-Lexton Road and Trawalla Creek.^[35] Originally a 19th-century gold mining town, it now primarily supports farming activities with minimal permanent residents.^[36] The Northern Territory features Waterloo as a remote homestead and cattle station in the Victoria Daly Region, situated off Bloodwood Creek in the west, approximately 490 kilometres south-south-west of Darwin.^[37] One of Australia's larger pastoral properties, it spans vast arid lands used for beef production and live exports.^[38] In New Zealand, Waterloo is an eastern suburb of Lower Hutt city in the Greater Wellington Region, named after the 1815 Battle of Waterloo.^[39] As of recent estimates, it has around 5,720 residents and includes residential areas, schools, and proximity to the Waiwhetū Stream.^[40] The suburb forms part of Lower Hutt's urban fabric, with access to Wellington's transport network.^[41]

Other Regions

In Africa, Waterloo is a coastal town in Sierra Leone's Western Area, situated about 25 kilometers southeast of Freetown, with an estimated population of 55,000.^[42] The settlement originated in the early 19th century as a location for liberated Africans rescued from slave ships by British naval patrols.^[43] In South Africa, Waterloo refers to a suburb in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality within KwaZulu-Natal province, north of Durban, which had a population of 19,661 according to the 2011 census.^[44] Smaller instances exist in the Free State province and other areas, often as rural localities or farms.^[45] In Asia, Waterloo is a barangay (administrative village) in the municipality of Matalom, Leyte province, Philippines, recording 547 residents in the 2020 census.^[46] In South America, places named Waterloo include a locality in the municipality of Rovira, Tolima Department, Colombia, at an elevation of approximately 2,821 meters, associated with rural haciendas and highland terrain.^[47] In Suriname, Waterloo is a historical site in the Nickerie District, originally developed as a sugar cane plantation along the Nickerie River during the colonial era.^[48]

Transportation Infrastructure

Railways and Stations

London Waterloo station, situated in the Waterloo district of central London, functions as the principal terminus for commuter and intercity rail services to southern England. Opened in 1848 by the London and South Western Railway to extend the line from Nine Elms and improve access to the City of London, it replaced an earlier temporary terminus and initially operated with limited services.^[49] The station expanded incrementally in the late 19th century, adding platforms in 1860, 1878, and 1885 to reach 18 platforms total.^[49] A major reconstruction began in 1899 and extended into the 1920s, introducing 21 platforms, a vast concourse, and a ridge-and-furrow roof design, establishing it as the United Kingdom's largest station by platform count.^[49] It served as the London terminus for Eurostar international services from 1994 until 2007, when operations shifted to St Pancras International.^[49] Today, it is operated by South Western Railway, providing connections to destinations including Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, and Windsor, while integrating with London Underground lines for broader network access.^[50] In Belgium, the municipality of Waterloo—site of the 1815 battle—features a railway station on SNCB line 124, facilitating regional services to Brussels (approximately 25 minutes away) and surrounding areas in Walloon Brabant.^[51] The station supports multimodal connections via buses and includes facilities such as ticket machines and parking.^[51] Other locales named Waterloo maintain smaller rail facilities, such as the historic station in Waterloo, Indiana, United States, a Victorian-era structure serving Amtrak's Cardinal route with basic amenities reflective of rural stops.^[52] Similarly, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, preserves stations from the late 19th century associated with the Grand Trunk Railway, though contemporary services are limited.^[53]

Other Transport

In the Waterloo Region of Ontario, Canada, Grand River Transit operates an extensive bus network complementing rail services, including over 60 routes and express iXpress lines such as the one along Highway 7, serving approximately 20 million rides annually as of 2023.^[54] The Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) provides air connections with bus access via Grand River Transit Route 78 (every 30 minutes) and on-demand Route 79, linking to key hubs like Kitchener and Breslau.^[55] Ground options include taxis, car rentals, and shuttles to Toronto Pearson International Airport, with Highway 401 facilitating regional road access.^[56] Waterloo, Belgium, relies on TEC bus lines for local and regional mobility, with routes connecting to Brussels via lines W and 365 from Bruxelles-Midi station, offering the most economical public option to the town center.^[57] Access to Brussels Airport (BRU) involves indirect bus transfers from central stops like Avenue Reine Astrid, typically requiring a connection through Uccle or train-assisted routing, with journey times around 51 minutes and fares of €10–12.^[58] Taxis and private shuttles provide direct alternatives, though public bus services prioritize cost over speed for battlefield and urban travel.^[59] Around London Waterloo in the United Kingdom, bus services form a dense network with over 20 routes departing from the station forecourt, integrated under Transport for London and serving south London destinations hourly.^[60] River transport via Uber Boat by Thames Clippers operates from London Eye Waterloo Pier, with RB1 and RB6 routes connecting to 23 piers between Putney and Woolwich for commuter and tourist voyages along the Thames.^[61] ^[62] These modes support high-volume flows, excluding mainline rail, amid the area's role as a multimode gateway.^[63]

Arts, Entertainment, and Media

Music

"Waterloo" is the title of a song by the Swedish pop group ABBA, released as a single on March 4, 1974, from their self-titled second studio album.^[64] The track, composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus with lyrics by Stig Anderson, employs the Battle of Waterloo as a metaphor for inevitable romantic surrender, with the chorus stating, "Waterloo—I was defeated, you won the war."^[64] Performed at the Eurovision Song Contest on April 6, 1974, in Brighton, England, it secured Sweden's first victory with 300 points, launching ABBA to international stardom and topping charts in at least ten countries, including a No. 1 position in the UK for two weeks starting May 4, 1974.^[65] Another notable song titled "Waterloo" is the 1959 country track by American singer Stonewall Jackson, written by John D. Loudermilk and Marijohn Wilkin.^[66] Recorded on February 6, 1959, it entered the Billboard country charts on May 25 and reached No. 1 for five weeks beginning July 27, remaining on the chart for 16 weeks while peaking at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[67] The lyrics draw on the battle's historical defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte to illustrate the inescapability of consequences, extending the metaphor to figures like Adam and Tom Dooley with the refrain, "Everybody has to meet his Waterloo."^[67] Classical compositions linked to the Battle of Waterloo include Ludwig van Beethoven's Wellington's Victory, Op. 91 (1813), originally celebrating the Duke of Wellington's triumph at the Battle of Vitoria but retrospectively associated with Waterloo due to its programmatic depiction of battle sounds and national anthems.^[68] Contemporary accounts note soldiers' ballads and marches from the era, such as "The Battle of Waterloo" folk tune and soldier-composed verses praising Wellington, often performed on fifes and drums during and after the campaign.^[69] Later works include G. Anderson's piano piece Battle of Waterloo (1860s), dedicated to Wellington, and Jonathan Blewitt's descriptive orchestral The Battle of Waterloo (circa 1815), evoking the engagement's chaos.^[70]

Film and Television

The most prominent cinematic depiction of the Battle of Waterloo is the 1970 epic Waterloo, directed by Sergei Bondarchuk as an Italian-Soviet-Yugoslav co-production.^[71] Starring Rod Steiger as Napoleon Bonaparte and Christopher Plummer as the Duke of Wellington, the film portrays Napoleon's escape from Elba in February 1815, his march to Paris, and the climactic battle on June 18, 1815, near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, where Allied forces under Wellington and Prussian reinforcements under Blücher defeated the French army.^[72] Bondarchuk employed 15,000 Soviet troops as extras to recreate the battle's scale, emphasizing tactical maneuvers like the French cavalry charges against British squares, though critics noted the dramatic portions as uneven compared to the spectacle.^[71] Released on October 4, 1970, in Italy with a runtime of 123 minutes, it grossed modestly but remains valued for its historical visuals despite narrative compression of events.^[72] Ridley Scott's Napoleon (2023), starring Joaquin Phoenix in the title role, features the Battle of Waterloo as its narrative climax, showing Napoleon's tactical errors, such as delayed attacks and failure to account for Prussian intervention, leading to his army's rout and exile to Saint Helena.^[73] The film uses visual effects to amplify battle sequences, expanding 500 on-set soldiers to simulate tens of thousands, focusing on artillery barrages, infantry advances, and the Imperial Guard's final collapse around 8 p.m. on June 18.^[74] Released theatrically on November 22, 2023, with a 158-minute runtime, it prioritizes visual grandeur over strict chronology, drawing criticism for simplifying coalition dynamics.^[73] In television, Sharpe's Waterloo (1997), part of ITV's Sharpe series adapting Bernard Cornwell's novels, dramatizes a fictional British rifleman's experiences during the Waterloo campaign.^[75] Aired on May 21, 1997, and directed by Tom Clegg, the 100-minute episode stars Sean Bean as Lieutenant Colonel Richard Sharpe, depicting skirmishes at Quatre Bras on June 16, 1815, and the main battle, including house-to-house fighting at La Haye Sainte farm and the defense against French lancers.^[76] It highlights personal stakes amid historical events, such as Sharpe's rivalry with a prince and encounters with Wellington (played by Hugh Fraser), while using practical effects for period authenticity.^[75] The production, filmed partly in Ukraine and Crimea, underscores the battle's chaos from a low-rank perspective, contributing to the series' portrayal of Napoleonic warfare across 14 adaptations from 1993 to 2008.^[75]

Literature and Other Media

The Battle of Waterloo inspired immediate poetic responses from Romantic-era writers. Sir Walter Scott's "The Field of Waterloo," published in 1815, meditates on the battlefield's aftermath, contrasting the site's tranquility with the recent violence and portraying the defeat of Napoleon as a moral victory for coalition forces.^[77] Lord Byron, visiting the site in 1816, incorporated vivid descriptions into Canto III of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, evoking the "place of skulls" and reflecting on the fragility of power, with lines like "How in an hour the power which gave annuls / Its gifts, transferring fame as fleetingly."^[78]^[79] Other poets, including Robert Southey and William Wordsworth, contributed verses on the battle's significance, often framing it within themes of British resilience and European liberation.^[77] Nineteenth-century novels frequently used Waterloo as a pivotal setting or metaphor for personal and historical upheaval. Victor Hugo's Les Misérables (1862) opens with an extended, digressive chapter on the battle, drawing from eyewitness accounts to explore determinism, heroism, and the interplay of chance, while critiquing military tactics and commemorating figures like the fictional Colonel Pontmercy.^[80] Stendhal's The Charterhouse of Parma (1839) satirizes youthful idealism through protagonist Fabrice del Dongo, who arrives amid the chaos seeking glory but encounters confusion rather than epic confrontation, underscoring the disorientation of modern warfare.^[81] William Makepeace Thackeray's Vanity Fair (1848) depicts the battle's domestic toll through George Osborne's death, highlighting class contrasts and the intrusion of war into civilian life during the Brussels social season preceding June 18, 1815.^[81] Eyewitness memoirs form a key literary corpus, blending personal narrative with historical detail. Cavalié Mercer's Waterloo 1815: Captain Mercer's Journal, first published in excerpts around 1870 from his 1815 diary, recounts artillery experiences under fire, including the repulse of French cavalry charges, providing granular tactical insights from a British battery commander's perspective.^[82] Compilations like Gareth Glover's The Waterloo Archive series (2003–2018), drawing from over 200 unpublished letters and diaries across nationalities, reveal discrepancies in accounts—such as debates over Prussian arrival timing—while prioritizing primary documents over later interpretations.^[83]^[84] Modern literature continues the tradition with both fiction and analytical histories treated as literary endeavors. Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe's Waterloo (1990) fictionalizes the battle through rifleman Richard Sharpe's involvement in key actions like the defense of Hougoumont, grounding adventure in researched minutiae of uniforms, weapons, and formations.^[85] Georgette Heyer's An Infamous Army (1937) reconstructs the campaign via Regency-era characters, emphasizing logistical prelude and social context, informed by contemporary dispatches.^[86]

Metaphorical and Idiomatic Usage

Origin from the Battle

The Battle of Waterloo occurred on June 18, 1815, near the village of Waterloo in present-day Belgium, where French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte suffered his final military defeat against a coalition force led by British Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, and reinforced by Prussian troops under Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher.^[87] Napoleon's army of approximately 72,000 men clashed with Wellington's Anglo-allied force of about 68,000 and the arriving Prussians numbering around 50,000, resulting in heavy casualties—estimated at 25,000 French dead or wounded compared to 23,000 allied losses—and the collapse of Napoleon's brief return from exile during the Hundred Days.^[87] This engagement ended the Napoleonic Wars, leading to Napoleon's abdication on June 22, 1815, and exile to Saint Helena, as it decisively halted his ambitions for European dominance after two decades of conquests.^[87] The idiomatic use of "Waterloo" to denote a decisive or final defeat emerged shortly after the battle, capitalizing on its status as Napoleon's ultimate downfall following prior victories, with the term entering English vocabulary by 1816 to symbolize an insurmountable reversal.^[88] The phrase "meet one's Waterloo," meaning to encounter a crushing setback that ends a streak of successes, directly alludes to Napoleon's fate, evoking the battle's role in shattering his imperial revival despite tactical initial advantages like the Imperial Guard's assaults.^[89] This metaphorical extension reflects the battle's historical weight as a pivot from French hegemony to coalition triumph, reinforced by contemporary accounts emphasizing Wellington's defensive stand at Mont-Saint-Jean and Blücher's timely flank attack that turned the tide around 7:30 p.m.^[87] Usage proliferated in the 19th century, as seen in American abolitionist Wendell Phillips's 1859 reference to a political defeat as "meeting his Waterloo," adapting the military connotation to broader contexts of failure.^[90] The idiom's endurance underscores the battle's causal impact: without Prussian intervention, Wellington's lines might have buckled, potentially prolonging Napoleon's campaign, yet the combined allied coordination ensured a rout that precluded recovery.

Modern Applications and Examples

The idiomatic expression "to meet one's Waterloo" persists in modern English usage to signify an ultimate and crushing defeat from which recovery proves impossible, often applied to political setbacks. For example, after the September 10, 2024, U.S. presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, opinion pieces described the event as a potential "Waterloo" for Trump due to perceived stumbles on key issues, though he advanced to victory in the November election.^[91] In March 2025, CNN polling analyst Harry Enten highlighted deteriorating public perceptions of the economy under President Trump as a looming "Waterloo," citing approval ratings on economic handling dropping to 39% amid inflation concerns averaging 3.2% year-over-year. Earlier instances include 2015 commentary framing Trump's criticism of John McCain's war record as a prospective "Waterloo" that might derail his campaign, a prediction that did not materialize as he secured the Republican nomination.^[92] In business contexts, the metaphor illustrates corporate downfalls triggered by failure to innovate or adapt. A illustrative case involves legacy firms confronting digital disruption; for instance, Kodak's reluctance to pivot from film to digital photography in the early 2000s culminated in bankruptcy filing on January 19, 2012, after peaking at 145,000 employees in 1988 and watching market share erode to under 10% by 2000.^[93] Such applications underscore causal factors like strategic inertia, where empirical data on competitor growth—e.g., Canon's digital camera sales surging 30% annually in the 1990s—is ignored, leading to irreversible decline. Though rarer in sports reporting, the term surfaces for season-ending routs signaling broader program failure, as when analysts retrospectively label a playoff elimination as a franchise's "Waterloo" amid roster mismanagement or coaching errors, evidenced by win-loss differentials exceeding 20 games in consecutive seasons.^[94] These usages maintain the historical connotation of Napoleon's June 18, 1815, defeat, prioritizing verifiable outcomes over narrative spin from biased outlets.

Other Notable Uses

Educational Institutions

The University of Waterloo, located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, is a public research university established on July 1, 1957, through the merger of Waterloo College's faculty of arts with the Ontario Vocational School's engineering programs.^[95] It pioneered Canada's first post-secondary co-operative education program in 1957, integrating paid work terms into degree curricula, which now serves over 7,000 employers and contributes to the university's reputation for practical, industry-aligned training.^[95] With more than 42,000 students enrolled as of 2023, including approximately 36,000 undergraduates, the institution emphasizes fields like computer science, engineering, and mathematics, where it was among the first to provide undergraduate access to computers in the early 1960s.^[96] ^[95] The university has produced notable alumni and faculty, including Nobel laureate Donna Strickland in physics (2018) for her work on chirped pulse amplification, and it maintains six affiliated university colleges—Conrad Grebel University College, Huron University College, Renison University College, St. Jerome's University, St. Paul's University College, and Conrad Grebel University College—that offer specialized liberal arts and religious studies programs while granting Waterloo degrees.^[95] Its research output includes innovations in quantum computing and environmental science, supported by facilities like the Institute for Quantum Computing, established in 2002.^[97] Enrollment data indicate strong international draw, with about 20% of students from outside Canada, reflecting its global ranking among top engineering and technology institutions.^[96] Smaller institutions bearing the Waterloo name include the historical Waterloo Business College in Waterloo, Iowa, which operated from 1884 to 1973, focusing on vocational training in stenography, shorthand, and business skills before closing due to declining demand for such specialized programs.^[98] Various K-12 schools, such as Waterloo High School in Ohio (built 1929, serving grades 1-12 until repurposed), exist in towns named Waterloo but derive their naming from local geography rather than direct homage to the 1815 battle, limiting their notability beyond regional education.^[99]

Miscellaneous

The Waterloo Cup was an annual hare coursing competition held from 1836 to 2004 at Great Altcar in Lancashire, England, organized by the National Coursing Club and regarded as the premier event in the sport, akin to the Derby of coursing.^[100] It involved greyhounds pursuing hares over a three-day period in February, drawing large crowds in the late 19th century—often exceeding those of any other British event—and was founded by William Lynn, who also originated the Grand National steeplechase.^[101] The event concluded with the naming of a champion dog from 64 entrants, but ceased following the 2004 Hunting Act, which criminalized hare coursing effective February 2005.^[102] The Waterloo Medal, instituted in 1815, marked the first British campaign medal awarded to every officer, non-commissioned officer, and enlisted soldier who participated in the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, irrespective of rank—a departure from prior practices limiting such honors to officers.^[103] Cast in silver and featuring the Prince Regent's effigy on the obverse and a Waterloo inscription on the reverse, over 39,000 were issued, with recipients' names recorded in the official Waterloo Medal Roll maintained by the War Office.^[104] A larger, more elaborate version designed by Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci from 1819 to 1849 served as a commemorative piece for presentation sets, though production delays limited its distribution.^[105]

References

[1]
Battle of Waterloo | National Army Museum
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on 18 June 1815 between Napoleon's French Army and a coalition led by the Duke of Wellington and Marshal Blücher.
[2]
Battle of Waterloo - HistoryNet
Dates. June 18, 1815 ; Location. Mont St. Jean near Waterloo, Belgium ; Generals/Commanders. Napoleon Bonaparte, France Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, ...Missing: primary sources<|control11|><|separator|>
[3]
Battle of Waterloo - British Battles
Date of the Battle of Waterloo: 18th June 1815. Place of the Battle of Waterloo: South of Brussels in modern Belgium. Combatants at the Battle of Waterloo ...
[4]
Winning and Losing at the Battle of Waterloo | Origins
Jun 18, 2015 · On June 18, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte's forces were defeated at Waterloo by the armies of the Seventh Coalition, led by the British Duke of Wellington and ...
[5]
The Battle of Waterloo - The Napoleon Series
Napoleon had approximately 74,000 troops and 256 guns. The left flank of his first line was formed by the 3 divisions of Reille's II Corps covered by Piré's ...
[6]
7 Reasons Why The Battle of Waterloo is Still Important
Jun 18, 2015 · The battle marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815), which took the lives of 5 million people.
[7]
Historical Significance - The Waterloo Association
May 26, 2018 · Britain had gained much by the war, it had gained numerous spice rich islands and strategic territories to bolster its burgeoning empire.
[8]
[PDF] analysis of the battle of waterloo and napoleon's courses of action ...
Jun 1, 1996 · The Duke must have evolved procedures to neutralize and ultimately defeat a numerous and powerful French field-artillery, Napoleon's heavy shock ...
[9]
[PDF] The Waterloo Campaign - DTIC
Napoleon's defeat in 1814 resulted in the loss of French colonies as well as much of the territory added to. France by Napoleon's prior military conquests.
[10]
How Significant Was the Battle of Waterloo? - History Hit
The significance of the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815 is inextricably linked to the incredible story of one man: Napoleon Bonaparte.
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Waterloo at a glance
Located in the province of Walloon Brabant, 16 km south of Brussels, Waterloo covers an area of 2,102 hectares, 99 of which are woodland forming part of the ...
[12]
Waterloo - Belgium - City Population
30,596 Population [2024] – Estimate ; 21.32 km² Area ; 1,435/km² Population Density [2024].
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Waterloo Facts, Worksheets, Etymology, Landmarks, History For Kids
Oct 30, 2019 · Waterloo is a municipality located in the province of Walloon Brabant in Belgium. In 2011, it had a population of 29,706 people and a land area ...
[14]
From Austerlitz to Waterloo - Hidden Europe
The place in Moravia where in 1805 Napoleon's forces beat the combined armies of Russia and Austria is today called Slavkov u Brna. It is not just in France ...
[15]
History - Region of Waterloo
Waterloo Region, which until 1973 was known as Waterloo County, includes three areas. Each region reflects the traditions of its early settlers.
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Waterloo's history
Mar 8, 2021 · Officially incorporated as a village in 1857, Waterloo became a town in 1876 and a city in 1948. Learn more about city history, ...
[17]
Waterloo Population 2025 - World Population Review
Waterloo ; 136,433. Total Population ; 64.02 km². Area ; 1,896. People per km² ; 16,450. Annual Population Growth.
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Region of Waterloo's population surpasses 700K - CityNews Kitchener
The data from Statistics Canada shows the total population for the Region of Waterloo reached an estimate of 706,875 as of July 1, 2024. It's ...
[19]
Innovation Culture - Region of Waterloo
Waterloo Region has one of the world's fastest growing tech sectors and the world's second highest start-up density after Silicon Valley.
[20]
Welcome to the City of Waterloo: Canada's Innovation Hub
Aug 15, 2024 · Located in the heart of Waterloo Region, the City of Waterloo is home to globally recognized technology, business and finance leaders.
[21]
Discover Waterloo
Waterloo has a rich history of entrepreneurialism and strong start-up ecosystem. Major brands located in Waterloo include John Deere, Tyson Foods, ConAgra ...<|separator|>
[22]
Waterloo, Iowa - | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Waterloo, Iowa (population 68747), located on the Cedar River in Black Hawk County, was named for the battle in which Napoleon was defeated by British ...
[23]
History of Waterloo's Railroad Legacy - Welcome to Waterloo, IA
Waterloo had established itself as "The Factory City", abundant with job opportunities. The rail served a critical role in the supply and distribution chains.
[24]
Waterloo, Iowa Population 2025
Waterloo has a 2025 population of 66,160. It is also the county seat of Black Hawk County. Waterloo is currently declining at a rate of -0.34% annually and its ...
[25]
Waterloo, Iowa (U.S. National Park Service)
American World War II Heritage City. In the later 19th century, the city of Waterloo was a growing industrial force within the northeastern region of Iowa.
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How many cities are called Waterloo in America? - Geotargit
There are 30 places named Waterloo in America. ... All places in the world called "Waterloo". Location Waterloo: Alabama · Arkansas · California · Georgia ...
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How many places are named Waterloo? - Geotargit
Waterloo - New Mexico, Where is Waterloo - New Mexico - America? ; Waterloo - New Jersey, Where is Waterloo - New Jersey - America? ; Waterloo - New Hampshire ...
[28]
Redfern & Waterloo – Things to do, where to eat & more | Sydney.com
In Redfern and Waterloo, explore farmers markets and contemporary art spaces; picnic in the heritage-listed Redfern Park; and discover eclectic bars, street art ...
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2021 Waterloo (NSW), Census All persons QuickStats
Waterloo (NSW) ; 16,379 · 54.0% · 46.0% · 33 ...
[30]
Map of Waterloo, WA 6228 | Whereis®
Waterloo is a small town in the South West region of Western Australia, located on the South Western Highway between Bunbury and Brunswick Junction.Missing: details | Show results with:details
[31]
Waterloo - Dardanup Heritage Collective
May 5, 2022 · In 1886, Terence Hynes took up 1000 acres of land at Waterloo (Location No. 669) to begin farming. It was around this area that a small rural ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
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2021 Waterloo (WA), Census All persons QuickStats
People and population ; 136, 94.4, 2,431,204, 91.4 ; 9, 6.2, 140,128, 5.3 ...
[33]
Waterloo - Clare Valley Tourism
Waterloo is a settlement located just off the Barrier Highway between Manoora and Black Springs, approximately 121 kilometres north-east of the state capital ...
[34]
Waterloo, Destination Information | South Australia
Waterloo is a settlement located just off the Barrier Highway between Manoora and Black Springs, approximately 121 kilometres north-east of the state capital ...
[35]
Map of Waterloo, VIC 3373 | Whereis®
Waterloo is a locality in Pyrenees Shire approximately 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) north of the town of Beaufort, Victoria and 162 kilometres (101 mi) west north ...
[36]
Waterloo | Victorian Places
Waterloo, a former gold mining town, is a rural locality on the Trawalla Creek, 7 km north-east of Beaufort and 42 km north-west of Ballarat.Missing: Australia | Show results with:Australia
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Map of Waterloo in the Northern Territory
Waterloo is located just off the Bloodwood Creek in the west of the Northern Territory a distance of about 490km south-southwest from Darwin.
[38]
Where Cowboys Fly and Cattle Set Sail: An Epic Food Journey
Nov 30, 2022 · The largest cattle station in Australia is 5.85 million acres, while the largest in the N.T. sprawls across four million. Waterloo Station, ...
[39]
Waterloo in Lower Hutt | What to Know Before You Go - Mindtrip
A charming and peaceful neighborhood, Waterloo is a part of the city of Lower Hutt in the Greater Wellington region of New Zealand.
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Lower Hutt City | Population: Small areas breakdown
Waterloo, 5,720 ... Contact us. Level 20Plimmer Towers2 Gilmer TerraceWellington 6011PO Box 25-309Wellington 6140New Zealand+64 4 909 7612. Infometrics logo.
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Waterloo in New Zealand - Places in the World
Waterloo (Waterloo) is a section of another place (Lower Hutt) in the region of Wellington Region in New Zealand with a population of approximately 5,950 people ...
[42]
Sierra Leone Population (2025) - Worldometer
Population of Sierra Leone: current, historical, and projected population ... Waterloo, 55,000. 7, Lunsar, 22,461. 8, Port Loko, 21,308. 9, Goderich, 19,209. 10 ...
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History of Waterloo, Sierra Leone Early Settlement and Naming
Jul 30, 2024 · Founding and Development Waterloo was initially established as a settlement for freed African slaves and liberated Africans who had been rescued ...Waterloo and Hastings villages founded in Sierra Leone - FacebookWaterloo, located just a few kilometers from Freetown, is rapidly ...More results from www.facebook.com
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Sub Place: Waterloo - Adrian Frith: Census 2011
Waterloo Sub Place 599050002 from Census 2011 ; Area: 3.48 km² ; Population: 19,661 (5,652.51 per km²) ; Households: 5,274 (1,516.27 per km²).
[45]
Where is Waterloo in South Africa? - Geotargit
Waterloo is situated in the region Free State in South Africa! Here you will find the location of Waterloo on a map. To see how it currently looks like outside ...
[46]
Waterloo, Matalom, Leyte Profile - PhilAtlas
Waterloo is a barangay in the municipality of Matalom, in the province of Leyte. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census was 547.
[47]
Waterloo Map - Locality - Rovira, Colombia - Mapcarta
Waterloo is a locality in Rovira, Tolima Department and has an elevation of 2,821 metres. Waterloo is situated nearby to the locality Las Violetas, as well as ...
[48]
Waterloo Plantation was a part of Guyana in Suriname
May 16, 2021 · Waterloo was a sugar cane plantation on the Nickerie River in the Nickerie district in Suriname. Nickerie is a district of Suriname, on the northwest coast.
[49]
The history of London Waterloo station - Network Rail
Waterloo Station was opened in 1848 by the London & South Western Railway as part of extending the line two miles to be nearer the city.
[50]
London Waterloo Train Station | South Western Railway
London Waterloo train station, also known as Waterloo Station, is Britain's largest and busiest rail hub. It's located in central London, with excellent ...
[51]
Waterloo station : facilities and access | SNCB-NMBS
Services at the station: Free toilets, Taxi stand, Ticket vending machine(s), Multimodality, Connecting buses, Car park available.
[52]
Waterloo, IN (WTI) - Great American Stations
Since Waterloo was small, the railroad constructed a simple rectangular wood building typical of Victorian-era stations. The original layout included separate ...
[53]
Waterloo Railway Stations
Construction Date: The original station was constructed with the opening of the line in 1891 by the Waterloo Junction Railway/Grand Trunk. · Architect/Builder: ...
[54]
Grand River Transit
Due to planned paving work at Conestoga College Doon campus, buses are not serving stops 1342, 1728, 1731, 1732, 1734, 3641 and 3802. For service to Doon campus ...
[55]
Public Transportation - Region of Waterloo International Airport
GRT serves YKF with two bus routes, Route 78 Fountain and the on-demand Route 79 Breslau. If you need to get to the airport, GRT can get you there.
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Ground Transportation - Region of Waterloo International Airport
Ground Transportation. The Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) is located alongside highway 401 - 45 minutes west of Toronto.Public Transportation · Car Rentals · Address and Directions · Taxis
[57]
Transportation to Waterloo Battlefield Sites - European Traveler
May 4, 2016 · Bus W and 365 offer direct connections from Brussels South (Bruxelles Midi) to Waterloo and is the cheapest and simplest public transportation ...<|separator|>
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Waterloo to Brussels Airport-Zaventem - 5 ways to travel via train ...
Tickets cost €10–12 and the journey takes 51 min. Alternatively, you can take a bus from WATERLOO Avenue Reine Astrid to Brussels Airport via UCCLE Avenue ...
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THE BEST Waterloo Taxis & Shuttles (2025) - Tripadvisor
1. Taxis Fabbrimone. 5.0. (6). Taxis & Shuttles. By 600dimitrig. Very pleasant trip, the driver was punctual and very friendly. · 3. Hey Taxi Waterloo.
[60]
How to Get to London Waterloo Station by Bus, Tube or Train? - Moovit
The nearest bus station to London Waterloo Station is London Waterloo. It's a 3 min walk away. What's the nearest River Bus station to London Waterloo Station?
[61]
About River Bus - Transport for London
River Bus services are operated by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Routes run from 23 piers between Putney and Woolwich.
[62]
Route Map - Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
The River Bus stops at 24 different piers across the River Thames, find out which route takes you where you need to be.
[63]
London Eye Waterloo Pier - TfL
Other lines at this station. River Bus RB1 and River Bus RB6. Plan a ... River Buses. IFS Cloud Cable Car. Journeys Plan a journey and favourite it for ...
[64]
How ABBA's Iconic 'Waterloo' Performance Won Eurovision
The ABBA Eurovision performance of 'Waterloo' has gone down in history as the competition's most iconic moment. Published on. April 6, 2025. By. Mark Elliott.
[65]
'Waterloo': When ABBA Stormed The Singles Chart - uDiscover Music
Released on March 12 in the UK, “Waterloo” entered the bestsellers on April 20. Two weeks later, on May 4, it rose to No.1, where it stayed for two weeks.<|separator|>
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By Stonewall Jackson - Waterloo - Song Details
By Stonewall Jackson ; Version: Album ; Writers: Wilkin, Marijohn; Loudermilk, John D. ; First Released: 1959 ; BPM: 102 ; Duration: 2 Minutes 28 Seconds ...
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Singer Stonewall Jackson's Biggest Hit Featured Country Music's ...
Dec 6, 2021 · Country singer Stonewall Jackson was a Navy veteran who spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard country music charts in 1959 with "Waterloo."<|separator|>
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War and Music: Waterloo I - Interlude.hk
Apr 21, 2015 · The most famous of the Waterloo battle compositions was Beethoven's piece of program music, Wellingtons Sieg oder Die Schlacht bei Vittoria, Op. 91.
[69]
Songs of the Waterloo Era
Songs of the Waterloo Era. Ode to Waterloo. A telling of the Waterloo Campaign in modern verse. By Gerry Murphy. Downloadable in PDF format.
[70]
Battle of Waterloo. | Levy Music Collection
Composed by N.B. Challoner. Publisher. W. Wybrow, Music Seller, 24 Rathbone Place. Publisher Location. London. Publication Date. [n.d.]. Form of Composition.
[71]
Waterloo (1970) - IMDb
Rating 7.3/10 (13,925) Facing the decline of everything he has worked to obtain, conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte and his army confront the British at the Battle of Waterloo.Full cast & crew · Trivia · Waterloo · Sergey Bondarchuk(1920-1994)
[72]
Waterloo - Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 27% (11) Exiled Napoleon (Rod Steiger) leaves Elba, enters Paris and then meets the Duke of Wellington (Christopher Plummer) in the 1815 Battle of Waterloo.
[73]
Napoleon (2023) - IMDb
Rating 6.3/10 (179,507) After being defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon surrendered to the British on-board HMS Bellerophon. Although receiving many guests, he never met the ...
[74]
Napoleon: Ridley Scott Movie's VFX Created Battle of Waterloo
Jan 8, 2024 · Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" visual effects supervisors discuss how digital trickery turned 500 soldiers into 50000 for the epic Battle of ...
[75]
"Sharpe" Sharpe's Waterloo (TV Episode 1997) - IMDb
Rating 7.9/10 (2,550) Napoleon has escaped from Elba and Britain is at war again. As Wellington's army assembles in Belgium, Sharpe, now a Lt. Colonel, is placed on the staff of ...
[76]
Sharpe's Waterloo | Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 80% (1) The estranged wife (Abigail Cruttenden) of a British rifleman (Sean Bean) preparing for the Battle of Waterloo asks her lover to kill him.
[77]
Frederick Burwick, “18 June 1815: The Battle of Waterloo and the ...
His defeat at Waterloo on 18 June 1815 was the final battle with heavy losses on all sides. The extensive response in the British press was unprecedented.Missing: outcome | Show results with:outcome
[78]
Childe Harold's Pilgrimage -- Canto III
XVIII And Harold stands upon this place of skulls, The grave of France, the deadly Waterloo; How in an hour the power which gave annuls Its gifts, transferring ...
[79]
Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Canto III [excerpt] - Poets.org
This poem is in the public domain. George Gordon Byron was the author of Don Juan, a satirical novel-in-verse that is considered one of ...
[80]
Lord Byron on Waterloo - Age of Revolution
Oct 16, 2013 · The poet Lord Byron visited the battlefield of Waterloo in 1816, and was both fascinated by the tremendous battle and horrified by the carnage it caused.
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The 10 best fictional characters at Waterloo | Books - The Guardian
Jun 18, 2015 · Fabrice del Dongo in The Charterhouse of Parma (1839) · Harold in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Canto III (1816) · George Osborne in Vanity Fair ( ...
[82]
Waterloo 1815: Captain Mercers Journal (Military History from ...
30-day returnsOriginally published in 1900, this book features excerpts from Alexander Cavalié Mercer's account of the battle of Waterloo. As an artillery officer at the ...
[83]
The Waterloo Archive Volume I: British Sources - napoleon.org
The first in a series of six books containing French, German, Dutch and Belgian sources regarding the Waterloo campaign, this series will be an invaluable asset ...
[84]
The Waterloo Archive Volume I British Sources - The Napoleon Series
The first volume focuses on British sources and is organized like Siborne's The Waterloo Letters – by brigades and regiments. It includes letters and diaries ...
[85]
Waterloo 200 Books - Age of Revolution
Waterloo 200 have created a list of every book dedicated to the Battle of Waterloo published in English over the last 200 years.
[86]
Best books about Napoleon(fiction or nonfiction) : r/literature - Reddit
Oct 8, 2023 · Georgette Heyer wrote a few novels touching on the Napoleonic era and in particular Infamous Army. She writes from the British perspective not ...
[87]
Battle of Waterloo | Combatants, Maps, & Facts | Britannica
Fought near Waterloo village, Belgium, it pitted Napoleon's 72,000 French troops against the duke of Wellington's army of 68,000 (British, Dutch, Belgian, and ...The first hours of battle · Quatre Bras, Ligny, Napoleon
[88]
WATERLOO Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
Waterloo, Belgium, scene of Napoleon's defeat in 1815. First Known Use. 1816, in the meaning defined above. Time Traveler. The first known use of waterloo was ...
[89]
Meet Your Waterloo - Meaning & Origin Of The Phrase
This phrase refers to the 1815 battle outside the Belgian town of Waterloo in which Napoleon Bonaparte was finally defeated by forces commanded by the Duke ...
[90]
One met one's Waterloo - Idioms by The Free Dictionary
To experience a major defeat. Alluding to the final defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, Wendell Phillips used the term in1859 to describe the defeat of ...Missing: metaphor | Show results with:metaphor
[91]
Opinion | Trump May Not Have Met His Waterloo, but He More Than ...
Sep 11, 2024 · A screen overlays photos of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris during the debate. ... Being drunk on hubris and narcissism is the surest way to lose a ...
[92]
Trump's Waterloo? Don't count on it - POLITICO
Jul 21, 2015 · When Donald Trump derided John McCain's war hero status on Saturday and set off a media firestorm, many in the Republican establishment thought ...
[93]
meet one's Waterloo meaning, origin, example, sentence, history
Sep 2, 2025 · The idiom “meet one's Waterloo” alludes to Napoleon Bonaparte's final military defeat at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815. That defeat ...
[94]
That Old Sports-as-War Metaphor | Skulking in Holes and Corners
Sep 9, 2012 · Waterloo may or may not have been won on the 'fields of Eton,' but by WWI rugby stars were encouraging Englishmen to do their patriotic duty ...
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History | About Waterloo
Founded in 1957, Waterloo was among the first to give undergrads computer access, established the first co-op outside engineering, and had a Nobel Prize winner.
[96]
University of Waterloo in Canada - US News Best Global Universities
The University of Waterloo, founded in 1957, is ranked #197 globally and #7 in Canada. It has over 30,000 students and offers a co-op program.
[97]
University of Waterloo : Rankings, Fees & Courses Details
Rankings & Ratings ... University of Waterloo is one of the top Public universities in Waterloo, Canada. It is ranked #=119 in QS World University Rankings 2026.English · Environmental Science · Mathematics (Applied... · Civil Engineering (BAS)<|separator|>
[98]
Waterloo Business College | lost-colleges
Waterloo Business College in Waterloo, Iowa, operated from 1884-1973, offering programs like stenotypy and shorthand. It closed after 89 years.
[99]
Waterloo High School in Ohio History and Information - Facebook
Nov 6, 2024 · The Waterloo School housed grades 1 through 12. Lee Wright of Ironton was the contractor and L. Hobart Wickline was the first principal. A ...
[100]
Waterloo Cup | hunting - Britannica
The Waterloo Cup, the Derby of coursing, was established in 1836 and is held annually at the Altcar Club, near Liverpool.
[101]
The amazing tale of the Waterloo Cup, the other event created by ...
Apr 11, 2018 · In the late 1800s, coursing's Waterloo Cup attracted more spectators during its three-day February meeting than any other event in Britain.
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20 years since the demise of an event Sir Paul McCartney prayed ...
Feb 9, 2025 · On that day, hare coursing joined fox-hunting with hounds as an illegal activity. Anti-hunt protest at the final Waterloo Cup.
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British Waterloo Medal - UK Parliament
The Waterloo Medal was the first British medal given to all soldiers present during a campaign regardless of rank.
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An in-depth guide to Waterloo medals
1. It was issued to all soldiers present at the battle regardless of rank, making it the British Army's first 'true' campaign medal.
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Benedetto Pistrucci - The Waterloo Medal - British
Pistrucci's Waterloo Medal was and epic medallic achievement; because of its exceptional size and attention to detail, it took him thirty years to cut the ...