The Battle of Waterloo took place on June 18, 1815, near the town of Waterloo in present-day Belgium. It marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars and was a decisive confrontation between the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Seventh Coalition, which included the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. The battle resulted in a significant defeat for Napoleon, leading to his abdication and exile to Saint Helena. This event reshaped Europe, ending over two decades of conflict and paving the way for a new balance of power on the continent.