The Decisive Battles of World History

to Egypt, landing near Alexandria, and subduing the country after

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strong defensive position near the mouth of the Nile at Aboukir Bay.

x Nelson was sent with a smaller force of ships to attempt to destroy

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aggressive fashion, he sailed to Aboukir Bay, arriving near dusk

and, rather than waiting for the next day, attacking immediately.

x The action that followed is known as the Battle of the Nile. The

French vessels were larger and more heavily armed, but the British

were better trained and attacked enthusiastically. The most dramatic

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and the gunpowder magazine exploded, blowing the ship apart. By

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majority of the French ships were either captured or destroyed.

x This was an important victory for England. Without the support of

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he had to abandon most of his army in Egypt and sneak back to

France alone. Although Napoleon might be dominant on land, as

long as England controlled the sea, his dreams of world conquest

would remain unrealized.

The Battle
x By the middle of 1805, the English blockade had been going on
for years, and Napoleon was getting tired of waiting. By capturing
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large that it could overwhelm any English opposition.

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destroy the English ships in the channel, and give his army the

chance it needed to cross. The admiral put in charge of this mission,

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