On June 16, 1815, the Battle of Waterloo took place, marking the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleons French forces were decisively beaten by an allied army made up of British, Dutch, and Prussian troops. The battle resulted in the death of thousands, including soldiers on both sides and civilians caught in the crossfire. Napoleon was captured and exiled to the island of Saint Helena, effectively ending his reign as Emperor of the French. The victory at Waterloo reshaped European politics and established a new balance of power on the continent.