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==Preparations for the Battle==
[[File: Waterloo 3.jpg|thumbnail|French Cavalry in action at Waterloo]]
Napoleon was declared an outlaw by the allies and they decided not to negotiate with him and to inflict such a defeat on him, that he could never threaten the peace of Europe. Napoleon decided to target the British in the Low Countries. He wanted to secure a quick and rapid victory.<ref> Adkin, Mark, The Waterloo Companion, Aurum, London, 2001), p. 6 </ref> The French army’s aim was to destroy the British before they were joined by the Prussian army, which was rapidly making its way to Belgium. Had Napoleon succeeded in destroying the army of General Wellington, located south of Brussels before it was reinforced, he might have been able to drive the British back to the sea. This would allow Napoleon to turn his focus on the Prussians and knock them out of the war and enable the French to concentrate all their armies on the Austrians and Russians.</ref> Adkins, p. 17</ref>
Napoleon also knew that many in the French-speaking community in Belgium were sympathetic to him and a French victory could trigger a revolution in that country. French Intelligence was very well-informed of the strengths and weaknesses of the British troops in Belgium. Napoleon knew that the army under General Wellington was largely second-line troops as most of the veterans had been dispatched to fight in North America. Napoleon gathered his forces together in a rapid period of time. Many of his old soldiers and generals rallied to his cause and soon they were on the march. The speed of the French advance stunned the British and Wellington was forced to adopt a defensive posture south of Brussels, at Waterloo. </ref> Adkins, p. 67</ref> By this time the advance Prussians units had arrived in Belgium, but the French surprised and defeated them at the Battle of Ligny. Wellington decided to retreat towards Waterloo and wait for the main Prussian army under General Blucher to reinforce him. Once again Napoleon’s speed caught everyone by surprise and before the Prussians could meet up with Wellington, he had arrived at Waterloo and was determined to force the British into a decisive battle.
