The University of Southampton has launched a new exhibition which gives a unique perspective on the Duke of Wellington鈥檚 role in the Battle of Waterloo.
Wellington and Waterloo: 鈥榯he tale is in every Englishman鈥檚 mouth鈥� draws from the Wellington Archives 鈥� a collection of papers belonging to Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), which are now held and conserved by Special Collections at the University鈥檚 Hartley Library.
The exhibition, which runs until 26 June and again from 13 to 24 July, at the library鈥檚 Special Collections Gallery, coincides with 200 year commemorations of the Battle of Waterloo.
Head of Archives at Southampton, Karen Robson, says:
鈥淭he papers give us a unique insight into despatches between Wellington, his commanders and his allies. They reveal a fascinating glimpse of the build-up to battle, the diplomacy before and after, and the rise of the Duke to the 19th century equivalent of 鈥榗elebrity status鈥� 鈥� dubbed 鈥榮aviour of Europe鈥� following his victory.鈥�
Among the items on display are: a memorandum of troop numbers agreed ahead of the war by allied powers; the Duke鈥檚 letters of appointment to assume command of an allied army and聽a commemorative nautilus (mollusc) shell depicting Wellington on one side and St George slaying a dragon on the other (c1850s).