ГРОМ ВЧЕРАШНЕЙ ПОБЕДЫ: 200 ЛЕТ ПРАЗДНОВАНИЯ ВАТЕРЛОО В ВЕЛИКОБРИТАНИИ

The article attempts to present the process of formation and transformation of the image of Waterloo in the perception of the British for two centuries. If initially the news of the victory at Waterloo was perceived by the British as the greatest victory of Britain alone, by the mid-19th century, more balanced assessments prevailed. The strategic rapprochement with France in the early twentieth century forced the British to take an important step from the perception of Waterloo as a great victory over a rival nation to a joint commemoration of the victims of war and the rejection of old grievances and national prejudices. The two world wars interrupted this process. It was supposed to be resumed on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Waterloo in 1965. But this also did not happen. Paris and Brussels were irritated by London's attempt to organize extensive events in connection with the anniversary of the battle. Something similar, although in a milder form, was observed at the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Waterloo. This position did not meet the expected understanding of other participants of memorial events. In general, the British perception of the image of Waterloo for 200 years has passed a complex and not one-line path, determined by the development of internal (social, political, related to identification) and foreign policy processes. This path clearly demonstrated the development of “living memory”.