The Battles And Disadvantages Of The Battle Of Waterloo

3. The Battle of Waterloo The defeat of Napoleon during the Battle of Waterloo was the result of many disadvantages, such as weather, topography, and the arrival of Prussian reinforcements to aid the British army. Additionally, Napoleon left his best general, Davout, in Paris instead of using his expertise in battle, and instead, appointed inadequate generals, such as Michel Ney. Most of Sun Tzu’s principles that Napoleon considered for the Battle of Austerlitz were used against him by Wellington and ignored in Napoleon’s plans. Before the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon had defeated the Prussian army led by Blucher at Ligny. After receiving news of this, the Duke of Wellington, the commander of the British army, marched from Quatre Bras 15†¦show more content†¦Unfortunately for Napoleon, he underestimated the distance between the Prussians and the British and the magnitude of their military power if they united during the battle. The hours spent leisurely waiting in confidence for the ground to dry were wisely spent by the Prussians as they marched to Waterloo. If Napoleon had fought Wellington’s forces before they arrived in Waterloo or immediately before it was even possible for the Prussians to arrive in time as reinforcement, then Napoleon probably would not have faced being outnumbered and overpowered by the end of the battle. Similar to how Napoleon chose a strategic location as the battlefield in the Battle of Austerlitz, Wellington chose Waterloo because he had surveyed this land before. From Wellington’s right to left, the area included three garrisoned farms: Hougoumont, La Haye Sainte, and Papelotte. These farms were made of stone and brick and were used as forts by Wellington’s soldiers. Surrounding the area was fields of corn that provided cover for the soldiers and a ridge that not only provided cover, but gave them a high vantage point as well. Furthermore, the â€Å"ridge afforded him access to Prussian support once they arrived† . They patiently waited in the farms and behind the ridge for Napoleon’s army to reachShow MoreRelatedThe Consequences of The Battle of Waterloo for Napoleon Bonapartes Reputation1373 Words   |  5 PagesThe Battle of Waterloo was a bloody and gruesome battle for everyone involved. Perhaps one of the worst consequences of the battle, howeve r, was that it tarnished the reputation of Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon, who was at one time, regarded as a tactical genius and prodigy for his day, became the laughing stock of the world after a number of foolish military mistakes that probably would not have been made if the French forces been commanded by another military leader. Nevertheless, the Battle of WaterlooRead MoreNapoleons Greed and Ambition Essay1376 Words   |  6 Pagesplace himself. Caring only France, Napoleon was considered as a cruel tyrant to peoples of other countries. 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