Waterloo 200 years on – the view from France

The battle of Waterloo, on 18 June 1815, represents one of this country’s great military successes – although the army commanded by the Duke of Wellington was a coalition of several European countries, including Prussia and Russia. It ended the Napoleonic wars and ushered in several decades of peace in Europe.

For the French, by contrast, and for Napoleon in particular, it was a disaster. It marked the end of nearly two decades of martial glory in which he re-drew the map of the continent. The emperor died six years later in exile in St Helena.

Extraordinary era

On the face of it, therefore, Waterloo is not an event you would expect to be remembered or celebrated in the French media. But in fact the anniversary has been widely covered in newspapers and on TV in France.

Waterloo brought an end to the most extraordinary era, the most singular demonstration of military glory, in our history. Le Figaro

The right-wing newspaper Le Figaro has been running articles on the battle and its consequences for several days. In one editorial, it states: “Waterloo brought an end to the most extraordinary era, the most singular demonstration of military glory, in our history.”

The TV station Europe 1, in a broadcast “Direct from Waterloo”, included a recreation of Napoleon’s headquarters on the eve of battle (see video below). Surrounded by his top brass, a Napoleon impersonator informs the microphone-brandishing reporter that he returned from exile on the island of Elba in order to make peace and that the rest of Europe has rearmed “thanks to English money”.

‘200 years of friendship’

It is a line taken up by British historian Andrew Roberts, interviewed in Le Monde. Roberts, who has just published a biography of the French emperor, states that Waterloo could perfectly well have been avoided because Napoleon was no longer a threat to peace in Europe. “After his return from the island of Elba, Napoleon no longer intended to engage in wars of conquest,” he says

After his return from the island of Elba, Napoleon no longer intended to engage in wars of conquest. Andrew Roberts, historian

In its editorial, written in English specially for the occasion, Le Monde notes that President Hollande – who “never misses a commemoration” – found more important things to do on 18 June than join officials from “Perfidious Albion” in the bicentenary celebrations. And it concludes by warning the British that their future is in Europe and that “Brexit could be your Waterloo!”

Perhaps the present French ambassador to the UK should have the last word. Sylvie Bermann told Channel 4 News Political Editor Gary Gibbon (see video below) she thought Napoleon had been “progressive” and was a historical figure who remained very popular all over the world. Since Waterloo, she said, there has been “200 years of friendship and solidarity” between France and Britain.