Belgium Campaign (Hundred Days)

The Battle of Ligny was Napoleon's last personal military triumph. There he partially crushed the Prussian army commanded by Blücher, which attempted to resist the French in the villages of Ligny and Saint-Amand. The Imperial Guard led the decisive assault. However, Ney's failure to defeat Wellington at Quatre Bras the same day prevented Napoleon from completely destroying the Prussians.

The same day as Ligny, Ney attempted to take the strategic crossroads of Quatre Bras to prevent junction between Wellington's and Blücher's armies. Despite vigorous initial attack and temporary capture of the crossroads, Ney failed to exploit advantage and was repulsed by allied reinforcements. The battle ended without clear victor, but the Allies retained the position.

The Battle of Waterloo, fought on 18 June 1815, brutally ended the Hundred Days and the imperial destiny of Napoleon Bonaparte. Facing Anglo-allied forces of the Duke of Wellington and the decisive arrival of Blücher's Prussian army, Napoleon engaged his last great battle hoping to destroy his enemies separately. In the morning waterlogged ground slowed French movements, delaying the assault. Engagement began with a massive attack on the fortified farm of Hougoumont, followed by commitment of d'Erlon's corps against the allied center. Intervention of British cavalry, led by the Scots Greys and heavy dragoons, repulsed the French attempt. From 3 p.m. Ney, believing in enemy retreat, launched several cavalry charges without infantry or artillery support. These successive assaults failed against well-formed allied squares. Progressive arrival of Prussian troops on the French right flank reversed the balance. At day's end Napoleon committed the Imperial Guard in a final effort to pierce the enemy center. The Guard was repulsed by British and Belgian-Dutch troops, provoking panic in French ranks. Rout spread and defeat became irreversible. Waterloo was more than a military defeat: it was strategic and psychological collapse.