Which famous battle was fought on June 18, 1815? A) Battle of Gettysburg B) Battle of Waterloo C) Battle of Trafalgar D) Battle of Stalingrad
VerifiedAnswer: B) Battle of Waterloo
Explanation:
The Battle of Waterloo was indeed fought on June 18, 1815, making it one of history's most significant and well-documented military encounters. This decisive battle took place near the town of Waterloo in present-day Belgium, about 15 kilometers south of Brussels.
The battle marked the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French Emperor who had dominated European politics and warfare for over a decade. After escaping from his exile on the island of Elba, Napoleon returned to France for what became known as the "Hundred Days" - his brief return to power before this ultimate confrontation.
The opposing forces were led by the Duke of Wellington commanding the Anglo-Allied army and Field Marshal Blücher leading the Prussian forces. Together, they faced Napoleon's French army in what would become the emperor's final battle. The combined Allied forces numbered approximately 118,000 men, while Napoleon commanded around 72,000 troops.
Let's examine why the other options are incorrect:
• The Battle of Gettysburg took place from July 1-3, 1863, during the American Civil War in Pennsylvania
• The Battle of Trafalgar occurred on October 21, 1805, where Admiral Nelson's British fleet defeated the combined French and Spanish navies
• The Battle of Stalingrad was a prolonged World War II battle that lasted from August 1942 to February 1943
The Battle of Waterloo's outcome was decisive for European history. Napoleon's defeat ended the Napoleonic Wars and led to his permanent exile to the remote island of Saint Helena. The battle also established the balance of power in Europe that would last for decades, with Britain emerging as the dominant global power.
The phrase "meeting one's Waterloo" entered common usage after this battle, meaning to face a final, decisive defeat. This linguistic legacy demonstrates how deeply this single day's events resonated throughout history and continue to influence our language today.
