The Waterloo Chamber
Encyclopedia
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The Waterloo Chamber, dating from 1830–31, is a large room in Windsor Castle
dedicated to the initial military vanquishing of the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte by British
, Prussian, Russia
n and Austria
n forces under the command of the Duke of Wellington
at Waterloo
in Belgium
.
Designed by the architect Jeffry Wyattville
in place of the Queen's Drawing Room, Queen's Ballroom, Queen's Audience Chamber, Queen's Presence Chamber, Queen's Guard Chamber, King's Presence Chamber, King's Audience Room, King's Drawing Chamber and King's Dining Chamber which were all in Hugh May
's 17th-century structure, the Waterloo Chamber along with the Grand Reception Room, White Drawing Room, Green Drawing Room, Crimson Drawing Room, State Dining Room and Octagonal Dining Room was formed.
The famed portrait painter Sir Thomas Lawrence was commissioned by King George IV of the United Kingdom
to paint all the major figures who came together to defeat the French emperor and today these works still hang assembled there. Lawrence both traveled Europe and at another time kept a studio in London
to complete the task which was delayed by the defeated Emperor Napoleon's escape from the island of Elba
and subsequent retaking of the French throne. Among the luminaries immortalized in portraiture in the chamber by Lawrence are Tsar Alexander I of Russia, Emperor Francis I of Austria
, King Frederick William III of Prussia
, Field-Marshal Karl Philip Prince of Schwarzenberg
, Archduke Charles of Austria, Napoleon II, Pope Pius VII
, Cardinal Consalvi and the aforementioned Duke of Wellington.
Today, each June the garter luncheon, given by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom for the Knights and Ladies of the Garter
is held in the chamber.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
dedicated to the initial military vanquishing of the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Prussian, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n forces under the command of the Duke of Wellington
Duke of Wellington
The Dukedom of Wellington, derived from Wellington in Somerset, is a hereditary title in the senior rank of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first holder of the title was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington , the noted Irish-born career British Army officer and statesman, and...
at Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Designed by the architect Jeffry Wyattville
Jeffry Wyattville
Sir Jeffry Wyattville was an English architect and garden designer. His original surname was Wyatt, and his name is sometimes also written as Jeffrey and his surname as Wyatville; he changed his name in 1824.He was trained by his uncles Samuel Wyatt and James Wyatt, who were both leading architects...
in place of the Queen's Drawing Room, Queen's Ballroom, Queen's Audience Chamber, Queen's Presence Chamber, Queen's Guard Chamber, King's Presence Chamber, King's Audience Room, King's Drawing Chamber and King's Dining Chamber which were all in Hugh May
Hugh May
Hugh May was an English architect in the period after the Restoration of King Charles II. He worked in the era which fell between the first introduction of Palladianism into England by Inigo Jones, and the full flowering of English Baroque under John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. His own work...
's 17th-century structure, the Waterloo Chamber along with the Grand Reception Room, White Drawing Room, Green Drawing Room, Crimson Drawing Room, State Dining Room and Octagonal Dining Room was formed.
The famed portrait painter Sir Thomas Lawrence was commissioned by King George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
to paint all the major figures who came together to defeat the French emperor and today these works still hang assembled there. Lawrence both traveled Europe and at another time kept a studio in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to complete the task which was delayed by the defeated Emperor Napoleon's escape from the island of Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
and subsequent retaking of the French throne. Among the luminaries immortalized in portraiture in the chamber by Lawrence are Tsar Alexander I of Russia, Emperor Francis I of Austria
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he dissolved the Empire after the disastrous defeat of the Third Coalition by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz...
, King Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:...
, Field-Marshal Karl Philip Prince of Schwarzenberg
Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg
Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg (or Charles Philip, Prince of Schwarzenberg (April 18, 1771 – October 15, 1820) was an Austrian field marshal.- Life :...
, Archduke Charles of Austria, Napoleon II, Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
, Cardinal Consalvi and the aforementioned Duke of Wellington.
Today, each June the garter luncheon, given by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom for the Knights and Ladies of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
is held in the chamber.