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Which armies fought at the Battle of Waterloo?

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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 was fought on June 18, 1815, between two primary opposing sides:

The French Army: Commanded by Napoleon, this force consisted of approximately 72,000 troops.123
The Allied Forces: This combined force consisted of:
- The Duke of Wellington’s Allied army of approximately 68,000 soldiers, which included British, Dutch, Belgian, and German units.123
- The Prussian army, numbering about 45,000 troops, under the command of Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher.123

The conflict resulted in a decisive defeat for Napoleon, marking the end of his final period of rule known as the Hundred Days and concluding 23 years of recurrent warfare in Europe.123