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Ligny and Quatre Bras Trivia Quiz

We all know of the heroism and chaos of Waterloo. But how much do you know of the battles that took place beforehand? This quiz tests your knowledge of Ligny and Quatre Bras, two battles that greatly effected the Waterloo campaign.

A multiple-choice quiz by Fred0518. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Fred0518

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
284,713

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
722

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What action caused the British to retreat from their positions at Quatre Bras? Hint

The arrival of the main French army on the field

The defeat of Bl�cher at Ligny

Threat to Wellington's flank from the French left

Failure to match the rate of French reserves arriving on the field

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which of Napoleon's Marshals led the French at Quatre Bras? Hint

Ney

Davout

Grouchy

Napoleon commanded the army

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was the main strategic importance of Quatre Bras? Hint

Allowing the French to control Quatre Bras would give them access to all roads in southern Belgium allowing them to easily outmanouvre the Allies

As for military purposes there were none

The crossroads would allow the coalition armies to meet up, outnumbering Napoleon's forces

Supplies from Ostend would be late as Quatre Bras linked up the only paved roads in Belgium

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the main French blunder at Quatre Bras? Hint

Intelligence led the French to believe that the British were further east than they actually were

Due to early morning confusion cannon fire was inaccurate and fired on columns of advancing French troops

Ney delayed his attack on the crossroads until late morning giving the British time to reinforce

Ney exposed his infantry to British artillery meaning that many were subjected to continous bombardment before attack

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Question 5 of 10

5. Many British officers were still wearing their dress uniform from the Duchess of Richmond's ball the night before.

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. Bl�cher outnumbered Napoleon 82,000 to 60,000. In addition to this, Quatre Bras and Ligny were both fought on the same day not too far from each other.

True

False

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which commander was in charge of the 1st corps? This corps took part in neither battle because of confusion concerning its orders. Hint

Reille

Lobau

d'Erlon

Milhaud

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of these crucial mistakes did Napoleon commit at Ligny during the retreat of the Prussian army? Hint

All of these

Moved too many of his forces in pursuit of Bl�cher rather than face Wellington

Believed the Prussians were retreating towards Li�ge rather than linking up with Wellington

Committed too much of his cavalry to Prussian infantry when the battle was already won

9. It is well known that Field Marshal Bl�cher, while leading a charge personally against the French, was thrown from his horse dead and trapped beneath the carcass of his dead horse for part of the battle. Do you know how old this Field Marshal was? Hint

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Question 10 of 10

10. As a result of the delay at Quatre Bras and the pursuit of Bl�cher at Ligny, Wellington was given crucial time to assemble his forces around what place or landmark? Hint

La Belle Alliance

Hougoumont

Waterloo

Mont Saint Jean

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What action caused the British to retreat from their positions at Quatre Bras?

Answer: The defeat of Bl�cher at Ligny

The British held their positions well on the field of Quatre Bras. They were extremely upset to know that their fighting had resulted in no decisive victory as Wellington risked exposing his army. Quatre Bras was fought on a section of crossroads moving south-east towards the Prussians along the Nivelles-Namur road at Ligny. Napoleon realised that it was most important to prevent the two armies from meeting, which is why an attack on the British at Quatre Bras was urgently needed.

2. Which of Napoleon's Marshals led the French at Quatre Bras?

Answer: Ney

Grouchy led the right of the French Arm�e du Nord. He failed to pursue Bl�cher all the way to Waterloo after Ligny. Consequently, he arrived too late to save Napoleon, who later branded his actions as those of a traitor. Davout was meanwhile in charge of defending Paris. Napoleon feared attack from Austria and Russia during the 100 days. Russia was expected to bring 150,000 men waiting on the Rhine river, while combined Italian and Austrian forces were expected to rise to around 285,000. Napoleon commanded the army at Ligny but not at Quatre Bras.

3. What was the main strategic importance of Quatre Bras?

Answer: The crossroads would allow the coalition armies to meet up, outnumbering Napoleon's forces

Napoleon's plans to defeat the Coalition in Europe would be manoeuvre fast and knock them out one by one as he had tried to do in the defence of France in 1814. Allowing the Allies to converge and outnumber him would be almost fatal. Although Wellington and Ney practically 'ran into' each other at Quatre Bras it was Ligny that crucially decided the position of the armies before Waterloo.

4. What was the main French blunder at Quatre Bras?

Answer: Ney delayed his attack on the crossroads until late morning giving the British time to reinforce

Had Ney decisively beaten the British at Quatre Bras he would of been given the chance to flank the Prussians at Ligny. In fact this was the main cause of the attack however Ney lacked the time and the manpower for such a manoeuvre. Ney was waiting for surrounding French units to arrive on the field, as was Wellington.

5. Many British officers were still wearing their dress uniform from the Duchess of Richmond's ball the night before.

Answer: True

Many paintings exist of soldiers charging into battle still wearing their clothes from the ball the night before. (Particularly those of the 42nd Highlanders). This gives the idea of how quickly the allies reacted to Napoleon's style of advancing quickly. Wellington heard of Napoleons precise movement while at the ball.

The main purpose of Quatre Bras for the British was to delay Napoleons march to Brussels. This gave the allies more to time to react to his movements. Wellington was heard to say, "Napoleon has humbugged me, by God; he has gained twenty-four hours' march on me". Casualties at Quatre Bras follow, British: 4,700 French: 4,300.

6. Bl�cher outnumbered Napoleon 82,000 to 60,000. In addition to this, Quatre Bras and Ligny were both fought on the same day not too far from each other.

Answer: True

The two engagements were fought surprisingly close to each other; about seven miles apart. Ligny was of course Napoleon's last victory. The crucial mistake came in Grouchy failing to follow up the battle to prevent Bl�cher's arrival on the field of Waterloo.

7. Which commander was in charge of the 1st corps? This corps took part in neither battle because of confusion concerning its orders.

Answer: d'Erlon

Napoleon needed Ney's reserve so the 1st corps was sent to Ligny. However, before arrival Ney countermanded d'Erlon's orders and because of this muddle the 1st corps took part in neither battle. Its participation could have been decisive on both fields.

8. Which of these crucial mistakes did Napoleon commit at Ligny during the retreat of the Prussian army?

Answer: Believed the Prussians were retreating towards Li�ge rather than linking up with Wellington

Napoleon believed that Bl�cher would retreat along their line of communications rather than head north and regroup with Wellington at Wavre. For a large part of Grouchy's pursuit the French right was no where near the Prussian army as they headed north-east towards Li�ge. Napoleon was ill around the run up to Waterloo and very often had severe attacks of piles. Because of this Napoleon failed to order a pursuit until midday.

Answer: 72

As a reaction to the Old Guard's attack, Bl�cher instructed Lieutenant-General Roder to counter-attack with the two brigades of cavalry from the Prussian 1st corps. Field Marshal Gebhard von Bl�cher was found semi-conscious by his aide Major von Nostitz.

10. As a result of the delay at Quatre Bras and the pursuit of Bl�cher at Ligny, Wellington was given crucial time to assemble his forces around what place or landmark?

Answer: Mont Saint Jean

Don't forget Waterloo was the name of the village Wellington stayed the night before, not the name of the actual place where the battle was fought. As a result of the French wasting time at Quatre Bras and Ligny, Wellington was given the opportunity to assemble his forces at Mont Saint Jean. Wellington had chosen this beforehand and believed it to be excellent ground to fight the French.

Source: Author Fred0518

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