The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, marked the end of Napoleon Bonaparte's rule and his final defeat. This pivotal battle saw the French army, under Napoleon's command, face a coalition led by the Duke of Wellington from Britain and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher from Prussia. The intense fighting resulted in a decisive victory for the coalition forces, leading to Napoleon's abdication and subsequent exile to the remote island of Saint Helena. The battle also significantly altered the course of European history, reshaping political boundaries and influencing future diplomatic relations.