Military Campaigns- Egyptian Campaign Flashcards
Why did Napoleon invade Egypt?
-Protect French trade
- attacks British commerce in India and East India
-Seen as an easy victory for the republic
- Directory were initially wary but saw it as an opportunity to distance NB from Paris and therefore stop him from taking power
-NB saw this as a liberating mission to enlighten the people of Egypt
What were the military successes in Egypt campaign ?
-9 May 1798, Captured Malta
-July 1798, Captured Alexandria (capital of Egypt) and let him capture Cairo
-March 1799, Siege of Jaffa, Syria
-With only 10,000 men defeated the Turkish force at Aboukir (only took him 10 days)
What were some of the Military Defeats in the Egyptian campaign?
-1 August 1798, Nelson destroyed most of the French fleet of Aboukir Bay in the Battle of thw Nile: significant as Nb cut off from supplies
-May 1799: retreated from Syria and returned to Cairo
-Biggest mistake was over-extending forces into ottoman Empire
How did the Egyptian Campaign undermine the position of the Directory?
-Costly both in terms of men and money which had an effect on domestic front
-Blame was directed at the Directory, not NB
-Led to the formation of the war of the 2nd coalition (inc. Russia which protected Malta in 1797)
-by October 1799, The directory was in a weak position even though Russia had withdrawn from the war
How did the Egyptian campaign strengthen the position of NB?
-Still returned to Paris in October 1799 as a hero despite defeats in the battle of Nile
-NB exaggerated his victories in reports he sent back to Paris
-By 1799, Abbe Sieyes was looking for military support for the government and NB was a candidate
