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| Waterloo, 18th June 1815 |
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| Photo12 is one of the major sources regarding Napoleonic illustration. We exclusively represent the Foundation Napoleon and the Chalençon Collection as well as images from several other sources, such as Oronoz Archivos, the Hachede Archive and other private collections. |
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| The slaughter of French cavalry |
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Many times, one could think that the French cavalry would win the day. The British lines were on the verge of collapsing. However, the French infantry did not follow through, letting the Reds reorganize their square formation around their artillery pieces.
"I thus allowed them to advance unmolested until the head of the column might have been about fifty or sixty yards from us, and then gave the word, "Fire!" The effect was terrible. Nearly the whole leading rank fell at once; and the round shot, penetrating the column carried confusion throughout its extent ... the discharge of every gun was followed by a fall of men and horses like that of grass before the mower's scythe." (Captain Mercer, RHA) |
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| Wellington and Blucher |
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Around 10pm, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington who led
68 000 men met Prussian Marshal Blucher who led 33 000 Prussian soldiers at La Belle-Alliance farm. Their victory was assured. Napoleon was fleeing and the French Army disbanding.
During that single day, casualties amounted to
15 000 dead and nearly 40 000 wounded.
(See many portraits of the protagonists in the battle.) |
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| Landmarks |
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On the battlefield, fierce fighting took place around several locations. Napoleon sent
14 000 men to take the farm of Hougoumont while Wellington diverted 12 000 troops to support his men who were holding it. |
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Fondation Napoléon |
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| The Napoleon Foundation was set up to preserve and enhance France’s Napoleonic heritage. The Foundation holds large collections of paintings, sculptures, artefacts, engravings and lithographs in Paris. Its building and library is open to researchers. |
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Collection Chalençon |
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Pierre-Jean Chalençon has amassed an exceptional collection associated with Napoleon: personal effects, first edition books, paintings, engravings, sculptures, drawings, etc. Most of these have been shown in a number of exhibitions
worldwide. |
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