Malplaquet proclamation facts for kids

The Malplaquet Proclamation was an important announcement made by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, the leader of the British and allied armies. He issued it on June 22, 1815. This message told the French people that Wellington's army was there to help bring back their rightful king, Louis XVIII, and his government. Napoleon Bonaparte had taken over the country again after escaping from the island of Elba. The proclamation promised that the lives and property of French citizens would be safe and respected.

Why the Proclamation Was Issued

When Napoleon Bonaparte left Elba and returned to France on March 13, 1815, the powerful countries of the Seventh Coalition were meeting at the Congress of Vienna. They declared Napoleon an outlaw. They also promised to help the French King and nation get back to peace.

After the Seventh Coalition won the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, Wellington's Anglo-allied army and a Prussian army led by Prince Blücher chased the retreating French forces. They crossed into France, planning to march all the way to Paris. Even though they marched close enough to help each other, their commanders chose slightly different paths.

The March to Malplaquet

On June 19, Wellington's army, which had fought at Waterloo, left their camp. They began moving towards Nivelles. Other troops, who had been near Hal during the battle, also marched to Nivelles. Wellington's army stayed in Nivelles and nearby villages that night. The Duke himself arrived from Brussels and set up his headquarters there. He then gave a general order to his army.

On June 20, the Anglo-Allied Army marched to Binche and Mons. Their cavalry rode ahead to protect the front and sides of the army. Wellington set up his headquarters in Binche. On June 21, Wellington crossed into France. He moved most of his army to Bavay. The rest of his troops went from Mons to Valenciennes, which was quickly surrounded. Wellington then set up his headquarters at Malplaquet. This was the same place where the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy had won a famous battle against the French about a hundred years earlier.

The Proclamation's Message

At Malplaquet, Wellington officially announced his message to the French people. He stated that Napoleon Bonaparte was not the true ruler. He said that his army came as friends, not as invaders. Wellington had given strict orders to his soldiers. They were to treat all French citizens fairly and with respect, as long as those citizens did not fight against the army.

In contrast, Prince Blücher, the Prussian commander, did not issue a similar message. He also did not give direct orders to his troops to treat France as a "friendly country." He did not tell them they had to pay for anything they took.

Different Approaches of the Armies

Because of these different approaches, people noticed a big difference between the Prussian army and Wellington's Anglo-Allied army as they marched towards Paris. The Prussian troops caused a lot of damage and took many things without paying.

However, the British, Dutch, and German troops under Wellington quickly gained the trust and kindness of the people in the areas they passed through. Wellington's army made the people feel safe. The Prussians, on the other hand, made them feel afraid and forced them to obey.

Much of this difference came from the commanders' different ideas. Blücher strongly disliked the French. He believed they should be punished severely for what they had done. He and his soldiers could not forget the cruelty and demands their own country had suffered when the French had invaded. Now that they were in France, they felt it was time for revenge. The whole Prussian army felt that those who had caused so much war across Europe should now feel its pain themselves. This is why the good behavior of the British troops was so important. It helped balance the angry and vengeful spirit of the Prussians.

Wellington's Wider Vision

Blücher and Wellington both knew that marching on Paris before other allied armies arrived was risky. The other armies were still crossing the Rhine River. But they believed it was justified because of the huge impact Napoleon's defeat would have. Blücher's goal was mainly military: to quickly reach the capital. He also wanted to stop Marshal Grouchy and his French troops from rejoining Napoleon's defeated army.

Wellington's plan was much broader. He always kept in mind the main reason for the war. He gathered information about how Napoleon's defeat affected important political leaders in France. He also knew that the people in northern France had not been very excited about Napoleon's return. This convinced him that if the allies showed they were friendly to the French people, but strongly against Napoleon, it would help their cause. By supporting the rightful king, Louis XVIII, Wellington believed he was making the march on Paris more secure than any extra military force could.

Wellington's actions greatly helped the cause of Louis XVIII. The people in the northern parts of France were tired of constant wars. They wanted peace. They saw the allies' friendly attitude and their support for the King as a promise to end the war party. It also showed a strong alliance with their true king. Soon, white flags, symbols of the French monarchy, appeared on many church steeples. Support for the King grew quickly. As this wave of support moved towards Paris, Wellington's smart planning and good judgment helped him succeed easily. When his army reached Paris, it swept away all traces of Napoleon's government and his supporters.