Battle of Waterloo: The Fallen Eagle

The rise and fall of Napoleon can be compared to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. There are many parallels between the two: they both formed an Empire after a failed Republic, they both reformed their armies and became successful militarily, and they both would be replaced by a king. The only difference being that Rome did not have a final battle that would forever be linked with its name. Although Napoleon would lead a triumphant return to France, it would ultimately lead to his downfall at the Battle of Waterloo.

In the spring of 1814 Napoleon Bonaparte was forced to abdicate his throne as emperor of the French. This caused much relief to the people of France as they had grown weary of being at war since the Revolutionary Wars began in 1792. Louis XVIII reclaimed his throne in the summer of 1814, and could have upheld the republican ideals that overthrew the Bourbons in the French Revolution. Instead Louis XVIII wanted to reform the current France back to before the revolution, and as Andrew W. Field asserts, the overall effect was that in "a short time the new king managed to alienate a large proportion of the population." Louis XVIII believed that the throne was his by divine right, and as such, saw the whole of France as traitors that supported the usurper Napoleon. The low opinion of Louis XVIII would reach Napoleon on Elba and set the stage for his triumphant return to France in March of 1815.

Since Louis XVIII was more interested in asserting his power than improving the country, it is no surprise that Napoleon was welcomed back with enthusiasm. The soldiers, especially would cheer his return, even disobeying orders so that they could rejoin their emperor. One particular case emulates the prevalent thought among ...

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...eral procession to march with their emperor one last time. So great was his legend, that even after his death on St. Helena, his soldiers were always waiting for his return:

They never forgot 'him'. When he died on St. Helena many refused to believe it. A rumour said he had landed at Ostend. 'Where are you going?' asked the wife of a Belgian veteran when he pulled on his grenadier's greatcoat. 'To him!' was the instant response.

Even after losing his throne, Napoleon's loss at the battle would always be remembered as a tragic end to his grand ambition. But in death, Napoleon would achieve more infamy than when he had lived. His Napoleonic legend would grow, and his loss at Waterloo would be seen as a heroic attempt to recapture his former glory. His rise was meteoric, and his fall was so devastating that everybody fears meeting their own, personal "Waterloo."