The Background
Napoleon Bonaparte, after having been exiled to the island of Elba in 1814 following his abdication, escaped in March 1815 and returned to France. His return triggered what is now known as the "Hundred Days," a brief but intense period during which Napoleon sought to reclaim his empire. The major European powers—Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, and Austria—had already formed the Seventh Coalition to prevent any resurgence of Napoleonic power.
Napoleon's objective was to divide and conquer the coalition forces before they could unite against him. He was able to raise an army quickly and began his advance through Belgium, where he planned to engage and defeat the British-led forces and their allies.
The Combatants
On one side, Napoleon's army was a seasoned force, with veterans from his previous campaigns. The French were skilled in tactics and had the experience to wage a large-scale, decisive battle. On the other side, the coalition forces were composed of British troops led by the Duke of Wellington and Prussian forces commanded by Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. Both commanders were experienced, and their forces had been mobilized to halt Napoleon's advance.
The French army at Waterloo numbered approximately 73,000 men, including infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The British-led forces, including Dutch, Belgian, and German troops, totaled around 68,000. The Prussian forces, which were initially positioned to the east of the battlefield, had around 50,000 soldiers, though they were not expected to arrive until later in the day. shutdown123