The Battle

Artistic interpretations of the Battle of Waterloo dramatically express the horrors of the campaign, which killed more than 25,000 men.  The image "Le Chateau et le Ferme d'Hougoumont" depicts a French attack on a farmhouse at the center of the battlefield, known as the Chateau de Hougoumont.  In spite of brutal fighting, the British refused to cede control of the farmhouse.  This critical defense measure has been cited by many historians as a deciding factor in the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo.

Napoleon fled the battlefield, but was soon overtaken by the Allied forces.  He was ultimately exiled to the island of St. Helena.