In case you're wondering, that's a lot of territory!
In 1814, Napoleon was defeated by the Sixth Coalition and sent into exile.
In early 1815, Napoleon escaped. The world had a spaz (to use a modern, non-military term) and prepared to do battle once again. Thus, Napoleon's army and the army of the Seventh Coalition collided outside of Brussels in what would become one of the most famous battles in history: Waterloo.
Napoleon's rule had brought many scientific, technical, and cultural innovations to the world. His defeat brought an era of peace to the world. Both set the stage for the Industrial Revolution and the increase of prosperity to all nations.
The Cockades
Waterloo interested me not only because of its historical significance but also because of the number of cockades involved! This should be no surprise when you consider the number of nationalities participating in the battle: British, Germans, Belgians, Dutch, Prussians and - of course - the French!