The significance of the Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, lies in its role in shaping European politics and ending the Napoleonic Wars. It marked the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, who had reestablished himself as Emperor of the French after his exile. The decisive victory by the Seventh Coalition, led by the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, restored the monarchy in France and led to a period of relative peace in Europe known as the Congress of Vienna. This battle fundamentally altered the balance of power in Europe and curtailed French expansionist ambitions.