The Battle of the Nations (or Battle of Leipzig or German: Völkerschlacht bei Leipzig) on 16–19 October 1813 was one of the most ecisive defeats suffered by Napoleon Bonaparte. The Battle of Leipzig was fought on German soil and involved German troops on both sides, as a large proportion of Napoleon's troops actually came from the German Confederation of the Rhine. It is considered the largest battle in Europe before World War I, with over 500,000 troops involved.