Which French corps formed Napoleon's right wing at Waterloo?
Answer
I Corps
Answer
I Corps
I Corps, commanded by Count Jean-Baptiste Drouet d’Erlon, formed Napoleon’s right wing at Waterloo.
D’Erlon’s corps deployed on the French right of the Brussels road, opposite the left-centre of Wellington’s Allied army. It included four infantry divisions and supporting cavalry and artillery, making it one of Napoleon’s principal striking forces. The French plan called for it to attack and roll up the Allied line.
Its major assault began in the early afternoon. The densely packed French columns pushed into the Allied position, but the attack lost cohesion under fire and counterattack. British and Allied infantry, followed by a powerful cavalry intervention, drove much of I Corps back and captured two French Imperial Eagles.
I Corps later participated in the renewed pressure around La Haye Sainte, and elements eventually helped capture the farmhouse when its defenders ran out of ammunition. The corps therefore played a major role even though its first great assault failed. The other nearby French formations had different roles: Reille’s II Corps was on the left, while Lobau’s VI Corps and the Imperial Guard formed part of the reserve.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026