The Duke of Wellington is a playable character and historical figure featuring in Napoleon: Total War.
General Information[]
Wellington makes an appearance in the grand campaign, as well as featuring heavily in The Peninsular Campaign as well as the Battle of Waterloo. Like other 7 star generals and historical figures in the game, Wellington is a superb general with excellent statistics to his name.
Historical context[]
Arthur Wellesley, better known as the 1st Duke of Wellington or just the Duke of Wellington, was born in 1769 in Dublin, then a part of Great Britain. He joined up as a commissioned officer into the British army in 1787, serving in Ireland while being elected into the Irish House of Commons. By 1796 he was a colonel and saw action fighting the French in Flanders before later taking part in the wars in India between the Indians and British East India Company.
However, he become far more prominent to the nation and further world during the Peninsular Campaign of 1807–1814, when he successfully rallied the Portuguese and Spanish troops to fight with him and push the French out of Iberia. Napoleon was exiled from France in 1814 and Wellesley became the ambassador to France, which is when he was given the dukedom of the Duke of Wellington. Napoleon returned to France in 1815, starting the Hundred Days War which was also known as the War of the Seventh Coalition. Wellington was the commander of the allied armies for this conflict and ultimately defeated Napoleon at Waterloo with the help of Prussian general Gebhard von Blücher, finally ending the French threat to Europe. Over his military career, Wellesley participated in some 60 battles, winning a good chunk of them. Many of his battle tactics are still studied in military academies around the world today.
After leaving the army, Wellesley was twice elected Prime Minister of England, once in 1828-1830 and again in 1834. He eventually retired from politics in 1846 and was the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army until his death in 1852.
Trivia[]
- Like other historical figures that appear as generals in the game, Wellington can't be killed, only wounded.