When did the Battle of Waterloo begin on June 18, 1815?

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Historical battle map showing troop positions at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, near Brussels, Belgium. Red lines represent Anglo-Dutch infantry and cavalry under Wellington, positioned north of French forces. Blue lines show French infantry and cavalry under Napoleon, with both armies facing each other across a central road. Key locations like Chateau de Goumont (Hougoumont) and Plancenoit are labeled, and an inset map highlights the location within present-day Belgium and Europe. — Battle of Waterloo Battle of Waterloo, June 18, 1815.

The Battle of Waterloo began at 11:35 am on June 18, 1815, when the first shots were fired by one of Marshal Honoré Charles Reille’s artillery divisions. Napoleon had been compelled to delay the start of hostilities due to the sodden ground.1