***
Wellington was often reminded of his ostensibly Irish ancestry, as he was born in Dublin, although the Duke came from a purely English family.
He once pointedly remarked:
“Do you think that if I had been born in a stable, I would have been a horse?”
The day after the fall of Seringapatam, Colonel Arthur Wellesley was appointed governor of this city, as evil tongues claimed, because of his relationship with the Governor-General of British India, Richard Wellesley, who was Arthur's brother. General Baird was especially dissatisfied with the appointment of Wellesley, as a senior in rank and himself applying for this position.
“General, I have been appointed governor of Seringapatam. Here is Commander Harris's order,” Arthur announced to Baird as he ate breakfast among the officers.
The enraged general jumped up from the table and, ignoring Wellesley's greeting, said:
“Come, gentlemen, there is nothing more for us to do here.
However, the last word still remained with Arthur:
- Oh, for God's sake, you can finish your breakfast.
After the battle of Assai, Arthur Wellesley was sent to negotiate with an Indian ruler.
The ruler's venal representative, in an unsuccessful attempt to find out what territories his master would be able to acquire as a result of the agreement, directly offered Wellesley five hundred thousand rupees (approximately 50,000 pounds) for relevant information.
Are you good at keeping secrets? Wellesley asked.
“Yes, of course,” replied the delighted Indian official.
“So,” Wellesley replied, “I can too.
Once, during the Iberian War, a group of hot, eager, but inexperienced young officers arrived on the peninsula to "strengthen" Wellesley's army.
“I don’t know what impression they will make on the enemy,” Wellington remarked dryly, “but they frighten me.
After the victory over the French at Vimeiro, Arthur Wellesley, who was replaced by the aged Harry Barrard, tried with all his might to persuade the new commander-in-chief to pursue the defeated French army.
"Sir Harry, it's time to advance. The enemy is completely defeated, and in three days we will enter Lisbon!
But Barrard did not take into account the opinion of the man who had just won the battle, and the victorious army, furious and surprised by such an act, was forced to remain in place and not pursue the defeated enemy. The staff officers surrounded the two arguing generals, and when Sir Arthur finally turned away in contempt and annoyance, they began to beg him to give an order to which he was no longer entitled.
"What do we do now, sir?" they asked.
“Shoot partridges,” came the reply.
The British ship Vigilant, which carried Sir Arthur Wellesley and his staff, was caught in a storm.
The agitated adjutant, who burst into Sir Arthur's cabin with a hysterical message that the ship was dying, heard from the general a calm answer:
“In that case, I won’t take off my boots.”
Wellington could put a subordinate in his place with a single phrase. Somehow, General Crawford got too carried away in a skirmish with the French and violated the order, thereby endangering the main forces of the British.
When meeting with Crawford, the commander said:
Glad to see you alive and unharmed.
"I wasn't in danger at all, sir!"
- O! Wellington replied. - I was.
Once in the Pyrenees, the commander met a soldier on the road, dragging a beehive. A stern shout followed:
- Where did you get the hive?
The soldier, with his eyes closed, fought off the bees, did not see who was in front of him, and answered:
“There, over the hill, and I swear by Jesus, if you don’t hurry, everything will be carried away.
Wellington was so amused that, contrary to his custom, he did not even arrest him.
The commander of the allied Spanish army, Captain-General Don Gregorio de la Cuesta, was so decrepit that pages supported him on horseback. At the council of war, he patriotically, but rather stupidly, refused to discuss the situation in French known to both sides, and as a result, he and Wellesley had to communicate through an interpreter.
Before the battle of Talavera, the two commanders met on the left flank of the Spaniards and on the extreme right of the British soldiers. The British were quiet and disciplined, while on their right the Spanish camp was in chaos. Suddenly, 2,000 men from Cuesta's army unloaded their guns with smoke and a roar. The old Spanish commander, with his hands on his hips, turned to Wellington and asked:
- Well, how do you find them?
“Very impressive,” Wellesley replied coldly, “I hope they do the same when the enemy appears!”
On October 10, 1810, Massena's army, pursuing the British, reached the line of fortifications of Torres Vedras, which were built in deep secrecy and turned out to be an extreme surprise for the French.
It was impossible to bypass the position of the British. A direct attack would hardly bring success. Massena was amazed by what he saw. Looking at the impregnable lines into the spyglass, the astonished marshal exclaimed:
- What the hell! Wellington couldn't build mountains!
Shortly before his death in 1817, Masséna again had the dubious pleasure of meeting his old rival in Spain in Paris, and the two strategists exchanged recollections of the days when they stood face to face on the redoubts of Torres Vedras.
“Because of you, all my hair has turned gray,” Massena remarked.
"We're quits," Wellington retorted magnanimously.
Wellington's report to the British Foreign Office in London,
written from Central Spain, August 1812
Lord
While we were moving from Portugal to a position that is located on the outskirts of Madrid and the French forces, my officers diligently carried out your request, which was sent to E.V. from London to Lisbon and from there was sent to our headquarters.
We have counted all our saddles, bridles, tents and tent poles, and all articles for which His Majesty's Government holds me responsible. I sent reports on the character, mindset and mood of each officer. Every item and every farthing has been accounted for, with two unfortunate exceptions, for which I beg your indulgence.
Unfortunately, the amount of one shilling and nine pence remains unaccounted for in the petty expense of one infantry battalion, and there was a terrible mess about the number of cans of raspberry jam given to one regiment of horses during a sandstorm in western Spain. This reprehensible negligence may be due to the pressure of circumstances, as we are at war with France, a fact which may seem slightly unexpected to you gentlemen at White Hall.
This brings me to my true intention, which is to seek clarification from His Majesty's Government so that I can better understand why I am dragging an army across these barren plains. I believe that, willy-nilly, this should be one of two mutually exclusive duties, as stated below. I will pursue one of them to the best of my ability, but I cannot do both:
Prepare an army of uniformed British clerks in Spain for the needs of accountants and census takers in London, or perhaps see to it that Napoleon's forces are driven out of Spain.
Your humble servant,
Wellington.
***
Wellington had a large nose, which led the soldiers to affectionately nickname him "Old Long Nose". Once during the Spanish campaign, the general, while inspecting the forward positions, approached a suspicious sentry and forgot the password.
However, the sentry quickly saluted him with his musket.
“God bless the hooked nose!” he exclaimed. “I'd rather see him than ten thousand people.
Once in Vienna, Wellington was forced to sit through a performance of Beethoven's Battle of Vitoria to the end. For greater persuasiveness, the composer introduced sounds into this piece of music that imitate the roar of weapons and the noise of battle. Some time later, a Russian envoy asked Wellington if the music was like a real battle.
“My God, of course not,” the duke answered, “otherwise I would have run away from there first.”
22. ARTHUR WELLESLEY FIRST DUKE OF WELLINGTON
British general (1769–1852)
Even before his victory over Napoleon I (No. 2), the Duke of Wellington won the right to be called one of the most outstanding generals in history. He deserved this not because he was an innovator in the art of war or owned some special methods of warfare. Success Wellington brought the art of maneuver, the ability to use artillery and take advantage of the terrain. But only the victory over Napoleon at Waterloo brought him the glory of one of the best generals in England and throughout the world.
Wellington was born into a noble but impoverished Anglo-Irish family in Dublin on May 1, 1769 (there are different versions about the time and place of his birth, but this one is the most reliable). During his time at Eton, Arthur Wellesley was of little note. And relatives, teachers considered him slow-witted. He chose a military career, deciding that only it could give him the opportunity to advance. After graduating from the French military academy in Angers, he, according to the custom of that time, joined the 73rd Infantry Regiment.
Wellesley quickly moved up the ranks, receiving new, higher ranks not for any merit, but for money. By the age of twenty-five, he was a lieutenant colonel and commanded the 33rd Infantry Regiment. In the first decade of his service, he did not participate in battles, but for the most part he took part in public life. Only during the Dutch campaign of 1793–1795. he was in combat for the first time. After a series of battles that were poorly organized by his commanders, Wellington managed to acquire a reputation as a brave and intelligent warrior.
When the English troops left the Netherlands in the autumn of 1794, Wellington commanded the rear guard and ensured the possibility of a retreat.
Frustrated and angered by the mediocrity of his commanders, including the Duke of York, Wellington returned to England in an attempt to find a new profession. After this failed, he reluctantly returned to military service and sailed with his regiment to India. Now he decided to really devote himself to military affairs, stopped drinking and gambling. During this time, his brother Richard became the Governor-General of India and began promoting Arthur through the ranks. Although Arthur received ranks through patronage, he proved to be a very capable commander in suppressing uprisings against the British. In 1799, Wellington defeated Sultan Misor at Seringapatam. Four years later, with an army of only seven thousand men and twenty-two cannons, he defeated the Mahrat army of forty thousand men with a hundred cannons.
In 1805 Arthur returned to England for a formal knighthood. In 1807, during a brief conflict with Denmark, he won the main battle of Kyoga on 29 August. The following year, Wellington, now a lieutenant general, sailed to Portugal with a force of 17,000 to fight the invading French. Over the next seven years, he again confirmed his reputation as an outstanding commander, defeating the Napoleonic troops in 1809 at Talavera de la Reina, in 1812 at Salamanca, in 1813 at Vitoria. After the victory at Toulouse in 1814, the remnants of the French troops were forced to withdraw from Portugal and Spain.
In Portugal and Spain, Wellington did not use different types of tactics and strategies, skillfully moving from offensive to defensive and applying scorched earth tactics. He was always mindful of the limitations of manpower, the need to avoid unnecessary losses, and therefore he always carefully planned his operations and moved forward carefully. He achieved victory by a skillful concentration of firepower, as well as by a larger number of well-trained and well-understood warriors.
The future Duke of Wellington preferred not to attack the enemy, but to wait for him to come closer. He tried to lure the enemies away, forcing them to chase him through the already devastated areas, where it was difficult to find food and other supplies. He located his fortifications in the most convenient places for defense in order to protect the soldiers from gun fire and create maximum difficulties for the attackers. In addition, he selected people who were ready to participate in sorties in order to either prevent the attack of the enemy, or send it to where the British defense was best organized. In the rear, Wellington set up posts to guard roads that led to some reliable port from where the British could get supplies and new people.
When, at last, the enemy army appeared, exhausted and starving, Wellesley himself commanded his well-trained soldiers, led the defense. When the attackers began to retreat, the warlord pursued the enemies, destroying those who remained alive.
Forty-five-year-old Wellesley returned to England from Spain in triumph and received many honors and benefits, including money, an estate and the title of First Duke of Wellington. Received the honorific title of "the conqueror of Europe", Wellington represented England at the Congress of Vienna, which met in early 1815 to divide the Napoleonic empire. But before the congress ended, news was received of Napoleon's flight from exile and his return to France to continue the war. When Wellington took command of the allied forces and began to prepare for his departure, Tsar Alexander I told him: "You have to save the world."
That was the task facing Wellington. Although his army was outnumbered, although he had received incorrect information about Napoleon's advance, the English commander, as usual, used the most advantageous position for defense, the only height in the battle area. June 18, 1815 in central Belgium, in the battle of Waterloo, Wellington, with the help of the Prussian Field Marshal Blucher (No. 62), inflicted a crushing defeat on Napoleon. For both Wellington and Napoleon, this was the last battle: the French emperor went into exile on the island of St. Helena, and the English commander crowned himself with glory.
Returning to his homeland, Wellington, nicknamed the "Iron Duke", gave more than thirty years of public service in Parliament and in the Cabinet, in 1828 he became Prime Minister, and in 1842 - Commander-in-Chief of the British Army. He died on September 14, 1852 at Walmer Castle (Kent) and was buried with great honors in St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
In addition to the genius of the commander, Wellington was characterized by courage and composure in battles. Although he was not very fond of his own soldiers, whom he himself called "rabble", he managed to earn their respect, because they saw his dedication and desire to fight with the least losses, as well as his concern for good food, weapons, supplies. for your people. Wellington avoided the luxuries often associated with generals; his life was ascetic, and he spent much of the time in the camp on horseback, driving around the troops and inspecting the area. A man of iron self-discipline, Wellington could ruthlessly ridicule his subordinate, but he could also mourn the death of a simple soldier.
Wellington's actions helped establish peace in Europe and contributed to the establishment of British hegemony. Like Marlborough (No. 31), the Duke of Wellington remains one of the most beloved and respected English generals. Although Napoleon occupies a higher place in our list, because he had a greater influence on the course of military history and history as a whole, but in the last, decisive battle with him, Wellington showed himself to be a great commander.
From the book Encyclopedic Dictionary (B) author Brockhaus F. A.Wellington Wellington (Arthur Colley Wellesley, Duke of Wellington) is the 3rd son of Lord Garret Colley, Earl of Mornington. Genus. in 1769 in Duncancastle (Ireland); was brought up at Eton, and then at the Angers military school, in France. In 1787 he entered the military service, in 1794 he participated in
From the book Thoughts, aphorisms and jokes of famous men authorWellington Wellington (Chief. mountains (from 1876) Brit. the colony of New Zealand, formerly the province of Wellington, on the western shore of Port Nicholson, the spacious and safe bay of Cook Strait; the seat of the governor and parliament of the colony; connected to Napier by iron
From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (BE) of the author TSBDuke of WELLINGTON (1769-1852) British field marshal The most terrible thing, apart from a lost battle, is a battle won. * * * The Battle of Waterloo was won on the sports grounds of Eton. * * * Military laws have always been only the will of the commander. military laws,
From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (UE) of the author TSB From the book The Formula for Success. The Leader's Handbook for Reaching the Top author Kondrashov Anatoly Pavlovich From the book The Complete Encyclopedia of Our Delusions author From the book The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Our Delusions [with illustrations] author Mazurkevich Sergey Alexandrovich From the book Field Marshals in the History of Russia author Rubtsov Yury Viktorovich From the book of 100 great commanders of Western Europe author Shishov Alexey VasilievichWELLINGTON Arthur Wellesley Wellington (1769-1852) - English commander, statesman, diplomat, field marshal. * * * I do not trust the judgment of a person in those matters in which he is personally interested. The only thing I fear is fear. My rule is always
From the book Natural Disasters. Volume 1 by Davis Lee From the book Big Dictionary of Quotes and Popular Expressions author Dushenko Konstantin VasilievichPeter the Great. Not at all the first In our minds, Tsar Peter Alekseevich was the first in many undertakings, for the implementation of which he was nicknamed the Great. However, a lot of what is attributed to Peter the Great was not the first to be done by him. Foreign experts were the first to
From the author's bookWELLINGTON, Arthur Wellesley (Wellington, Arthur, duke of, 1769-1852), Duke, British Field Marshal 45 The greatest misfortune, except for a lost battle, is a battle won. Quoted in The Diary of Frances, Lady Shelley, 1787-1817. ? Jay, p. 385.46 Battle of the Giants. Oh Waterloo. Given
From the author's bookWELLINGTON, Arthur Wellesley (Wellington, Arthur, duke of, 1769–1852), duke, British field marshal13 I only hope that the enemy, hearing their names, will be horrified no less than me. About the British generals, in a letter dated 29 Aug. 1810? Jay, p. 383 Wellington cited this statement with reference to Lord
Born into an old Irish family, he completed his studies at Eton College in England. His grades were poor and he was sent to a military college in France. By 1794 he had become an officer and fought his first battle in Belgium. In 1796, he sails for India, where he arrives before his brother Richard Wellesley, who was appointed governor-general. Together they wage war against the sultans who rebelled against English domination. September 23, 1803, underestimating the enemy, attacks an army of 50,000 Mahrats in Assey with only 8,000 soldiers. He wins the battle, which earns him a huge reputation.
In 1805, he received permission to return to England due to health problems. The war with France flares up again. Wellington, who has meanwhile been elected a deputy, is about to lead an expedition to Hanover when the British learn of the outcome of the battle of Austerlitz. The operation has been cancelled. In 1807 he was sent to Copenhagen and easily defeated the Danish army.
In 1808, having been promoted to lieutenant general, Wellington was given command of an English reserve corps sailing to Portugal. His instructions are rather vague: oppose Junot and support the Spanish uprising. He decides to concentrate his forces in Vimiero. Junot, despite being outnumbered, attacks him in Torres Vedras. The Englishman is doing well in his first major battle. It also gives him the opportunity to appreciate the advantages of defensive tactics. Junot signs with Delrymple, chief of Wellington, the Convention in Sintra, which stipulates the withdrawal of troops from Portugal. England is outraged. Wellington and his superiors are called to account, a commission of inquiry appointed. Wellington is found not guilty. But in Portugal, the British suffer a series of defeats. This time the government appoints him commander in chief. In April 1809 Wellington landed with his men in Portugal. He first encounters Su's troops, whom he defeats at Oporto on 12 May. He then marches rather foolishly on Madrid, but luck is on his side. The French marshals quarrel and, cut off from Napoleon, act ineffectively. At Talavera (June 1809), Wellington confronts French attacks by Victor, who did not wait for Jourdain. He then manages to elude Su.
His exploits are rewarded: Wellington is promoted to generalissimo of the Spanish army. In spite of the French attacks, he fortifies the camp of Torres Vedras in Portugal. Later it will be said that Wellington began to "destroy Portugal in order to save it." In September 1810, the offensive begins. The attack bogs down, but Massena manages to withdraw his troops without Wellington knowing anything about it. The latter pursues him and runs into Ney, the commander of the rearguard. Wellington pursues the army all the way to Spain and captures the fortress of Almeida. Masséna retaliates and nearly wins.
In January 1812, as soon as the elite of the French army in Spain was sent to Russia, Wellington set out on a new campaign. In April, ignoring the arrival of Su, he manages to capture Badajoz, a victory he had twice failed to achieve in the previous year. Spreading false rumors about his plans, he goes to Salamanca and captures it.
Wellington then wins the Battle of Arapiles (July 22, 1812), during which Marmont was wounded and defeated. August 12 Wellington - in Madrid, warmly welcomed by the people. Then he goes north. Su, having a larger army, cuts off his communications with Portugal. Wellington prudently retreats along the French army. Fog and luck allow this venture to succeed.
In May 1813 Wellington advances again. June 21, he wins a crushing victory over the French army in Vitoria. This feat earns him the title of Marquis Duro Duke de Wellington, and probably contributes to Austria's decision to side with the Allies. The French are thrown back over the Pyrenees. In November, Wellington also crosses the border. He sets up camp for several months, waiting for reinforcements, and fights Su, mostly with success. In March 1814 he captures Bordeaux. Su, trapped in Toulouse, leaves the city on 11 April.
After this victory, Wellington is again showered with honors, titles and awards from numerous European kings. He then becomes one of the chief architects of the second Bourbon restoration in Paris. He holds back the hot Blucher, who proposes to keep Napoleon in Malmaison.
The end of Wellington's military career is the beginning of his political career. He is elected Prime Minister by King George IV. It was he who passed in 1829 a law on equal rights for Catholics. But his very conservative politics - Wellington is nicknamed the "iron duke" - makes him very unpopular. In November 1830 he retired.
In 1834 he returned to government as Foreign Secretary under Peel, a position he held until 1835. Three years later, Wellington met his old enemy, General Su, at the coronation of Queen Victoria. In 1841 Peel was again in government and Wellington was appointed minister without portfolio. He is again in favor with public opinion. A good friend of the Queen, he attends the unveiling of her equestrian statue. He was hailed as a hero during his lifetime.
Biography
(1769-1852), duke (1814), English military leader and statesman.
Born May 1, 1769 in Dublin in an aristocratic family. By tradition, he chose a military career. In 1796-1804. commanded British troops in India. At this time, there was an active conquest of her by the British Empire. Wellington showed himself as an intelligent general and a merciless ruler.
In 1806 he was elected to Parliament, and in 1807, in view of his experience in the colonies, he was appointed Secretary of State for Ireland.
In the wars with Napoleonic France Wellington subordinated to the allied forces in the Iberian Peninsula (1808-1813). In English and French historiography, the duke Wellington is considered an outstanding commander, the culprit of the fall of the empire Napoleon I.
He was very stubborn, tough, prudent, able to do well the work entrusted to him. In 1814 he was granted the title of duke. However, the commander-in-chief did not win a single significant victory on his own. So, in Spain, he successfully struck at the French army thanks to the support of local partisans. In 1815 Wellington commanded the combined forces of England, Holland, Hanover and Braunschweig. Duke's army with significant support from a Prussian field marshal G. L. Blucher defeated Napoleon's troops.
Wellington became the hero of Waterloo (a settlement in Belgium). A year before, he examined the positions at Waterloo and chose it as the most successful place for the battle.
In 1826 Wellington was sent as ambassador to Petersburg. From 1827 until the end of his life, the duke served as commander in chief of the British armed forces.
He reached the pinnacle of his career in 1828-1830 when he became prime minister. In 1834-1835. Wellington was Minister of Foreign Affairs, in 1835-1841 he was the leader of the conservative opposition in the House of Lords.
Last years
Apsley House - London Palace Wellington, which houses a museum named after him. After the fall of Peel (1846), Wellington retained his place as Commander-in-Chief, along with the positions of Governor of the Tower, Lord Keeper of Five Harbors, and Chancellor of Oxford University. Keeping aloof from the parties, he acted as an intermediary, and Queen Victoria herself turned to his advice in difficult matters. Wellington was not a man of genius, but he had a remarkable mind, a lively sense of duty and, in particular, unbending firmness [source not specified 271 days]. His former unpopularity was forgotten, and he enjoyed the love and respect of the people when he died on September 14, 1852. His body was interred with royal honors in the Cathedral of St. Paul.
Memory
In honor of Wellington the capital of New Zealand is named - the city of Wellington, Mount Wellington in Tasmania, as well as a number of educational institutions, including Wellington College founded by Queen Victoria in memory of the field marshal in 1853 (opened in 1859) (Crowthorne, Berkshire). Museum Wellington housed in London's Apsley House. Wellington's portrait was featured on the 1971-1991 British £5 note.
World military history in instructive and entertaining examples Kovalevsky Nikolay Fedorovich
Wellington - Waterloo winner
Commander's method of "iron duke"
The victorious Waterloo Duke of Wellington, Sir Arthur Wellesley, began his journey to glory with modest success. In 1808, he landed in Portugal with a British corps, from where he carried out operations against the French troops who had settled on the Iberian Peninsula. He acted very prudently and cautiously, inflicting blows on the enemy after careful preparation, in convenient cases and, if necessary, retreating into fortifications. To reproaches of excessive caution, the British general replied with a smile: "If I lose even five hundred people without an obvious need, then I will be forced on my knees to report forward to the House of Commons."
But it was not only in the House of Commons, but also in the strategic method of the commander. Many years later, when asked what quality makes a great commander, the "iron duke" replied: "Know when to retreat, and not be afraid to do so."
M. Dragomirov described Wellington as follows: "The great character of perseverance: to sit out, to strengthen, to prepare for the future." A. Manfred wrote about the British commander: “Wellington was not a military genius, as he was later portrayed. But he had a bulldog grip. He bit into the ground, and it was difficult to kick him out of his positions.
Wellington on his soldiers
Wellington's statements about the British troops in Portugal are curious. Initially, he assessed his soldiers as "the real scum of the nation", assembled from the unemployed and the underdogs. But having disciplined and tempered them in battles, he said not without pride: “It is simply amazing that we have made of them the good fellows they are now.”
Wellington assessed the national characteristics of his subordinates in the following way: “The English are always in excellent condition if they are fed on time and well with meat; the Irish when we were in an area where there was plenty of wine, and the Scots when we received a salary.
The most successful trophy
In 1812 - the first half of 1813, Wellington liberated most of Spain, including Madrid, from the French, and in June 1813 inflicted a decisive defeat on the enemy at Vittoria. Among the trophies captured and sent to England was the marshal's baton of the French commander Jourdan. Two weeks later, Wellington received a dispatch from London from Prince Regent George (the future king): “General, you sent me, among other trophies, a marshal's baton. In exchange, I send you English.” So the liberator of Spain became a field marshal.
British Field Marshal A. Wellington
The most titled English commander
After victories in Spain, Wellington moved to France, where he occupied Bordeaux and Toulouse. At the end of the campaign of 1814 and the abdication of Napoleon, he was awarded the title of English duke, which crowned his previous awards - the titles of earl and marquis. By this time, he also had numerous titles received by him from the Portuguese and Spanish authorities - Baron Duro, Viscount Delaware, Marquis Vimeira, Duke of Rodrigue and Vittoria, etc. In a little over a year, after Waterloo, Wellington's list of awards will be significantly extended. He will become a field marshal of the Russian, Prussian, Austrian, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish troops.
So it was at Waterloo
In the battle with Napoleon at Waterloo on June 18, 1815, Wellington remained true to his military style: the Anglo-Dutch troops occupied firmly fortified positions on the heights and from 11 in the morning unwaveringly repelled all French attacks, occasionally counterattacking. But Wellington's famous "bulldog grip" gradually weakened, Ney's cavalry had already twice approached the very top of Mont Saint-Jean.
Wellington was asked for reinforcements from all sides and reported that it was impossible to contain the enemy. “In that case, let them all die on the spot! I have no reinforcements,” the commander-in-chief answered.
Looking forward to the approach of an ally - the Prussian troops of Blucher, Wellington repeatedly exclaimed: "Blucher or night!"
With no less impatience, Napoleon awaited the arrival of the Pear corps. And now, from the side of the St. Lambert forest, the vague outlines of the approaching troops appeared. Blucher or Pears? To the delight of the British, it was the Prussian army. This decided the outcome of the battle. Pears never arrived at Waterloo.
Wellington (center) at the Battle of Waterloo. 1815
Winged Motto of the Guard
Napoleon unsuccessfully tried to turn the tide of the battle of Waterloo, throwing into battle the last and best reserve - the guard. With generals in front and cries of "Vivat Emperor!" six battalions of guards moved on the slopes of Mont-Saint-Jean. Volleys of the English infantry mowed down one battalion after another. The defeat of the French guards was inevitable, and the English colonel invited them to surrender. In response, from the lips of General Carbonne, words were heard that later became winged: “The Guard is dying, but not surrendering!”
The severity of victory
On the night after the victory at Waterloo, Wellington was brought lists of those killed in the battle. When the doctor began to read them out, the mass of familiar names shocked the commander in chief, and tears dripped from the eyes of the "Iron Duke". After recovering his composure, Wellington said: "Thank God, I don't know what it's like to lose a battle, but how hard it is to win when you lose so many friends!"
About the name of the Battle of Waterloo
The battle of Waterloo may have had a name unrelated to this Belgian village, since other settlements were closer to the epicenter of the battle. For example, in some French accounts this battle was referred to as the Battle of Mont-Saint-Jean. Wellington, who visited Blucher that evening in La Belle Alliance, heard from the Prussian field marshal a proposal to name the battle at the place of their meeting, which had a symbolic sound (La Belle Alliance in French means a wonderful union). But the British commander-in-chief shook his head. He preferred to give the historic battle a name associated with the location of his headquarters.
The difference between the eyewitness and the writers
After the war, Field Marshal Wellington flatly refused to give a description of the Battle of Waterloo, and when he got acquainted with numerous writings on this topic, he once remarked: “I begin to doubt whether I was really there?”
Pedestal Inheritance
When the news of Napoleon's death on Saint Helena arrived in 1821, the 52-year-old Wellington could not resist stating: "Now I have become the most famous commander of the living."
Who changed the field of Waterloo
Battlefields usually change quickly over time due to weather and other causes. The winner of Waterloo Wellington, visiting the site of this famous battle 15 years later, said with a smile: “They changed my field!”
Worse than war
During his stay in Vienna, Field Marshal Wellington received an invitation to the premiere of the opera The Battle of Vittoria, which used strong sound effects for greater authenticity. One of the escorts asked him if this was really the case. “Lord, of course not,” Wellington replied, laughing, “otherwise I would have run away from there first.”
What damaged Wellington's immortality
In 1828–1830 Wellington served as Prime Minister of Great Britain. Most of all, the field marshal was outraged by the debate in the government. He said, “I am not used to such things. I gathered officers, offered them my plan, and it was unquestioningly carried out.
Due to sharply conservative political inclinations, Prime Minister Wellington acquired many opponents and was forced to resign. One of his contemporaries wrote: "If he had retired immediately after Waterloo, he would have been immortal, otherwise he would have been simply famous."
by Clark StefanCHAPTER 14 Wellington beating the recumbent Boney Napoleon's fall at the hands (and feet) of the Iron DukeNapoleon felt quite confident. Nelson may have stripped him of his navy, but on land his army was invincible. Besides, Britain didn't have a land Nelson, did it?
From the book England and France: we love to hate each other by Clark StefanWellington breaks the bank While Napoleon suffered severe setbacks in the east, Britain did its best to weaken his position in the west. By 1813, Spain and Portugal experienced a real invasion of the pale-faced, which cannot even be compared with the tourist boom that happened here.
From the book England and France: we love to hate each other by Clark StefanNapoleon is given Waterloo It was in Napoleon's interest to keep the peace. Surely his troops would vigorously shout "Long live the emperor!" to anyone who wanted to listen to them, but the forces were not enough to make the whole of Europe listen. Unfortunately, restoration
From the book of 100 great aristocrats author Lubchenkov Yury NikolaevichARTHUR WELLESLEY WELLINGTON (1769-1852) English military leader and statesman. Sir Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, belonged to an old noble family, also known as Colley, and only towards the end of the 18th century took the final name of Wellesley. More
From the book Napoleonic Wars author Sklyarenko Valentina MarkovnaAfter Waterloo After the Allied victory at Mont-Saint-Jean, part of the Prussian army was sent against Pear to cut it off from the border. Pears, after the battle at Wavre, who did not yet know how the main battle ended, decided that Napoleon should have won, and therefore
From the book Decisive Wars in History author Liddell Garth Basil HenryNapoleon from Vilna to Waterloo The Russian campaign of 1812 is the natural culmination of trends already visible and growing in Napoleonic strategy, that he relied more and more on mass than on mobility, and more on
From the book Secrets of England author Chernyak Efim Borisovich From the book Overestimated Events of History. The Book of Historical Fallacies the author Stomma LudwigWaterloo April 6, 1814 in Fontainebleau, Napoleon signed the act of abdication. On April 20, under the escort of six hundred guards of General Cambronne, he went to the Elbe. April 8 to Hartwell Castle, where Louis XVIII, the brother of Louis XVI who was executed on the guillotine, became
From the book A Brief History of England author Jenkins SimonFrom the Boston Tea Party to Waterloo 1774-1815 In response to American protests against new taxes, Parliament repealed at least some of them. George III was outraged by such a concession. He declared: “I was extremely surprised that any of my subjects could
From the book History of Humanity. West author Zgurskaya Maria PavlovnaWaterloo (1815) The last battle of Napoleon, who returned to power, in which he suffered a final defeat from the coalition troops - the British and Prussians. The Battle of Waterloo could probably have been won by Napoleon if he received timely support from
From the book Hitler against the USSR by Henry ErnstChapter XII Hitler's Waterloo Air war between fascists and socialists and social strategy What will happen in the air at this time? There is no doubt that the war "above, breaking out immediately in the first few hours, will be as fierce as the war
From the book Chronology of Russian History. Russia and the world author Anisimov Evgeny Viktorovich1815 One Hundred Days, Waterloo Having lost power after the occupation of Paris by the allies of Napoleon, he was exiled to the island of Elba, which was declared his possession. But he lived there only until February 27, when, with a battalion of his guards, he landed in the south of France and walked all the way to
From the book Napoleon. Father of the European Union author Lavisse ErnestThe Last Struggle: Waterloo Bonapartist Restoration. Returning to the Tuileries, Napoleon hastened to change the scenery. The ladies of the imperial court, who celebrated him on the memorable evening of March 20, had only to rip off the stickers attached everywhere
From the book World History in Persons author Fortunatov Vladimir Valentinovich7.3.2. Nelson and Wellington on the protection of British interests In the late XX - early XXI century. the United States of America has become a country that is respected, feared and hated at the same time almost all over the world. In the 19th and early 20th centuries England was such a country. The UK took over
From the book Famous Generals author Ziolkovskaya Alina VitalievnaWellington Arthur Colley Wellesley (b. 1769 - d. 1852) Field Marshal of England and Russia, participant in the wars against Napoleon, winner at Waterloo, commander-in-chief of the English army (1827), prime minister (1828- 1830), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1835–1835). V
From the book World History in Sayings and Quotes author Dushenko Konstantin Vasilievich
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