The significance of the Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, lies in its decisive role in ending the Napoleonic Wars and the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. This battle pitted Napoleon's French army against the Seventh Coalition, primarily led by the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian forces under Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. The defeat ended Napoleon's rule, leading to his exile to Saint Helena and restoring the Bourbon monarchy in France. The outcome also shaped European politics, leading to a balance of power that maintained relative peace in Europe for decades.