Changes

Waterloo cost the British army around 14,500 dead or wounded and the Prussians under Blücher suffered some 7,200 casualties. The French army had some 25,000 to 26,000 killed or wounded. Some 6000 to 7000 French soldiers were taken prisoner and another 15,000 men deserted. Waterloo was a decisive victory for the allies.<ref> Chandler, David , <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0025236601/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0025236601&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ad13ccb381f4beab1b23a17089c55271 The Campaigns of Napoleon]</i>, (New York: Macmillan, 1966), p. 156</ref> Napoleon’s army was no longer an organised fighting force and the British and Prussians were about to invade France, which was practically defenceless. It was evident that the situation was hopeless and after a failed suicide bid Napoleon was sent to the island of St Helena where he wold die. If Bonaparte had won it seems likely that Europe would have once again experienced a series of wars.<ref. > Barbero, p. 178</ref> Waterloo ended the career of Napoleon one of the greatest generals in history. It also ended the last serious attempt by France to dominate Europe. The battle was to bring four decades of international peace to Europe. In the aftermath of the defeat of Napoleon, the great powers organised an international system that provided Europe with much-needed stability. At the Congress of Vienna, the great powers with the exception of Britain established principles that provided some stability for Europe until the Crimean War, in a period of great change.<ref> Palmer, p. 234</ref>