Battle of Wavre
Part of the Napoleonic Wars
Date 18-19 June 1815 Location Wavre, Belgium Result French tactical victory, but successfully delayed
Combatants
First French Empire	Prussia
Commanders
Marshal Grouchy	Johann von Thielmann
Strength
33,000, 80 cannons[1]	17,000, 48 cannons[1]
Casualties
2,500[1]	2,500[1]

Map of the Waterloo campaign

In the Battle of Wavre a Prussian rearguard was pushed back by a much larger French force, but allowed General Blücher's main force to help Wellington defeat Napoleon at Waterloo. It was the last battle of the Hundred Days campaign and the Napoleonic Wars. It was fought on 18-19 June 1815 between the Prussian rearguard under the command of General Johann von Thielmann and 3 corps of the French army under the command of Marshal Grouchy. Combatants Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Spain[3] Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[5] Saxony[6] Denmark [7] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack von Leiberich Gebhard von Blücher Duke of Brunswick Prince of... (Redirected from 18 June) June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... April 5-12: Mount Tambora explodes, changing climate. ... Wavre is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant, of which it is the capital. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Map of the First French Empire in 1811, with the Empire in dark blue and satellite states in light blue Capital Paris Language(s) French Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1804 - 1814/1815 Napoleon I  - 1814/1815 Napoleon II Legislature Parliament  - Upper house Senate  - Lower house Corps législatif Historical era Napoleonic... Image File history File links Flag_of_Preussen_1701-1918. ... Motto Suum cuique Latin: To each his own Prussia at its peak, as leading state of the German Empire Capital Königsberg, later Berlin Government Duke1  - 1525–68 Albert I (first)  - 1688–1701 Frederick III (last) King1  - 1701–13 Frederick I (first)  - 1888–1918 William II (last) Prime Minister1,2... Emmanuel, Marquis de Grouchy, Marshal of France Emmanuel, marquis de Grouchy (October 23, 1766 – May 29, 1847), marshal of France, was born in Paris. ... Johann Adolf, freiherr von Thielmann (1765-1824), Prussian cavalry soldier, was born at Dresden. ... The Hundred Days (French Cent-Jours) or the Waterloo Campaign commonly refers to the period between 20 March 1815, the date on which Napoleon Bonaparte arrived in Paris after his return from Elba, and 8 July 1815, the date of the restoration of King Louis XVIII. The phrase Cent jours... Combatants France Anglo-Allies[1] Commanders Michel Ney Duke of Wellington William II of the Netherlands Strength 18,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 32 guns (a total of 24,000 troops by the end of the battle) 20,000 by the end of the battle Casualties 4,000 4... The Battle of Ligny, fought June 16, 1815, was a French victory under Napoleon against the Prussian army under Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher in the Napoleonic Wars. ... Combatants First French Empire Seventh Coalition: United Kingdom Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of the United Netherlands Kingdom of Hanover Dutchy of Nassau Duchy of Brunswick Commanders Napoleon Bonaparte, Michel Ney Duke of Wellington, Gebhard von Blücher Strength 73,000 67,000 Coalition 60,000 Prussian (48,000 engaged by... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x910, 42 KB)Map of force movements and major engagements during the Waterloo Campaign, June 15-18, 1815. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x910, 42 KB)Map of force movements and major engagements during the Waterloo Campaign, June 15-18, 1815. ... Motto Suum cuique Latin: To each his own Prussia at its peak, as leading state of the German Empire Capital Königsberg, later Berlin Government Duke1  - 1525–68 Albert I (first)  - 1688–1701 Frederick III (last) King1  - 1701–13 Frederick I (first)  - 1888–1918 William II (last) Prime Minister1,2... Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. ... Napoléon I, Emperor of the French (born Napoleone di Buonaparte, changed his name to Napoléon Bonaparte)[1] (15 August 1769; Ajaccio, Corsica – 5 May 1821; Saint Helena) was a general during the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from... Combatants First French Empire Seventh Coalition: United Kingdom Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of the United Netherlands Kingdom of Hanover Dutchy of Nassau Duchy of Brunswick Commanders Napoleon Bonaparte, Michel Ney Duke of Wellington, Gebhard von Blücher Strength 73,000 67,000 Coalition 60,000 Prussian (48,000 engaged by... The Hundred Days (French Cent-Jours) or the Waterloo Campaign commonly refers to the period between 20 March 1815, the date on which Napoleon Bonaparte arrived in Paris after his return from Elba, and 8 July 1815, the date of the restoration of King Louis XVIII. The phrase Cent jours... Combatants Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Spain[3] Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[5] Saxony[6] Denmark [7] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack von Leiberich Gebhard von Blücher Duke of Brunswick Prince of... (Redirected from 18 June) June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... April 5-12: Mount Tambora explodes, changing climate. ... Motto Suum cuique Latin: To each his own Prussia at its peak, as leading state of the German Empire Capital Königsberg, later Berlin Government Duke1  - 1525–68 Albert I (first)  - 1688–1701 Frederick III (last) King1  - 1701–13 Frederick I (first)  - 1888–1918 William II (last) Prime Minister1,2... Johann Adolf, freiherr von Thielmann (1765-1824), Prussian cavalry soldier, was born at Dresden. ... Emmanuel, Marquis de Grouchy, Marshal of France Emmanuel, marquis de Grouchy (October 23, 1766 – May 29, 1847), marshal of France, was born in Paris. ...

Background

In the battle of Ligny two days earlier, the Prussian army had been forced to retreat in some disorder. Napoleon sent Grouchy in pursuit with right wing (aile droite) of the Army of the North consisting of 32,000 troops and 96 guns: The Battle of Ligny, fought June 16, 1815, was a French victory under Napoleon against the Prussian army under Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher in the Napoleonic Wars. ...

• III Corps (General Dominique Vandamme - 17,099 - 38 guns)
• IV Corps (General Étienne Maurice Gérard - 15,013 - 38 guns)
• from the Reserve Army 5,000 cavalry
• II Cavalry Corps (General Remy Exelmans - 3,392 - 12 guns)
• IV (Hussars) Cavalry Division (General Pierre Soult - 1,485 - 8 guns) which was detached from the I Cavalry Corps.

Grouchy was slow in taking up the pursuit, giving time for Blücher to regroup his army and advance with three corps to join up with Wellington's Anglo-Dutch army at Waterloo. The fourth, Thielmann's III Corps of 17,000 men and 48 guns, was left as a rearguard. Thielman's main force occupied Wavre and Bierges while a small flank guard occupied Limal. General Dominique José Vandamme (1770–1830) was a French military officer, who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. ... Painting of Étienne Maurice, comte Gérard, marshal of France by Jacques-Louis David Étienne Maurice Gérard (April 4, 1773 - April 17, 1852), French general, was born at Damvilliers (Meuse). ... Rémi Joseph Isidore Exelmans (November 13, 1775 – June 22, 1852) was a distinguished French marshal, born at Bar-le-Duc. ... Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. ... Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (c. ... Waterloo The top of the knoll and the famous lion. ... Wavre is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant, of which it is the capital. ...

Battle

On the same day Napoleon prepared to attack Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo, Marshal Grouchy commanding the corps of General Gérard and General Vandamme, prepared to attack the Prussian forces confronting him over the River Dyle between the towns of Wavre and Limale. Combatants First French Empire Seventh Coalition: United Kingdom Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of the United Netherlands Kingdom of Hanover Dutchy of Nassau Duchy of Brunswick Commanders Napoleon Bonaparte, Michel Ney Duke of Wellington, Gebhard von Blücher Strength 73,000 67,000 Coalition 60,000 Prussian (48,000 engaged by...

Grouchy had written and verbal orders from Napoleon to march on Wavre and engage the Prussians^[2]. Grouchy and his corps commanders could hear the noise from the Grand Battery as the Battle of Waterloo started in the distance. Grouchy’s corps commanders, especially Gérard, suggested that they should “march to the sound of the guns”^[3] Grouchy; however, feared the consequences of disobeying Napoleon’s orders, and ruled against the advice of his corps commanders, and any further arguments were silenced by another order from Napoleon arriving at 4:00 p.m. repeating the attack orders. Grouchy continued the march on Wavre and engaged the Prussians by launching a series of heavy attacks against Thielmann’s rearguard, although out-numbered the Prussians held their ground. Bitter fighting developed around the bridge at Limale as Grouchy’s troops tried to storm it, again the Prussians held their positions, and covered Blücher's transfer of 72,000 troop to Wellington’s aid at Waterloo. Combatants First French Empire Seventh Coalition: United Kingdom Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of the United Netherlands Kingdom of Hanover Dutchy of Nassau Duchy of Brunswick Commanders Napoleon Bonaparte, Michel Ney Duke of Wellington, Gebhard von Blücher Strength 73,000 67,000 Coalition 60,000 Prussian (48,000 engaged by...

At 6:00 p.m. Grouchy received an order from Napoleon recalling him to the aid of the main army at Waterloo^[3]. However, the order came too late for Grouchy to effectively intervene at Waterloo, Grouchy decided instead to hold his ground. After further action on the morning of 19 June the Prussians finally retreated. Grouchy, after receiving word on the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo, also began to fall back. Combatants First French Empire Seventh Coalition: United Kingdom Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of the United Netherlands Kingdom of Hanover Dutchy of Nassau Duchy of Brunswick Commanders Napoleon Bonaparte, Michel Ney Duke of Wellington, Gebhard von Blücher Strength 73,000 67,000 Coalition 60,000 Prussian (48,000 engaged by...

Conclusion

While the battle ended in a French victory with the Prussians in retreat, it can only be regarded as a useless and hollow victory. The Prussians held their ground long enough to allow Blücher’s transfer of 72,000 troops to Wellington’s aid at Waterloo. Thus to the Prussians the battle was a strategic victory, the rear guard having succeeded in holding off a superior French force long enough to allow Blücher to link up with Wellington and decisively defeat the French at Waterloo. Furthermore the Prussian rearguard tied down 33,000 troops that could have otherwise taken part at Waterloo.

Footnotes

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Chandler., pg.485.
2. ^ Roberts., pg.53
3. ^ ^{a b} Chandler., pgs.484-485.

References

• 1815 The Waterloo Campaign, The German Victory, Peter Hofschoer ISBN 1-85367-368-4.
• Chandler, D. Dictionary of the Napoleonic wars. Wordsworth editions, 1999.
• Roberts, A. Waterloo, June 18, 1815: The Battle for Modern Europe. Happer-Collins Pub., 2005.

See also

• Order of Battle of the Waterloo Campaign

This is the complete order of battle for the Waterloo Campaign. ...

External links

• MOVEMENTS AND COMBAT OF THE REAR-GUARD OF 4TH ARMY CORPS UNDER LT-COL VON LEDEBUR WAVRE 17 - 19 JUNE 1815
• French Order of Battle (in French)
• Prussian Order of Battle (in German)
• French Order-of-Battle at Wavre: 18 June 1815 By Stephen Millar