Pronunciation: [bˈatə͡l ɒv wˈavə] (IPA) 
The Battle of Wavre is a historic conflict that occurred during the Napoleonic Wars. Its phonetic transcription in IPA is /ˈbætəl əv ˈwɑːvrə/. The spelling of the word "battle" follows the usual English pronunciation, with the /t/ and /l/ sounds at the end. "Wavre" is a French town, and its spelling in IPA reflects this - the "w" is silent, and the "a" is pronounced as a short "o" sound, while the final "e" is silent.
The Battle of Wavre refers to a significant military engagement that took place during the Napoleonic Wars on June 18-19, 1815, near the town of Wavre in present-day Belgium. It was a pivotal conflict that occurred concurrently with the more famous Battle of Waterloo, and played a crucial role in the outcome of the Waterloo Campaign.
The Battle of Wavre saw the French Army, led by Marshal Grouchy, clash with the Prussian Army commanded by General Johann von Thielmann. Grouchy's objective was to prevent the Prussians from reinforcing the Duke of Wellington's forces at Waterloo, while Napoleon Bonaparte battled against Wellington's troops. Despite outnumbering the Prussians, Grouchy was unable to decisively defeat them due to initial hesitation and a series of tactical errors.
The battle consisted of intense fighting over two days, characterized by heavy artillery barrages, cavalry charges, and infantry assaults. Despite managing to navigate some early setbacks, the Prussian Army skillfully held its position and delayed the French advances. However, Grouchy's inability to achieve a decisive breakthrough ultimately allowed the Prussians under General Blücher to reinforce Wellington's forces at Waterloo, ultimately contributing to Napoleon's defeat.
The Battle of Wavre is significant as it highlights the interconnectedness of military campaigns during the Napoleonic Wars. It demonstrates the critical impact that strategic decisions and battles happening simultaneously can have on the outcome of a larger conflict.
