Waterloo – The Fall of an Emperor

Episode 15 recounts the Battle of Waterloo (1815), the final, decisive clash that ended Napoleon Bonaparte’s rule. After escaping exile and returning to power, Napoleon attempted to defeat the British under Duke of Wellington and the Prussians under Blücher before they could unite. The battle unfolded near Waterloo, where muddy terrain slowed the French advance. Fierce fighting erupted at Hougoumont, French cavalry assaults failed against British infantry squares, and although the French captured La Haye Sainte, Wellington’s line held. The turning point came when Prussian reinforcements struck Napoleon’s flank. In a last attempt at victory, Napoleon deployed his elite Imperial Guard, which — for the first time ever — broke under British fire. The French army collapsed, and Napoleon fled the field. Waterloo ended the Napoleonic era, reshaped Europe’s political order, and elevated Britain to global dominance.