Author notes

Chapter 14 page 12

Artificer Urza

on Jan. 9, 2013

Arthur Wellesley who, after his defeat of Napoleon in 1815, would return to Enlgand, hailed as a hero and be granted the title of First Duke of Wellington. Known as the 'Iron Duke', he was apprently a stern man and appeared condescending to those less competent or not as well-born as himself (which was nearly everyone). According to Viva Montgomery, who related an anecdote from Holman (valet to the duke), he supposedly never interacted with the staff unless he had to, preferring to give instruction via written note. It should be noted that Holman looked a lot like Napolean.
He was a commander who cared about his men, keeping them from pursuing French forces when it would have cost them too much to pursue the broken enemy through rough terrain. Though taciturn, he displayed great emotion on occaision; one notable occaision being after the Battle of Toulouse when he was informed that Napoleon abdicated, he broke out into an improtu flamenco dance. He could also speak some French, shouting "Les français sont perdus!" ("The French are lost!") after seeing a point of weakness in the French lines during the Battle of Salamanca.
He was a very early riser, preferring ot have his men marching by sunrise and preferred them to have simple meals, much to the consternation of some of his allies. They would dread Arthur saying that the men would march at daybreak or that they would dine on cold meat. He did have excellent taste in wine, though.
Some sources I've read say he was something of a womanizer, but was completely faithful to his wife. There was a publisher who offered to not issue some racy memoirs of Wellesley's mistress Harriet Wilson in exchange for financial compensation. The response was supposedly "Publish it and be damned".