Battle of Abukir
Abu Qir peninsula, near Alexandria, Egypt
What happened
The French army in Egypt under Napoleon Bonaparte, with cavalry under Joachim Murat, fought an Ottoman army under Mustafa Pasha, landed with British naval support. A year after Napoleon invaded Egypt, an Ottoman army landed at Abu Qir to drive the French out. Napoleon attacked their two defensive lines; the first broke, but the second held. Then Murat's cavalry charged into the Ottoman camp, the Ottoman army fled, and Mustafa Pasha was captured.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It kept French control of Egypt for the time being and boosted Napoleon's popularity at home. It came a year after the French fleet was destroyed in the same bay.
What came next
A month later Napoleon secretly sailed back to France, leaving General Kléber in command. The French army in Egypt finally surrendered in 1801.
Did you know?
One of the Ottoman soldiers pulled from the sea by British boats was Muhammad Ali, who later became ruler of Egypt and founded a dynasty that lasted until 1952.
Timeline
- 1-3 August 1798The British destroy the French fleet at the Nile, in Abukir Bay.
- 25 July 1799Napoleon wins at Abukir.
- 23 August 1799Napoleon leaves Egypt.
- 1801The French army in Egypt surrenders.
- 17 May 1805Muhammad Ali becomes ruler of Egypt.