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Quiz about Ligny and Quatre Bras
Quiz about Ligny and Quatre Bras

Ligny and Quatre Bras Trivia Quiz


We all know of the heroism and chaos of Waterloo. But how much do you know of the battles that took place beforehand? This quiz tests your knowledge of Ligny and Quatre Bras, two battles that greatly effected the Waterloo campaign.

A multiple-choice quiz by Fred0518. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Fred0518
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
284,713
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
717
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
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Question 1 of 10
1. What action caused the British to retreat from their positions at Quatre Bras? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which of Napoleon's Marshals led the French at Quatre Bras? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. What was the main strategic importance of Quatre Bras? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. What was the main French blunder at Quatre Bras? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Many British officers were still wearing their dress uniform from the Duchess of Richmond's ball the night before.


Question 6 of 10
6. Blücher outnumbered Napoleon 82,000 to 60,000. In addition to this, Quatre Bras and Ligny were both fought on the same day not too far from each other.


Question 7 of 10
7. Which commander was in charge of the 1st corps? This corps took part in neither battle because of confusion concerning its orders. Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Which of these crucial mistakes did Napoleon commit at Ligny during the retreat of the Prussian army? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. It is well known that Field Marshal Blücher, while leading a charge personally against the French, was thrown from his horse dead and trapped beneath the carcass of his dead horse for part of the battle. Do you know how old this Field Marshal was? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. As a result of the delay at Quatre Bras and the pursuit of Blücher at Ligny, Wellington was given crucial time to assemble his forces around what place or landmark? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What action caused the British to retreat from their positions at Quatre Bras?

Answer: The defeat of Blücher at Ligny

The British held their positions well on the field of Quatre Bras. They were extremely upset to know that their fighting had resulted in no decisive victory as Wellington risked exposing his army. Quatre Bras was fought on a section of crossroads moving south-east towards the Prussians along the Nivelles-Namur road at Ligny. Napoleon realised that it was most important to prevent the two armies from meeting, which is why an attack on the British at Quatre Bras was urgently needed.
2. Which of Napoleon's Marshals led the French at Quatre Bras?

Answer: Ney

Grouchy led the right of the French Armée du Nord. He failed to pursue Blücher all the way to Waterloo after Ligny. Consequently, he arrived too late to save Napoleon, who later branded his actions as those of a traitor. Davout was meanwhile in charge of defending Paris. Napoleon feared attack from Austria and Russia during the 100 days. Russia was expected to bring 150,000 men waiting on the Rhine river, while combined Italian and Austrian forces were expected to rise to around 285,000. Napoleon commanded the army at Ligny but not at Quatre Bras.
3. What was the main strategic importance of Quatre Bras?

Answer: The crossroads would allow the coalition armies to meet up, outnumbering Napoleon's forces

Napoleon's plans to defeat the Coalition in Europe would be manoeuvre fast and knock them out one by one as he had tried to do in the defence of France in 1814. Allowing the Allies to converge and outnumber him would be almost fatal. Although Wellington and Ney practically 'ran into' each other at Quatre Bras it was Ligny that crucially decided the position of the armies before Waterloo.
4. What was the main French blunder at Quatre Bras?

Answer: Ney delayed his attack on the crossroads until late morning giving the British time to reinforce

Had Ney decisively beaten the British at Quatre Bras he would of been given the chance to flank the Prussians at Ligny. In fact this was the main cause of the attack however Ney lacked the time and the manpower for such a manoeuvre. Ney was waiting for surrounding French units to arrive on the field, as was Wellington.
5. Many British officers were still wearing their dress uniform from the Duchess of Richmond's ball the night before.

Answer: True

Many paintings exist of soldiers charging into battle still wearing their clothes from the ball the night before. (Particularly those of the 42nd Highlanders). This gives the idea of how quickly the allies reacted to Napoleon's style of advancing quickly. Wellington heard of Napoleons precise movement while at the ball.

The main purpose of Quatre Bras for the British was to delay Napoleons march to Brussels. This gave the allies more to time to react to his movements. Wellington was heard to say, "Napoleon has humbugged me, by God; he has gained twenty-four hours' march on me". Casualties at Quatre Bras follow, British: 4,700 French: 4,300.
6. Blücher outnumbered Napoleon 82,000 to 60,000. In addition to this, Quatre Bras and Ligny were both fought on the same day not too far from each other.

Answer: True

The two engagements were fought surprisingly close to each other; about seven miles apart. Ligny was of course Napoleon's last victory. The crucial mistake came in Grouchy failing to follow up the battle to prevent Blücher's arrival on the field of Waterloo.
7. Which commander was in charge of the 1st corps? This corps took part in neither battle because of confusion concerning its orders.

Answer: d'Erlon

Napoleon needed Ney's reserve so the 1st corps was sent to Ligny. However, before arrival Ney countermanded d'Erlon's orders and because of this muddle the 1st corps took part in neither battle. Its participation could have been decisive on both fields.
8. Which of these crucial mistakes did Napoleon commit at Ligny during the retreat of the Prussian army?

Answer: Believed the Prussians were retreating towards Liège rather than linking up with Wellington

Napoleon believed that Blücher would retreat along their line of communications rather than head north and regroup with Wellington at Wavre. For a large part of Grouchy's pursuit the French right was no where near the Prussian army as they headed north-east towards Liège. Napoleon was ill around the run up to Waterloo and very often had severe attacks of piles. Because of this Napoleon failed to order a pursuit until midday.
9. It is well known that Field Marshal Blücher, while leading a charge personally against the French, was thrown from his horse dead and trapped beneath the carcass of his dead horse for part of the battle. Do you know how old this Field Marshal was?

Answer: 72

As a reaction to the Old Guard's attack, Blücher instructed Lieutenant-General Roder to counter-attack with the two brigades of cavalry from the Prussian 1st corps. Field Marshal Gebhard von Blücher was found semi-conscious by his aide Major von Nostitz.
10. As a result of the delay at Quatre Bras and the pursuit of Blücher at Ligny, Wellington was given crucial time to assemble his forces around what place or landmark?

Answer: Mont Saint Jean

Don't forget Waterloo was the name of the village Wellington stayed the night before, not the name of the actual place where the battle was fought. As a result of the French wasting time at Quatre Bras and Ligny, Wellington was given the opportunity to assemble his forces at Mont Saint Jean. Wellington had chosen this beforehand and believed it to be excellent ground to fight the French.
Source: Author Fred0518

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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