Britain's decisive naval victory at Aboukir Bay trapped Napoleon's army in Egypt and established Royal Navy supremacy in the Mediterranean for the Napoleonic Wars.
Key Facts
- Dates of battle
- 1–3 August 1798
- French ships engaged
- 17 ships
- French ships escaped
- 2 ships of the line and 2 frigates
- French flagship fate
- Orient exploded at 22:00 on 1 August
- British commander
- Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson
- French commander
- Vice-Admiral François-Paul Brueys d'Aigalliers
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Napoleon sought to invade Egypt as a stepping stone toward British India, aiming to drive Britain from the French Revolutionary Wars. A large French fleet escorted his expeditionary force from Toulon across the Mediterranean, while a British fleet under Nelson pursued them for over two months, narrowly missing them on several occasions before the French successfully landed in Egypt.
On 1 August 1798, Nelson's fleet discovered the French fleet anchored in Aboukir Bay and launched an immediate surprise attack. British ships split into two divisions, one passing between the French line and the shore while the other engaged from seaward. Caught in a crossfire, French warships surrendered during three hours of fierce fighting, culminating in the catastrophic explosion of the flagship Orient at 22:00.
The battle reversed the strategic balance in the Mediterranean, entrenching Royal Navy dominance for the remainder of the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon's army was stranded in Egypt, contributing to the French defeat at Acre in 1799 and Napoleon's eventual abandonment of Egypt. The victory encouraged European powers to form the Second Coalition against France, and elevated Nelson to national hero status, earning him a barony.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson.
Side B
1 belligerent
Vice-Admiral François-Paul Brueys d'Aigalliers.