Yves Herman/Reuters
Frenchman Frank Samson (C) visits the French troops' bivouac, while taking part in the re-enactment as French Emperor Napoleon as part of the bicentennial celebrations for the Battle of Waterloo on June 15, 2015.
On June 18th, 1815, Napoleon suffered his final and most crushing defeat. For over a decade, the French emperor had conquered or invaded much of Europe, using his seemingly super-human charisma, leadership, and strategic thinking to threaten Europe's conservative, monarchical order.
Even his defeat and exile in 1814 couldn't stop him. By mid-1815, Napoleon had returned to mainland Europe and raised an army. And so had his enemies.
Waterloo was one of the most massive single-day battles in modern history, with an estimated 60,000 total casualties. Today, "Waterloo" is shorthand for a pivotal confrontation - or for massive defeat.
Here's the story of one of the most important battles of all time.