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Two hundred years ago, the decisive Battle of Waterloo was fought near Brussels, in present-day Belgium, on June 18, 1815.

Napoleon's French army of 93,000 soldiers was defeated on the battlefield by the 125,000 troops of the Seventh Coalition, which was made up of armies allied with the United Kingdom. Tens of thousands of men were killed by cannon fire, bullets, bayonets, and swords in violent skirmishes that were fought at a distance and face to face in the Belgian countryside.

The loss of the battle ended Napoleon's "Hundred Days" of restored power in France, resulting in his abdication and bringing in a new era of European peace after decades of war. Over the weekend, thousands of re-enactors donned period uniforms on the battlefield to commemorate the historic battle.

Performers take part in the reenactment of the "The Allied Counterattack" battle during the bicentennial celebrations for the Battle of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Belgium, on June 20, 2015.

Frenchman Frank Samson, who plays Napoleon, rides his horse during the re-enactment of "The Allied Counterattack" on June 20, 2015.

Frenchman Frank Samson who is taking part in an reenactment of the Battle of Waterloo poses in front of the Lion's Mound of Waterloo during the bicentennial celebrations on June 17, 2015.

A panoramic image of historical re-enactors gathered ahead of a large scale reenactment of the battle of Waterloo on June 18, 2015.

A re-enactor films other performers in the French troops bivouac during the bicentennial celebrations of the Battle of Waterloo, on June 19, 2015.

A re-enactor has lunch in the French troops bivouac on June 20, 2015.

Historical re-enactor Kenny de Tey from Antwerp poses for a photograph in his role as a Captain Lord in the Allied navy ahead of the second part of a large scale re-enactment of the battle of Waterloo on June 20, 2015.

Alan Larsen, a historical events consultant from New Zealand playing the role of The Duke of Wellington, gestures with his hat prior to the second and last part of a re-enactement of the Battle of Waterloo on June 20, 2015.

Re-enactors take part in the first part of a re-enactment of the Battle of Waterloo on June 19, 2015.

French troops walk forward in the re-enactment of "The French Attack" battle as part of the bicentennial celebrations of the Battle of Waterloo on June 19.

Performers prepare for the re-enactment on June 19, 2015.

Re-enactors in the Allied army march in front of the Lion's Mound of Waterloo, to prepare "The French Attack" on June 19, 2015.

Historical re-enactors take part in the first part of a large scale re-enactment of the battle of Waterloo on June 19, 2015.

Re-enactors reconstruct "The Allied Counterattack" in Waterloo on June 20.

Historical re-enactors take part in the first part of a large scale re-enactment of the battle of Waterloo, to mark it's bicentenary on June 19, 2015 in Waterloo, Belgium.

Re-enactors reconstruct "The French Attack" as part of the commemoration of the bicentenary of the battle of Waterloo in Braine-l'Alleud, near Waterloo, Belgium, June 19, 2015.

Performers take part in the "The French Attack" battle on June 19, 2015.

Performers take part in "The Allied Counterattack" on June 20, 2015.

French troops take part in the reenactment of "The French Attack" on June 19.

Re-enactors take part in the second and last part of a re-enactment of the Battle of Waterloo on June 20, 2015.

Performers take part in "The Allied Counterattack" battle on June 20, 2015.

Performers in "The French Attack" reenact the battle as part as the bicentennial celebrations of the Battle of Waterloo on June 19, 2015.

Re-enactors take part in the "The Allied counterattack", during the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of The Battle of Waterloo.