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First Post
10 hours ago
- General
- First Post
History Today: When the Napoleon era ended with Battle of Waterloo loss
One of the greatest military strategists, Napoleon Bonaparte, fought and lost at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815. This marked the end of the Napoleonic era in European history. On this day in 1858, Rani Lakshmibai, the valiant Queen of Jhansi, died while fighting against British soldiers near Gwalior read more One of the most important battles in Europe was fought on June 18, 1815. The day saw French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte lose to the Duke of Wellington in the Battle of Waterloo, thus, effectively bringing an end to the Napoleonic era in European history. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 1858, Queen of Jhansi Rani Lakshmibai died while battling British forces near Gwalior. She died a heroic death and is considered to be a pivotal figure during the Rebellion of 1857. Napoleon loses the Battle of Waterloo June 18 witnessed one of those wars that went on to change the history of Europe. Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated on this day in the Battle of Waterloo. This marked the end of his reign as Emperor of the French and the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars. After escaping exile on the island of Elba, Napoleon returned to France in March 1815 and regained power, beginning the period known as the 'Hundred Days.' Determined to crush opposition swiftly, Napoleon led his army into present-day Belgium, where the Seventh Coalition forces, primarily British-led troops under the Duke of Wellington and Prussian troops commanded by Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher, had assembled. In this oil painting of the Battle of Waterloo, Duke of Wellington is seen ordering his forces. Wikimedia Commons Napoleon aimed to divide and conquer the coalition forces before they could unite. He initially achieved a victory against the Prussians at Ligny on June 16 and engaged the Anglo-Allied army at Quatre Bras. However, the main confrontation at Waterloo on June 18 proved to be his undoing. Napoleon delayed his attack until midday to allow the muddy ground to dry after heavy overnight rain, a decision that proved critical. This delay gave the Prussian forces, led by Marshal Gebhard von Blucher, precious time to regroup and march towards Waterloo. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Throughout the day, Napoleon's forces launched repeated, fierce assaults against Wellington's well-fortified positions. Despite heavy casualties on both sides, Wellington's lines held. The timely arrival of Blucher's Prussian army in the late afternoon on the French right flank turned the tide decisively against Napoleon. The French army, exhausted and increasingly outnumbered, began to buckle under the combined pressure. A final, desperate charge by Napoleon's elite Imperial Guard was repulsed, leading to a complete rout of the French forces. Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo ended his dreams of an empire and forced him to abdicate for a second time. He was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, where he died in 1821. The victory at Waterloo ushered in a new era of peace and conservative order in Europe, led by the Congress of Vienna. Rani Lakshmibai dies She was considered to be one of the most valiant and heroic leaders of the Rebellion of 1857. On this day in 1858, Rani Lakshmibai died while fighting the British forces near Gwalior after they annexed her Kingdom of Jhansi under the controversial Doctrine of Lapse. Born as Manikarnika Tambe in 1828 in Varanasi, she was married to Maharaja Gangadhar Rao of Jhansi and later became the queen, or Rani, of the princely state. After her husband's death in 1853, the British East India Company refused to recognise her adopted son as heir and annexed Jhansi under the Doctrine of Lapse. This injustice deeply angered Lakshmibai, who vowed to fight for her kingdom's sovereignty. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Queen of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai. Wikimedia Commons When the 1857 revolt against British rule broke out, Rani Lakshmibai emerged as a leading force in the rebellion. She organised an army, trained soldiers, including women, and fiercely defended Jhansi when British troops besieged the city in March 1858. After a prolonged battle, she escaped in disguise and continued resistance. At Gwalior, she joined forces with other rebel leaders, including Tatya Tope, and together they managed to capture the formidable Gwalior Fort. However, the British soon launched a counter-attack. On June 17, 1858, a fierce engagement took place at Kotah-ki-Serai in Gwalior. Rani Lakshmibai, reportedly dressed as a male soldier and fighting on horseback, led her troops with exceptional bravery. She was mortally wounded during this intense combat, choosing death over capture by the British. The British praised her courage, with General Rose calling her 'the most dangerous of all Indian leaders.' Though the rebellion was ultimately suppressed, Rani Lakshmibai became a symbol of resistance, courage and patriotism. Her fearless stand against colonial rule continues to inspire generations and holds a revered place in India's freedom movement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This Day, That Year >> On this day in 2023, the experimental submersible Titan imploded during a dive into the wreck of the Titanic. >> The first American woman to fly into outer space, Sally Ride, was launched with four other astronauts aboard the space shuttle Challenger on this day in 1983. >> In 1979, the SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) II treaty was signed by US President Jimmy Carter and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.
CBS News
26-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
Napoleon's sword from 1802 to be sold at auction in Paris
A sword that belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte and was specially ordered for the personal use by the French emperor will be auctioned in Paris next month, an auction house said. Napoleon ordered the sabre in 1802 and kept it throughout his reign. The Giquello auction firm said on Friday it expected the sword to reach $800,000 to $1.1 million when it goes under the hammer in Paris on May 22. Napoleon passed the sabre on to his close ally Emmanuel de Grouchy, whom the French emperor named his last marshal of the empire. The sword has been in Grouchy's family since 1815, the year of Napoleon's last defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte tries to lead the final assault by his Imperial Guard at the Battle of Waterloo during the Napoleonic War of the Seventh Coalition on 18th June 1815 at Waterloo, Belgium. / Getty Images A second copy, identical to this one and also commissioned by Napoleon, is kept at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Napoleon memorabilia regularly comes up for sale at auction in France in a flourishing trade marked by intense interest from collectors. Two pistols that he once intended to use to kill himself were sold in France last July for 1.7 million euros, while one of his trademark "bicorne" hats set a record price for his possessions when it was acquired for a history-making $2.1 million in November 2023. French auction house Osenat expected the hat to go for up to $875,328, but it far surpassed that amount. Napoleon owned about 120 "bicorne" hats, but only about 16 remain, mainly in private collections. The only known copy of his will sold at auction in 2013 for $483,000 - more than twice the expected price. The will, dated April 16, 1821, detailed insights into Napoleon's final moments before his death 19 days later at 51 years old. Napoleon wrote he wanted his ashes spread over Paris' Seine River, instead, they were transferred to Paris' Invalides monument nearly two decades later. A lock of hair from the former French emperor sold for $13,000 in 2010 at an auction in New Zealand. A hand-written letter from Napoleon denying his role in the kidnapping of Pope Pius VII in 1809 is to go under the hammer this weekend outside Paris and is expected to reach 12,000 to 15,000 euros.
