Ватерлоо waterloo

Rating 7110

June 18 of the outgoing year marked the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo - as Wellington named it after the place where he lodged. In Prussia they called it the battle of Belle Alliance, in France - at Mont-Saint-Jean. At that time this territory was Dutch. Having escaped from prison on the island of Elba, Napoleon was going to regain his former conquests, the people of France seemed to support him. Military victories are a big deal, you never know that the country's economy is barely alive after the emperor's wars. His hopes were justified, since before him was not a single enemy army, but a coalition of European monarchs with their own interests, and Bonaparte gathered a few more forces, but ...not fate.
The battle gave rise to a lot of legends, including the response of the French general to the offer to surrender: “Shit! The Guard is dying, but not surrendering! - Most likely, only the first word was actually spoken.
The elm, under which the Duke of Wellington stayed for most of the battle, was subsequently dug up and taken to England, where souvenirs were made from the wood. And in that place they erected a statue of the British lion on a high artificial hill. The winner was proud of his victory! It is not customary to remember that the Prussian army of Blucher played an almost decisive role in the victory.