#horationelson

On August 3, 1798, the British Royal Navy achieved one of its most celebrated victories at the Battle of the Nile (also known as the Battle of Aboukir Bay). Admiral Horatio Nelson led a daring nighttime attack against the French fleet, which was anchored off the coast of Egypt after supporting Napoleon Bonaparte’s Egyptian campaign.

Nelson’s forces caught the French fleet by surprise and destroyed its ability to control the Mediterranean. Eleven French ships of the line and two frigates were captured or destroyed, while the French flagship L'Orient exploded in a spectacular blast during the fighting.

HMS Victory: Navire amiral de Nelson et plus ancien navire de la Royal Navy

Briseur du rêve d'invasion de Napoléon, vétéran de trois guerres majeures et théâtre de la mort du plus grand héros de la Royal Navy, le HMS Victory est l'un des navires de guerre les plus célèbres de Grande-Bretagne. Curieusement, et bien qu'il soit exposé en permanence comme attraction touristique, le Victory reste à ce jour un navire de guerre pleinement opérationnel. Voici son histoire.

HMS Victory: Nelson's Flagship & Oldest Ship of the Royal Navy

Smasher of Napoleon's invasion dream, veteran of three major wars, and scene of the death of the Royal Navy's greatest hero, HMS Victory is one of Britain's most famous warships. Curiously, and despite being on permanent display as a tourist attraction, Victory remains to this day a fully commissioned naval vessel. This is her story.

A First-Rate Warship

HMS Victory was constructed from 1759 at Chatham Dockyards in Kent to a design by Sir Thomas Slade. Built of solid oak and elm, the ship required the sacrifice of an incredible 2,500 mature trees. Completed in May 1765, the three-masted ship was over 227 ft (69 m) long and displaced 3,500 long tons. It was the largest ship yet built for the navy, and she was fast. In the right conditions, Victory could cut through the water with remarkable speed for her size thanks to 36 sails and an innovative hull design.

Victory was far from being a positive name for most of the sailors first assigned to her. This was because the last naval ship named Victory had sunk in 1744, with all hands drowned. This new Victory, actually the seventh British naval ship to carry that name, had a long wait to see active duty: 13 years, in fact. The first-rate warship carried a crew of over 800 and positively bristled with more than 100 guns set along three cramped decks. Victory was a major weapon for the British in the 1770s during the American Revolutionary War. The ship was then refitted and made the flagship of Vice-Admiral Lord Hood, who sailed her around the Mediterranean in the early 1790s during the French Revolutionary Wars.

Victory's fortunes then went into decline as her condition deteriorated. Serving as a hospital ship in 1797, Victory was slated to see out her days as a prison hulk, the ultimate fall from grace. The venerable old warship then received a last-minute reprieve. After the loss of HMS Impregnable in 1799, and with war looming against the old enemy, France, the Admiralty was obliged to bring Victory back into service.

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Today, 21st October, I commemorate Trafalgar Day, marking the 219th anniversary of one of the most decisive naval battles in history—the Battle of Trafalgar. On this day in 1805, the Royal Navy, commanded by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, delivered a stunning victory over the combined French and Spanish fleets, ensuring Britain's naval supremacy for the next century.

The battle took place off the coast of Cape Trafalgar, Spain, during the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon Bonaparte sought to invade Britain, but the powerful French and Spanish fleets were thwarted by the tactical genius of Nelson. His famous battle plan, defying traditional naval tactics of parallel lines, saw the Royal Navy attack the enemy fleet in two columns, breaking through and scattering their forces.

Although the victory was decisive, it came at a great cost. Nelson himself was mortally wounded aboard HMS Victory, his final words reportedly being, "Thank God I have done my duty." His legacy, however, has lived on as a symbol of British courage, patriotism, and naval supremacy.

For those of us who hold an appreciation for history and the enduring significance of national defence, Trafalgar Day is a moment to reflect on how this single battle shaped the course of history. The Royal Navy's triumph prevented Napoleon's invasion of Britain, allowing the island nation to remain a bastion of liberty in Europe. 

I trust you are acquainted with the curious affair known as the Napoleonic Sexyman Tournament. While I find myself pleasantly surprised by the outcome (https://www.tumblr.com/napoleonic-sexyman-tournament/760060078573436928?source=share), it is only fitting, I believe, to extend my congratulations to a most worthy adversary."

Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson,

The Duke of Bronté.

ADC du Prel: General, there is a letter for you from... Uh... Vice-Admiral Nelson, British Navy.

You don't smell drunk, so why the fuck are you acting like it?

ADC du Prel: I am not, sir!

Is it about that fucking- Yes, of course it is. I should write back in the same dead-inside tone, I suppose. And here I thought the navy was meant to have fun. How the devil did I lose, though? These modern people have no fucking sense!

Good day to you, Sir.

I have been made vaguely aware of this strange competition, and while I cannot claim to understand it, I ought to extend my own congratulations to you also. You must have quite the loyal followers.

Napoleon's Campaign in Egypt and Syria

The French Expedition to Egypt and Syria (1798-1801), led by Napoleon Bonaparte, aimed to establish a French colony in Egypt and to threaten British possessions in India. Despite initial French victories, the campaign ultimately ended in failure, and Egypt remained under Ottoman control. The expedition also led to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone and the birth of modern Egyptology.

Campagne de Napoléon en Égypte et en Syrie

L'expédition française en Égypte et en Syrie (1798-1801), menée par Napoléon Bonaparte, visait à établir une colonie française en Égypte et à menacer les possessions britanniques en Inde. Malgré les premières victoires françaises, la campagne finit par se solder par un échec et l'Égypte resta sous le contrôle des Ottomans. L'expédition conduisit également à la découverte de la pierre de Rosette et à la naissance de l'égyptologie moderne.

Napoleon's Campaign in Egypt and Syria

The French Expedition to Egypt and Syria (1798-1801), led by Napoleon Bonaparte, aimed to establish a French colony in Egypt and to threaten British possessions in India. Despite initial French victories, the campaign ultimately ended in failure, and Egypt remained under Ottoman control. The expedition also led to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone and the birth of modern Egyptology.