The defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 marked the conclusion of Napoleon Bonaparte's rule over France and his broader ambitions in Europe. This decisive battle saw a coalition of British and Prussian forces led by Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher overwhelming Napoleon after he returned from exile in Elba. The defeat effectively ended the Napoleonic Wars, leading to his abdication and subsequent exile to Saint Helena. The aftermath of Waterloo resulted in the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France and a new balance of power in Europe, influenced by the Congress of Vienna.