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[[File: Waterloo 2.jpg|thumbnail|left|350px|British Cavalry charging at Waterloo]]

Napoleon also knew that many in Belgium's French-speaking community were sympathetic to him, and a French victory could trigger a revolution in that country. French Intelligence was very well-informed of the strengths and weaknesses of the British troops in Belgium. Napoleon knew that the army under General Wellington was mostly second-line troops as most veterans had been dispatched to fight in North America. Napoleon gathered his forces together in a rapid period. Many of his old soldiers and generals rallied to his cause, and soon they were on the march.

The French advance's speed stunned the British, and Wellington was forced to adopt a defensive posture south of Brussels at Waterloo.<ref> Adkins, p. 67</ref> By this time, the advanced Prussian units had arrived in Belgium, but the French surprised and defeated them at the Battle of Ligny. Wellington decided to retreat towards Waterloo and wait for the main Prussian army under General Blucher to reinforce him. Once again, Napoleon’s speed caught everyone by surprise, and before the Prussians could meet up with Wellington, he had arrived at Waterloo and was determined to force the British into a decisive battle.

In the aftermath of Napoleon's defeat, the great powers organized an international system that provided Europe with much-needed stability. At the Congress of Vienna, the great powers except for Britain established principles that provided some stability for Europe until the Crimean War, in a period of significant change.<ref> Palmer, p. 234</ref>

== Why was Napoleon's Defeated? ==

The are several reasons Napoleon failed at Waterloo. A significant factor in Napoleon's defeat was Blucher's timely arrival, which was not anticipated by the French. Napoleon had not prepared for the arrival of the Prussian army.<ref>Chandler, p. 134.</ref> Wellington, in his despatches to London, made it clear how important Blucher's arrival was to the battle outcome.

Waterloo was the end of an era, and Napoleon's defeat ushered in a period of peace in Europe. Napoleon had come close to victory, but Wellington and Blucher had been able to turn the tide of battle and inflict a decisive defeat on the French army. <ref> Drouet, p. 3</ref> The British army proved to be more capable than expected. The weather was also not in favor of the French, and the British had superior cavalry. Napoleon’s strategy was once again of the highest quality, but the timely arrival of the Prussians changed the course of the battle. It seems likely that Wellington would have been forced to retreat if the Prussians had not arrived. Their arrival led to the destruction of the French army and the Napoleonic Wars in Europe.

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