#WaterlooRemembered Day 8: Waterloo - Why does it matter? In a shorter episode today I explore some of the key reasons why Waterloo remains important (and end up roasting myself!) Post your thoughts below. Loads more material and a couple of surprises coming this week. https://anchor.fm/the-napoleonicist/episodes/Waterloo-Remembered-Day-8-Why-does-Waterloo-matter-efak1j
It is always entertaining to listen, thanks for all the effort.
Belle Alliance - it mattered in that case that it ended the European / French wars from 1792 - 1815 - and not without reason Plotho titles his book about 1815 - The War of the allied Europe against France in 1815, Berlin 1818.
This was a pan European conflict - and finally it ended, it well mattered for all.
After 1815 - Europe wasn't such a peaceful spot at all, those are the wars which come to my mind - there must be more.
In Spain, the Carlist Wars - and wasn't there even a French army again - this time with greater success?
The Revolutions in 1848 - see for example Baden, quite a few military actions and shake up.
The Wars of the Italian unification seeing again amongst else French against Austrians.
The German - Danish War of 1864 (not only Prussia took part in this one)
The German - German war of 1866 (again not only restricted to Prussia and Austria)
The German - French war of 1870 / 71
But in the end those wars - despite huge armies - weren't pan European and did not last over 20 years.
I think the level of importance given to Waterloo and the claim that it was the climax of the Napoleonic Wars unfairly overshadows the richer history of the long struggle that ended with the campaigns of 1813/14. As someone who has studied plot structure, if you were plotting the wars as fiction 1814 and the first abdication would be the climax. Waterloo would be the entirely unnecessary epilogue that would probably be cut from the second draft.
As soon as Napoleon left Elba there was no possibility of the outcome ending with anything other than his defeat. If he had won at Waterloo he would have lost later when the other allies came up. I always liken Waterloo to the bit in a horror film when you think the monster is dead but suddenly he jumps out again, only to be slain once and for all. The final death is as inevitable as the credits rolling.
Day One I told Zack White: Forget Waterloo. And according to his reply he didn’t agree with my comment. I think because he didn’t get my point.
But I tend to think the point is more obvious than he wants to admitt.
My entry was Forget Waterloo. And the days after his entries were Forgotten Foreing Forces, The Forgotten Battle.
Didn’t forget Zack White something quite essential?
Wenn people in the Street asked about Waterloo, they tend to reply: Napoleon! One might think Napoleon won the battle of Waterloo after all.
Why not skipp most of the 18th of June 1815 right away, start the narrative at 19. Pm. Glory over all!
In the Video on this series, you Zack White, stand in front of a case with some books on Waterloo on top of it. I too have many books on Waterloo, but back than I also bought a book named: The Battle of Waterloo . . . from Osprey Publishing. The original was published 1815.
Why do I recall this book. Well because it’s setup is excactly the same as my website is structured. And in regard to the battle of Waterloo, word for word the same. Just that it is in german. Only with modern days techniques. A Wiki.
In my website I try to convey the whole history of Napoleon & Cie. The story that was told the readers back then. With all it’s flawns I must admit, but it is honnest and it doesn’t FORGET a thing. At least wenn I would have all the time of the world. I’m not the only one facing that problem.