For thousands of years, the aristocratic and lavish lifestyles of the Egyptian ruling class, the mysterious and moving myths and legends, and the charismatic rulers like Cleopatra VII have produced a powerful attraction throughout the known world.
At the end of the 1790s, the French Revolution began, the monarchy was abolished, and the idea of invading Egypt and incorporating it into the territory of the French Empire was once again proposed. Egypt was no longer under the direct control of the Ottoman Empire, but was ruled by the local elite Mamluks, who were accustomed to infighting and could not resist foreign invasions. Again raising the idea were Foreign Minister Talerand and his ambitious protégé Napoleon Bonaparte.
Napoleon had already made a successful name for himself in the Italian War and was eager to increase his prestige more quickly through further military action. In early 1798, Napoleon wrote to the Governor's government explaining his plans. He noted that the conquest of Egypt would give France access to valuable natural resources while increasing control over all important trade routes in the East and establishing links with Tipu Sahib, ruler of the allied Indian state of Mysore. And this action could increase France's advantage over the British, who were also trying to control the same trade routes and relied on Egypt as a passageway. Moreover, for Napoleon, war would greatly increase his sense of self-satisfaction. He saw Egypt as the cradle of Western civilization, believing that its conquest would greatly enhance its own and France's prestige.
Bonaparte and His Chief of Staff in Egypt, written by Jérôme in 1863, embodies the long colors of the Egyptian war and the hardships of the war itself
Faced with the threat of British intervention, the destination of the French expedition had been kept strictly secret, with only Napoleon and his closest companions knowing privately. On May 19, 1798, Napoleon set out with more than 40,000 soldiers and more than 10,000 sailors. They conquered Malta along the way and then continued to Alexandria, arriving on 1 July. With the British everywhere like a phantom, and the unexpected attack on the Mamluk forces to be launched in Cairo as soon as possible, Napoleon, as always, acted quickly. If Napoleon had expected to receive a surrender instrument with ease, he would have been disappointed, as they were constantly harassed by Mamluk troops along the way. On 21 July, they finally confronted each other at the Battle of the Pyramids, where the French won a decisive victory and captured Cairo. But the joy of this victory was short-lived. On 1 August, the British fleet under the command of Lord Nelson attacked the French ships left in Alexandria and destroyed most of them, including the battleship napoleon was riding on. This defeat brought Napoleon's plan to dominate the Mediterranean to an end, and his army was unable to leave, leaving Egypt in a de facto state of isolation.
Baron Gross depicts an epic picture of Napoleon leading a charge at the Battle of the Pyramids in 1810
Undaunted, Napoleon settled in Cairo and immediately assured the local population that he had the highest respect for the religion and traditions of the Muslims, who had come here to liberate the people from the Mamluk oppressors. Napoleon and his entourage also briefed the population on the amenities, customs and luxuries of France, most importantly, by overhauling the administrative system and establishing new health services, libraries, zoos and museums. Under his rule, Cairo slowly revealed a distinctly French atmosphere. Although Napoleon constantly assured the people that the French were their friends, that he was only trying to improve their lives, his innovations were not popular among the people. In October 1798, the Cairoites expressed their displeasure by rioting, raising butcher knives at the surrounding French. Napoleon struck quickly, brutally suppressed the uprising, and restored order in Cairo, but this also exposed how weak his control over Egypt was. 、
Napoleon was fascinated by the Sphinx and spent a great deal of time looking closely during his time in Cairo. Jean-León Gérôme painted in 1868
When he learned that the Ottoman Empire was planning to attack the French, he immediately led his troops to Syria, stopping in Gaza and Jaffa along the way, and then met the Ottoman army at Tabor Mount, where Napoleon's troops were victorious. However, he was subsequently defeated in an attempt to capture Acre, losing several thousand soldiers, and the French were forced to retreat, which was constantly attacked by Ottoman troops along the way. Napoleon's troops returned to Cairo on foot, and the situation was terrible. Many were devastated by the plague, and even the soldiers who had not yet contracted the disease were tormented by the constant heat, the lack of supplies, and the strong hostility of the people. Napoleon left Cairo with 13,000 soldiers, and during the four-month campaign, a total of 1,200 men were reduced, another 600 died of the plague, and nearly 2,000 were wounded or sick, and most of the rest went through hardships and desperate efforts to return to Cairo. Napoleon was sympathetic to the situation of the soldiers, and although he himself was eager to return to France, he was determined to stay in Egypt for a longer period of time and eliminate the threat of the Ottoman Empire before leaving. In July 1799, he marched to the fortress of Abukir near Alexandria, which housed several members of the Ottoman ruling body and a large garrison of about 18,000 men. Undaunted by the superior enemy, Napoleon launched an attack on the fortress and again won a decisive victory, with 10,000 Ottoman soldiers killed and the rest captured.
The painting by Baron Gross depicts Napoleon visiting the victims of the plague in Jaffa in 1804, and the painting is now hanging in the Louvre
In Egypt, Napoleon was disgraced, and the victory over the Ottoman Empire in Abu Kir greatly restored Napoleon's prestige and boosted the morale of his troops. Although much remained to be done, Napoleon remained restless, discouraged by the lack of manpower and the losses suffered. In August 1799, Napoleon decided to return to France without prior notice, leaving the trusted General Kléber as the new commander-in-chief of the army, much to the relief of the troops who remained to await withdrawal, as Clebell was popular. But his popularity was clearly not on the side of the local population, and less than a year later he was assassinated by a Syrian student in Cairo. For Napoleon, the Battle of Egypt did not achieve the overall victory he had hoped for, but when he quietly boarded the French frigate HMS Muron, he still felt some satisfaction, because he had achieved the main goal of the war: he had increased his prestige, conquered the Egyptian people, and thwarted The British's attempt to firmly control Egypt and the trade route to India.
The French were forced to retreat, and were constantly attacked by Ottoman forces along the way
The climate and way of life of Egypt suited him perfectly, and he could have stayed happily longer, but his gaze was always fixed firmly on the glory of fate, which he was sure was ahead. He knew that his rule in Egypt was fragile and that it was only a matter of time before it would fall apart, and that could lead him to ruin. Therefore, he decided to leave at the right time to ascend the next ladder close to the stage of supreme power.
(Source: Napoleon, Successful Revolutionary, Failed Conqueror)