Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Battle of Waterloo anniversary: The story of Napolean's defeat in numbers

Essential facts about the historic battle, in which Britain and her allies defeated France, on 18 June, 1815

Tom Brooks-Pollock
Thursday 18 June 2015 11:40 EDT
Comments
Waterloo (Getty)
Waterloo (Getty) (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Today is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.

The bicentennial has been marked by a memorial – Britain's first – at Waterloo station in London, to commemorate the soldiers who died.

5,000: The number of Napoleon's troops that advanced on Hougoumont, Wellington's most well-defended garrison.

Alan Larsen as the Duke of Wellington
Alan Larsen as the Duke of Wellington (Jon Super)

12.30PM:Time at which the French broke through the gates; the British forced the gates shut trapping 40 French soldiers inside.

Lady Butler’s painting Scotland Forever! – the Greys actually advanced at the trot because of the broken ground
Lady Butler’s painting Scotland Forever! – the Greys actually advanced at the trot because of the broken ground (Alamy)

68,000: Number of Anglo-Allied troops (including German, Belgian and Dutch units) led by the Duke of Wellington.

A woman dusts the frame of a painting of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington by Thomas Lawrence
A woman dusts the frame of a painting of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington by Thomas Lawrence (AFP)

72,000: Number of French troops led by Napoleon Bonaparte.

Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte (Getty Images)

13,700: Anglo-Allied soldiers killed.

Men dressed as soldiers from the Grenadier Company during the Waterloo Campaign ride a escalator at Waterloo Station in London.
Men dressed as soldiers from the Grenadier Company during the Waterloo Campaign ride a escalator at Waterloo Station in London.

24,000: French soldiers killed.

Horror and heroism: French cuirassiers charging a British square during the Battle of Waterloo
Horror and heroism: French cuirassiers charging a British square during the Battle of Waterloo (Getty Images)

5,600: Prussian soldiers killed.

(PA)

6: Members of the so-called 'Seventh Coalition' that defeated France at Waterloo. The belligerents were Britain, the Netherlands, Hanover, Nassau, Brunswick and Prussia.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in