Thousands of re-enactors moved to the Belgian town of Waterloo to relive the historic battle that took place there on June 18, 1815 and brought an end to French Emperor Napoleon’s campaign to control Europe.
Frenchman Frank Samson took part in the re-enactment of the battle of Ligny, as French Emperor Napoleon, during the bicentennial celebrations for the Battle of Waterloo, in Ligny, Belgium, June 14, 2015.
On June 18, 1815, an international coalition of soldiers led by the Duke of Wellington defeated the French army near the town of Waterloo, forcing Napoleon to retreat. More than ten thousand soldiers and as many horses did not survive the battle.
Nearly 5,000 people from 52 countries are taking part in the re-enactment.
Waterloo is still a sensitive topic in France and organisers are treading carefully to paint the event as a celebration of a modern continent united by the 28-nation European Union after centuries of war.
