How Waterloo Was ACTUALLY Fought

The Battle of Waterloo, 1815 | Episode V – The Hundred Days War Series 18 June 1815—one of the most decisive days in military history. The Battle of Waterloo brought the Napoleonic Wars to their dramatic conclusion, but the story we’ve inherited is far from complete. In this fifth episode of our Hundred Days War Series, we go beyond the familiar narrative to deliver a comprehensive, ground-level reconstruction of the battle—while directly challenging one of its most enduring misconceptions: the labeling of Dutch and Belgian troops as the so-called “cowards of Waterloo.” This video dismantles that claim with evidence. Series Name: THE HUNDRED DAYS WAR, 1815 Series Progression: Episode I. Napoleon Returns from Elba {   • Napoleon’s Escape from Elba, 1815, The Hun...  } Episode II. Napoleon Marches on Paris {   • Napoleon's Epic March through the Alps  } Episode III. Battle of Ligny {   • Napoleon's Last Victory || Ligny, 1815 || ...  } Episode IV Battle of Quatre Bras {   • The Battle of Quatre Bras, 1815 - The Hund...  } Episode V Battle of Waterloo {   • How Waterloo Was ACTUALLY Fought  } Episode VI Battle of Wavre {   • This Battle will CHANGE the way you see GR...  } Episode VII Retreat to Paris {   • Waterloo Was Not the End | Napoleon's Last...  } Episode VIII Exile to Saint Helena {   • How Napoleon spent His Last Years in Saint...  } Extra: ➡️ Then: Battle of La Suffel ➡️ Then:Battle of Tolentino Drawing on battlefield deployments already covered in our previous episode, we follow the action from the opening artillery barrage to the final collapse of the French Imperial Guard. Particular attention is given to the often-overlooked role of the Dutch-Belgian contingents under the Prince of Orange—units that held critical sectors, stabilized wavering lines, and absorbed repeated French assaults at key moments of the battle. From the defense of forward strongpoints like Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte, to the brutal infantry struggles in the centre and the relentless cavalry charges, every phase of the battle is examined with tactical clarity. We analyze command decisions, timing, terrain, and coordination—highlighting where the Allied line bent, but did not break. Equally vital is the arrival of the Prussian army under Blücher. We trace their advance from Wavre, their engagement at Plancenoit, and their decisive impact on Napoleon’s right flank—turning a hard-fought contest into a catastrophic defeat for the French. Expect: A full chronological breakdown of the Battle of Waterloo Tactical analysis of infantry, cavalry, and artillery engagements A reassessment of Dutch-Belgian battlefield performance Integration of pre-battle deployments into live combat phases The operational link between Waterloo and the Prussian advance Cinematic storytelling grounded in historical accuracy This is not merely the story of Napoleon’s defeat—it is the story of a coalition army, often misunderstood, standing its ground under immense pressure and reshaping its legacy in the process. Series Progression: Episode I – The Return of Napoleon Episode II – The Gathering Storm Episode III – The Opening Moves Episode IV – Quatre Bras Episode V – Waterloo (This Video) ➡️ Next: The Battle of Wavre If you want to understand Waterloo in its entirety—not just as legend, but as reality—this episode delivers the full picture. Time Tags: 0:00 – Recap and Intro 1:35 – Troop Movement 4:16 – Army Composition at Waterloo 9:25 – Deployment at Hougoumont 10:38 – French Attack on Hougoumont 15:15 – d'Erlon's Assault (Main French Assault at Waterloo) 19:22 – Charge of the Scots Greys 21:15 – French Attack on La Haye Sainte 22:00 – French Attack on Papelotte 23:00 – Prussians appear at Waterloo 23:37 – French Heavy Cavalry Charge by Marshal Ney 31:50 – French Defense of Plancenoit 34:40 – The French Imperial Guards at Waterloo 1:30 – Outro Game Engine Used: Napoleon Total War Mod: Napoleonic Total War III Game Play Associates: Guilio, Azhan, Mr Noisy Cyrrus Colt Thank You for your support in my times of distress: @FieldMarshalYT @middleguard1836‬ ​⁠‪@MelkorGG‬ ​⁠‪@TheFrenchMonk‬ ​⁠‪@thisistotalwar‬ ​⁠‪@MattsFiefdom‬ @realtomic @MedjayofFaiyum @TheTerminatorGaming @PixelatedApollo @PopeJohnPaul @TotalWarDocumentaries Inspired by the works of: @KingsandGenerals @EpichistoryTv @InvictaHistory @Knowledgia @TheArmchairHistorian @AdituLaudisMMXXI @WarAndHistory Hashtags: #BattleOfWaterloo #Waterloo1815 #NapoleonicWars #HundredDays #NapoleonBonaparte #DukeOfWellington #MarshalNey #Blucher #PrussianArmy #DutchBelgianArmy #MilitaryHistory #HistoryDocumentary #CoalitionForces #WarHistory #EpicHistory