Waterloo Hour by Hour

What happened at Waterloo? The story of the battle is well known, so in this episode we are focusing on the when and the how. How did these events overlap? On the 210th anniversary of the Waterloo campaign, we are retelling the story with the vital timestamps front and centre - we look at how these events interlink, and allow you to follow along, so that you can reflect on these events, knows exactly what happened, when 210 years ago.

June 15th – Napoleon strikes first. His army crosses into Belgium, catching the Allied forces off guard. His goal? Drive a wedge between the two main Coalition armies: Wellington’s Anglo-allied force and Blücher’s Prussians. The campaign begins with rapid marches and surprise engagements as French forces push north.

🗓️ June 16th – Two crucial battles unfold. At Ligny, Napoleon personally leads an attack against the Prussians and secures a tactical victory, forcing Blücher’s forces to retreat—but crucially, they’re not broken. Meanwhile, Marshal Ney clashes with Wellington’s troops at Quatre Bras. Though the French gain ground, Ney fails to prevent Wellington from later falling back to a stronger defensive position.

🗓️ June 17th – The Allies regroup. Wellington pulls his army back to the ridge near the village of Waterloo, where he prepares for a stand. Heavy rain lashes the fields. Napoleon, delayed by mud and logistics, follows—but hesitates to attack in poor conditions.

🗓️ June 18th – The Battle of Waterloo begins. Napoleon throws wave after wave at Wellington’s lines—infantry columns, cavalry charges, and artillery bombardments. The fighting is fierce: key positions like Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte become scenes of desperate defense. By late afternoon, just as Wellington's lines are wavering, the Prussians arrive on the battlefield. Their assault on Napoleon’s flank breaks the French resolve. Wellington orders a general advance. Napoleon’s army collapses.

By the end of the day, the dream of a restored Napoleonic Empire is crushed. These four days sealed Napoleon’s fate—and the future of Europe.

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