The Battle of Waterloo was led by the Duke of Wellington for the Allied forces, and Napoleon Bonaparte led the French forces. The battle took place on June 18, 1815, near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, marking a decisive moment in the Napoleonic Wars. Wellington’s strategic defense, combined with the timely arrival of Prussian reinforcements led by Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, ultimately resulted in Napoleon’s defeat, ending his rule as Emperor of the French and leading to his exile.