Waterloo Campaign: Waterloo to Paris (2–7 July)

Part of France engraved engraved by J. Kirkwood, showing the invasion routes of the Seventh Coalition armies in 1815. Red: Anglo-allied Army; light green: Prussian Army; orange: North German Federal Army; yellow: Army of the Upper Rhine; dark green: Army of Italy.

Date	2–7 July 1815
Location	From La Belle Alliance (Waterloo) towards Paris,
Result	The French army retreats and the Coalition armies advance

Belligerents

France

Seventh Coalition:

United Kingdom

Netherlands

Hanover

Nassau

Brunswick

Prussia

Commanders and leaders

Napoleon, Marshal Grouchy, Marshal Soult

Duke of Wellington Prince Blücher

Strength

French Army Order of Battle

Prussian Army Order of Battle

After their defeat at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815, the French Army of the North, under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte retreated in disarray back towards France. As agreed by the two Seventh Coalition commanders in chief, the Duke of Wellington, commander of the Anglo-allied army, and Prince Blücher, commander of the Prussian army, the French were to be closely pursued by units of the Prussian army.

During the following week (18–24 June), although the remnants of the main French army were joined by the undefeated right wing of the Army of the North, the French were not given time to reorganise by the Coalition generals and they steadily retreated towards Paris.

By the end Saturday 24 June (the end of the first week after the defeat at Waterloo) the French who had fought at Waterloo were at Laon under the command of Marshal Soult, while those of the right wing who had fought at the simultaneous Battle of Wavre, under the command of Marshal Grouchy, were at Rethel. The Prussians were in and around Aisonville-et-Bernoville with Blücher's headquarters at Hannapes, and the Anglo-allies were in the vicinity of Cambrai, Englefontaine, and Le Cateau-Cambrésis where Wellington had his headquarters.

During next week (25 June – 1 July) the French reach Paris and the Coalition forces, who were about a days march behind them also arrive in the Paris area. By July 1 the Anglo-allied army were facing the French, who were positioned behind a strong defensive line in the northern suburbs of Paris, while the Prussians had seized two bridges down stream of Paris, had crossed the river Seine and were about to approach Paris from the south west.

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Wikipedia