Battle of Waterloo Trivia Quiz

Answer: June 18, 1815

Answer: Napoleon, Wellington, Blücher

In 1814, Napoleon had been exiled to the Island of Elba, but escaped to France in March 1815. Very quickly he managed to form a new army with which he wanted to reconquer his lost empire. The first part that he wanted to reconquer was Belgium and Holland.

The European powers, at the Congress in Vienna, mobilized their armies to defeat Napoleon. Two major armies made their way to Belgium. The first one was an army consisting of divisions from different countries (Britain, The Netherlands and Hanover) under the command of the Duke of Wellington.

The second army came from Prussia and was led by Field Marshal Blücher.

Answer: Vienna

Answer: the scum of the earth

Wellington seldom said a good word about his troops.

Answer: Britain

Britain fought against Revolutionary and later Napoleonic France from 1793-1814 with the exception of a short period of peace in 1802-03 following the Treaty of Lunéville.

Answer: Blücher

Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher was the commander of the Prussian army. He was 72 at the time of the Battle of Waterloo and the only man to have beaten Napoleon more than once.

Answer: Ney

Knowing that La Haie Sainte was a key stronghold, Napoleon ordered Marshal Ney to capture it, thereby smashing the Allied centre. Through the smoky haze, Ney had seen lines of Wellington's wounded soldiers walking along the road to Brussels. Possibly believing the British were retreating, he ordered his cavalry to charge across the battlefield towards the ridge. Wellington's infantry formed squares behind the ridge to receive them and the Allied artillery lined up in front of them, enabling the gunners to continue firing until the last possible moment and then to take refuge behind the squares. Wellington's formation stood firm and the French cavalry made little impact especially as Ney had failed to send in support from his infantry.

The French artillery also had to cease firing because, had they continued, they would have inflicted casualties on their own side as much as on the enemy's. Wellington was short of cavalry and artillery but counter attacked by sending in his cavalry reserve to stand between the infantry squares.

Answer: Wellington had encamped in Waterloo the previous night

Blucher met Wellington at La Belle Alliance. A fresh Prussian cavalry pursued the retreating French. Blucher wanted to name the battle 'La Belle Alliance' but Wellington insisted upon a tradition of his, that it be called after the place where he had spent the night before the battle, Waterloo. However, in the German-speaking lands the battle is called after Belle Alliance.

Answer: Picton

As his centre began to give way and La Haie Sainte became vulnerable, Wellington sent in his reserve led by Picton's brigade to plug the gap. The French were beaten back from La Haie Sainte and Wellington ran home his advantage by having the cavalry brigades under Somerset and Ponsonby attack.

The French infantry were surprised and easily overcome, but the Allied cavalry was badly decimated during a counter attack by a cuirassier brigade and some lancers.

Answer: St. Helena

Napoleon died in exile in the year 1821. It is commonly believed that he died of arsenic poisoning.