Waterloo - A Not So Unassuming Landscape



By Silvia Brigido - Blog Entry I

As we tour Brussels, the "capital" of the European Union, it becomes increasingly apparent how this beautiful city has become a hub for all cultures, nationalities and languages. Here, people can’t help but feel as though they are a citizen of the world. A statement that may sound idealistic to some, yet that seems to be one of the goals of the European Union. That is, to join forces and built upon each nation’s strengths to form a community of collaboration amongst each other as an attempt to avoid rivalry. However, nationalism seems to be stewing just below the surface. European countries have a long history of wars based on national pride. Therefore, it only makes sense that the people of this continent would feel exhausted by their history and hope for unity and diplomatic cooperation as opposed to further conflicts and division.

Today our group toured the area known as Waterloo, a vast empty field in which one’s keen eye and power of imagination is necessary to visualize how significant this landscape was in order to succeed on that fateful day. It was on this apparently unassuming landscape where one of the most decisive European battles occurred. It was fought between Napoleon Bonaparte leading the French, and the Duke of Wellington, leading the British and with the support of the Prussian army under the command of Von Blucher. The battle of Waterloo, a day of grueling bloodshed, was of great significance and changed the course of European history after 20 years of conflicts. The events on June 18 of 1815, led Europe into 50 years of peace and opened doors to diplomatic resolutions.

Our group was lucky to get an amazingly detailed tour by one of our own, John Callaghan, who is incredibly well versed in all the details of the events that occurred during the whole campaign which lasted for three days. We got to walk along every edge of this field and see exactly how tactful and skilled those commanders had to be in order to best use the area. It quickly became apparent that the landscape alone was one of the deciding factors between the victor versus the fallen. It is an area made up of many ridges creating a natural barrier from incoming fire and an advantage of attack. The one who understood this best was the Duke of Wellington and it just may have been a huge factor in his victory. Additionally, communication was the second ingredient toward victory. While Wellington and Blucher had clear, constant and effective communication amongst themselves and their men, Bonaparte was lacking the same, despite haven been one of the most masterful war lords in history.

The results of this battle led Europe into an alliance between France and Britain, and stimulated the unification of the Prussian states into what is Germany today. Thus, it could be said that these were steps toward diplomacy and may have steered Europe into what we know it to be today - a Union of strengths.

Waterloo - And Its Lasting Historical and Political Imprint

By John Callahan - Blog II 

I think we walked over 10km today, possibly 15. This took place at Waterloo, site of the battle which ended Napoleon’s bid to reestablish his empire. As the guide for this part of the trip, my challenges were multiple. First, why visit a battlefield on a trip to study the future of Europe. Second, how to impart the important issues of the battle itself without causing intense boredom in the group. Everyone seemed to survive, and to learn something, so I call it a great success.

Waterloo ended the Napoleonic Wars, and is often, and rightly, heralded as the dawn of modern Europe. The political balance of power system which was established at the Congress of Vienna and sealed in blood with the victory at Waterloo endured for a hundred years, and, during that time, served prevent all out great power wars. Waterloo was the result of several brilliant strokes and a series of miscalculations with the end result that the French Army of about 75,000 men faced off against, and was defeated by, a coalition army of about 110,000 English, Dutch, Belgians, Germans, and Prussians. That this coalition even existed was a diplomatic success story, that the French did as well as they did in spite of the odds equally so.
To sum it up, the allies had learned Napoleon’s methods during 20 years of being defeated by him. Napoleon himself was aging, and no longer capable of both running a country and being a battlefield general at the same time. One or the other, perhaps, but not both.
We visited several key locations on the field. We began at the famous Lion Mound for an overview of the battle and the British defensive positions We then examined the Chateaux of Hougomont, scene of heavy fighting and rightmost key to the British position. The Chateaux is now, FINALLY closed for much needed repairs, since it has decayed much over the years. Hopefully the folks who stole the crucifix from the chapel will be liberally punished. We then crossed to the French side of the field to understand what the situation looked like from the French point of view, and then observed the avenues of advance of the Prussians as they attacked the French right. There is something about actually walking on the ground that is a very different experience from standing on the hill, or viewing things from a map.
Finally, we returned to the British line to see the point where Napoleon’s famed Imperial Guard were defeated, and his dreams of renewed conquest shattered. Again we were all reminded of how steep the slope that the French had to climb was.
Of all the battles of the Napoleonic wars, or perhaps of history, it is Waterloo that is perhaps the best well known. Today the group learned what made the allied victory, and a relatively peaceful century for Europe, possible.