The battle of Waterloo changed the world. The world changed Waterloo, Few battles in history can be described as so decisive and complete in their geo-political consequences. It marked the end of nearly a century of war between France and Great Britain and ushered in an era of peace. Waterloo was significant because, for some countries involved, the story of Waterloo became a part of their national identity. This work attempts to understand how the battle of Waterloo was interpreted and how it served the political needs of various factions within the countries involved during the 19th century. Historians have focused on the military operations of the campaign and how the battle unfolded. This book does something else: it looks at the battle over the memory and meaning of Waterloo.