Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why did Napoleon send Marshal Emmanuel de Grouchy after the Prussian army?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

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.

Napoleon dispatched Marshal Emmanuel de Grouchy with 33,000 men to pursue the Prussian army following their retreat from the Battle of Ligny on June 17, 1815.1

Napoleon’s primary objective in sending Grouchy was to prevent the Prussians from regrouping and joining forces with the Duke of Wellington’s army. By maintaining a pursuit, Napoleon intended to keep the Prussian forces occupied and separated from the main theater of action, thereby allowing him to focus his efforts on defeating Wellington at Waterloo.12

However, this pursuit proved ineffective. Grouchy’s march was described as dilatory, and he eventually became entangled with Prussian forces at Wavre. When Napoleon later realized the Prussian army was converging on his position at Waterloo, he sent a dispatch ordering Grouchy to rejoin the main French army, but the message arrived too late for Grouchy to influence the outcome of the battle.12