Napoleon Bonaparte suffered a decisive defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, which occurred on June 18, 1815. This battle marked the end of his rule as Emperor of the French and effectively concluded the Napoleonic Wars. The forces opposing Napoleon were led by the Duke of Wellington, who commanded British and allied troops, while Prussian forces, under Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, supported the allied army. The defeat at Waterloo led to Napoleon's abdication and subsequent exile to the island of Saint Helena, significantly impacting European politics. This battle is often viewed as a turning point in European history.