Battle of Ligny

BelligerentsFrancePrussiaCommanders and leadersNapoleon Bonaparte
Jean-de-Dieu Soult
Emmanuel de Grouchy
Antoine Drouot
Dominique Vandamme
Étienne Maurice GérardGebhard von Blücher (WIA)
Graf von Gneisenau
Graf von Zieten
Ludwig von Pirch
Johann von ThielmannUnits involvedArmée du NordStrength 62,882
210 cannons 83,417
224 cannonsCasualties and losses 8,300–12,000 killed, wounded or captured 16,000 killed or wounded
8,000 deserters captured or missing
21 guns lost

The Battle of Ligny, in which French troops of the Armée du Nord under the command of Napoleon I defeated part of a Prussian army under Field MarshalBlücher, was fought on 16 June 1815 near Ligny in what is now Belgium. The result was a tactical victory for the French, but the bulk of the Prussian army survived the battle in good order, was reinforced by Prussian troops who had not fought at Ligny, and played a role two days later at the Battle of Waterloo. Ligny was the last victory in Napoleon's military career. In the culminating moment of this battle Blücher was wounded and carried off the battlefield, and was replaced by his chief of staff, Lieutenant GeneralGneisenau.