Battles of the Napoleonic Wars from 1797 to 1815 (other than the Peninsular War)
French Flagship L’Orient explodes at the Battle of the Nile on 1st August 1798 in the Napoleonic Wars: picture by Mather Brown
Battle of Cape St Vincent 1797: Admiral Sir John Jervis’s naval victory on 14th February 1797 over the much larger Spanish Fleet, combating the threat to Britain; a victory made more decisive by Nelson’s inspired initiative.
Battle of the Nile: Admiral Nelson’s victory over the French Fleet on 1st August 1798 that made him a household name throughout Europe.
Battle of Alexandria: The British victory in Egypt, 8th to 21st March 1801, over Napoleon Buonaparte’s vaunted veterans of the Army of Italy. Podcast on the Battle of Alexandria
Battle of Copenhagen: Admiral Lord Nelson’s ‘hardest fought battle’, against the Danish Fleet and the Danish Capital City of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801.
Battle of Trafalgar: Nelson’s crushing defeat of the French and Spanish Navies on 21st October 1805, establishing Britain as the dominant world naval power for a century.
Battle of Maida: General Stuart’s victory over the French army of General Reynier in Southern Italy on 4th July 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars.
Battle of Quatre Bras: Battle of Quatre Bras, with the Battle of Ligny, both fought on 16th June 1815, the two battles preliminary to the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo: The Battle of Waterloo on 18th June 1815; the battle that finally ended the dominance of the French Emperor Napoleon over much of Europe: Podcast of the Battle of Waterloo.
Battle of Quatre Bras on 16th June 1815 during the Napoleonic Wars: picture by William Heath