Campaign was motivated by two
reasons - An increase in France's trade profile and a way of checking British
interests in India. Napoleon brought both soldiers and scholars to this
campaign as he saw it as a Scientific expedition as well. The following is a
summary of the key events
1798 - French expedition leaves
Toulon on the 19th of May. Despite some tough resistance captures Malta which
France will hold until 1800.
1798 - Arrives in Alexandia on
July 1st. Defeats Mamluk forces
at the Battle
of the Pyramids on July 21st. French Naval fleet destroyed by Horatio Nelson'sBritish
fleet at the Battle of the
Nile (aka Battle of Aboukir Bay) between August 1-3rd. French army is
landlocked.
1798 - French administration in
Egypt. Period of Scientific/cultural exchange. Egyptology gains
prominence. Discovery of the Rossetta Stone in
July 1799. Printing press introduced to Egypt. Revolt against Napoleonic rule
in Cairo. French will retake the City.
1799 - French expansion into
Palestine - victories at Jaffa, Nazareth, Cana, , Mount Tabor. French suffer
setback at the Siege of Acre against British-Ottoman Alliance. Retreat from
Acre. Wins the Battle of
Abukir.
1799 - Napoleon returns to France
(takes advantage of temporary leave of British fleet) after learning that the
French campaign in Italy has been faltering. Jean-Baptiste
Kléber commands French forces in Middle East. Kléber enjoys some
military success but is assassinated in 1800.
1800 - 1801 - British and Ottoman
forces recapture territory won by the French.French suffer a defeat at the Battle
of Alexandria. French general Augustin Daniel Belliard surrenders to
the British at Cairo on 22nd June 1801.
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