This week in history: 18th June 1815
Returned from exile, Napoleon hoped for one more decisive victory to shatter the European allies. Meeting in the Low Countries, he faced Wellington and Blucher – hoping to keep their forces separated – to conclude 23 years of war. Striking the Prussians at Ligny and the British at Quatre Bras, that plan to thwart a union of allied armies appeared to be succeeding. However, Wellington decided to stand and fight near the village of Waterloo. If Blucher’s men could join him, the allies would field 68,000 men to the French 72,000.
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Added: 20th June 2023
