Battle Of Abukir (1799) Article Index for
Battle Of
Website Links For
Battle
 

Information About

Battle Of Abukir (1799)




  partof the Napoleonic Wars
  date July 25 , 1799
  place Abu Qir, Egypt
  result Decisive French Victory
  combatant1 France
  combatant2 Ottoman Turks
  commander1 Napoleon Bonaparte
  commander2 Mustafa IV
  strength1 10,000
  strength2 15,000
  casualties1 1,000 killed and wounded
  casualties2 8,000 killed, wounded, drowned, and captured


The Battle of Abukir was Napoleon Bonaparte 's final victory in Africa. In this battle, Napoleon decisively defeated the Turkish army commanded by Seid Mustafa Pasha , which had disembarked in Egypt from the British fleet of Sidney Smith .


THE BATTLE



The battle occurred on July 25 , 1799 and lasted for a very short time. The Turks had dug themselves in three lines of entrenchments, but French infantry brazenly fought their way through the defenses. The killing blow was delivered by Murat 's cavalry; the Turkish army fled in panic. Many drowned while others fled to Abukir castle, which surrendered shortly thereafer. The Turks suffered about 8,000 casualties, while the French only 1,000. News of the victory reached France before Napoleon arrived in October and helped make him even more popular, an important asset considering the troubles brewing in the Directory .