The impact of the Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, was immense. It marked the definitive defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, effectively ending his rule and the Napoleonic Wars. This battle led to a shift in the balance of power in Europe, establishing a period of relative peace known as the Congrès de Vienne. The outcomes influenced international politics for decades, as major powers sought to prevent the rise of another dictator like Napoleon. Furthermore, Waterloo paved the way for the restoration of monarchies across Europe and the emergence of nation-states in the subsequent century.