No More Napoleons: How Britain Managed Europe from Waterloo to World War One

At the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars, a fragile peace emerged in Europe. The continent’s borders were redrawn, and the French Empire, once a significant threat to British security, was for now cut down to size. But after decades of ceaseless conflict, Britain’s economy was beset by a crippling debt. How could this small, insular seapower state secure order across the Channel?

Andrew Lambert argues for a dynamic new understanding of the nineteenth century, showing how British policymakers shaped a stable European system that it could balance from offshore. Through judicious deployment of naval power against continental forces, and the defence strategy of statesmen such as the Duke of Wellington, Britain ensured that no single European state could rise to pose a threat, rebuilt its economy, and established naval and trade dominance across the globe.

This is the remarkable story of how Britain kept a whole continent in check—until the final collapse of this delicately balanced order at the outset of World War One.

This talk is part of the National Army Museum’s Waterloo Week (16th – 22nd June) marking the 210th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.

About Andrew Lambert

Andrew Lambert is Laughton Professor of Naval History in the Department of War Studies at King's College London. His books include, The Crimean War,1853-1856 and The British Way of War.

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