The Battle of The Nile (Nelson Season 1 Episode 5)

Video Description

This is part 5 of our series on Nelson, watch Part 1 here: https://youtu.be/K9KsNGSZp_I The Rest Is History merch store is available here: goalhanger.shop/collection/the-rest-is-history/ The 1st of August 1798 saw the British fleet sailing towards Alexandria into a land of classical history and mythology, the sun setting like blood over the River Nile and French flags flying over the city. The scene could not be more perfectly suited to the cataclysmic battle that would soon take place there, in which Horatio Nelson would guild his legend forever. Charged with leading a squadron of fourteen ships into the Mediterranean to find Napoleon Bonaparte and his vast fleet, Nelson had chased him all the way to Alexandria which the French had seized along with the rest of Egypt. At last, lookouts spot the masts of Napoleon’s ships - a moment of near transcendent excitement for Nelson and the men of his fleet. At last, it seemed, the moment had come for their battle of total annihilation in all its gore and glory. Wary of this, the French commanders urged Bonaparte to withdraw, but in his hubris the French general refused. So it was that the greatest naval battle of the 18th century began, to the thunder of cannons, screaming sailors, and the chaos of gun smoke, soot, splinters and blood…. Join Dominic and Tom as they describe one of the most decisive and dramatic moments of both naval history and Horatio Nelson’s life: the Battle of the Nile. 00:00 – The eve of battle (reading from Sandbrook) 01:02 – The Mediterranean theatre 04:56 – The 'Band of Brothers' and their 'inevitable victory' 09:06 – French order of battle 10:54 – Geography & dispositions at Aboukir 14:48 – The British approach 19:47 – The British outflank inside the French line 22:17 – The two-sided British attack 25:07 – Nelson wounded and carried below; returns later 29:00 – Night battle intensifies 36:44 – The explosion of L’Orient 39:23 – Battle resumes after the blast 42:04 – Consequences for Napoleon 44:05 – Strategic impact 45:54 – The aftermath _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYK0BJZF3yNb2fw1EdAXUQ/join