1815 – the Battle of Waterloo
We chose 1815 as a significant date because it was the date of the Battle of Waterloo.
This famous battle took place on 18th June in a muddy field in Belgium. Wellington, with his British and Allied army, faced off Napoleon with his French Imperial Guard. It was to end 20 years of bloody conflict on the continent. The outcome was not a foregone conclusion and the fate of Europe hung in the balance.
The British had already defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 but he had gone on to invade many other countries in Europe to establish an Empire before being forced to give up his throne. When he returned to Paris in 1815 Britain, Prussia, Russia and Austria all declared war. In June, Napoleon invaded Belgium.
The Battle of Waterloo was important in history because if Wellington and his allies hadn’t defeated Napoleon, he would have gone on to take over even more of Europe. It also showed Britain’s role as an important country in Europe and Wellington became a national hero.