Reasons for the French Campaign
The French campaign in Egypt was motivated by several key factors:
- Napoleon’s ambition to engage in military operations in the Middle East and Asia. He devised a plan to counter Britain by targeting Egypt, as a successful invasion would secure French dominance over the eastern Mediterranean and create a pathway to attack British interests in India.
- The French government’s desire to test Napoleon’s capabilities in controlling Egypt while simultaneously seeking to distance his influence from France. Consequently, Napoleon set sail with his fleet to capture Egypt. After taking Malta, approximately 40,000 French troops landed in Egypt on July 1, seizing Alexandria and advancing towards Cairo. At that time, Egypt was part of the Ottoman Empire but was effectively under the control of the Mamluk army.
- Some historians contend that the campaign in Egypt was primarily driven by Napoleon’s desire to solidify his political standing and image within France.
The French Campaign in Egypt
The French campaign in Egypt took place between 1798 and 1801 during a period when colonial ambitions sought to revive the Enlightenment era in the East. This campaign laid the groundwork for future colonial projects in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The fundamental premise of the campaign was to liberate lesser peoples from the grip of tyrannical rulers by introducing them to Western standards of civilization and industry. The French occupiers thus positioned themselves as saviors of Egypt, asserting that they were liberating it from its own native population.
Consequences of the French Campaign
The French campaign in Egypt led to a series of military confrontations in the region. The Egyptian army, composed of the Mamluks, engaged the French forces in the Battle of the Pyramids on July 21. Furthermore, the Battle of the Nile occurred, where British naval commander Horatio Nelson aimed to thwart Napoleon’s invasion. He successfully attacked the French fleet, resulting in two ships fleeing and later sinking, thus severing Napoleon’s supply lines. Nelson went on to destroy eleven more vessels from Napoleon’s fleet, causing significant losses and inciting a revolt against him, which led to the disbandment of his army that could not even return to France. Amidst growing challenges, Napoleon attempted to advance into Syria with a small force, aiming to capture Jaffa and Acre. However, an outbreak of plague within his ranks forced him to retreat back to Egypt. This marked a significant setback for Napoleon as he recognized the changing political landscape in France, ultimately leading him to abandon his ambitions and leave Egypt for France.