1798 was a relatively quiet period in the French Revolutionary Wars. The major continental powers in the First coalition had made peace with France, leaving France dominant in Europe with only a slow naval war with Great Britain to worry about. The leaders of the Directory in Paris feared Napoleon Bonaparte's popularity after his victories in Italy, so they were relieved when he proposed to depart France and mount an expedition to Egypt to gain further glory.
At this time, Egypt was a province of the Ottoman Empire, but Napoleon viewed invading Egypt as a way to threaten British dominance in the Mediterranean Sea and in India, as well as to gain prestige for revolutionary arms.
Napoleon raised a large army, including scientists and cultural experts, and sailed from Toulon on 19 May. Stopping to capture Malta on 12 June, he landed near Alexandria on 2 July and took the city. Napoleon's army proceeded to march against the Mameluke armies in Cairo and met them at the Battle of the Pyramids on 21 July. Facing a huge army, Napoleon organized his army into squares and used his artillery to disperse the Mameluke attacks. The Mameluke army retreated into Syria, leaving Napoleon dominant in Egypt.
Battle of the Nileedit
In an isolated incident near Île d'Aix, the crew of the vastly outgunned corvetteBayonnaise boarded the British Ambuscade and won her, in some of the bloodiest hand-to-hand fightings of 1798.
However, the British were threatened by this move, and admiral Horatio Nelson rushed to the coast of Egypt. There, he came upon the French fleet at anchor and systematically destroyed it in the Battle of the Nile. Without a fleet, Napoleon's army was trapped in Egypt, and the majority would never return to France.
Napoleon consolidated his base in Egypt for the remainder of the year. However, the local population in Cairo, encouraged by the battle of the Nile and annoyed by various taxes and impositions by the French, revolted in October, killing many of the French but eventually being suppressed. Damage to mosques sustained during this revolt embittered the Egyptian population against the French.
Campaigns in Europeedit
The French were also under pressure in Belgium and Luxembourg where the local people revolted against conscription and anti-religious violence (Peasants' War). French troops deposed Pope Pius VI, establishing a republic in Rome.
On 5 March 1798, French troops overran Switzerland at the invitation of French-speaking factions in Vaud, and the Old Swiss Confederation collapsed. On 12 April 1798, 121 cantonal deputies proclaimed the Helvetic Republic, "One and Indivisible". The new régime abolished cantonal sovereignty and feudal rights. The occupying forces established a centralized state based on the ideas of the French Revolution.
On 18 May the British launched a combined Royal Navy and British Army raid on Ostend to destroy the lock gates of the Bruge Canal and to burn the French gun-ships that were in the harbor. The objectives were achieved but the entire army contingent of 1,300 men was either killed or captured.
Irelandedit
An expeditionary force was sent to County Mayo in Ireland to assist in the rebellion against Britain in the summer of 1798. On 22 August, nearly two months after the main uprisings had been defeated, about 1,000 French soldiers under General Humbert landed in the north-west of the country, at Kilcummin in County Mayo. Joined by up to 5,000 local rebels, they inflicted a humiliating defeat (known as the Castlebar races to commemorate the speed of the British retreat) on the British at the Battle of Castlebar and set up a short-lived "Republic of Connacht", before final defeat at the Battle of Ballinamuck, in County Longford, on 8 September 1798.
Second Coalitionedit
By the end of the year, the European powers, having recovered from their previous defeats and emboldened by Napoleon's absence,[citation needed] organized a new Second Coalition. The only military activity before the end of the year was in Italy, where Naples captured Rome on 28 October but was driven out by the end of the year.
campaigns, 1798, french, revolutionary, wars, this, article, does, cite, sources, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, dece. This article does not cite any sources Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Campaigns of 1798 in the French Revolutionary Wars news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message 1798 was a relatively quiet period in the French Revolutionary Wars The major continental powers in the First coalition had made peace with France leaving France dominant in Europe with only a slow naval war with Great Britain to worry about The leaders of the Directory in Paris feared Napoleon Bonaparte s popularity after his victories in Italy so they were relieved when he proposed to depart France and mount an expedition to Egypt to gain further glory Contents 1 Campaign in Egypt 1 1 Battle of the Nile 2 Campaigns in Europe 2 1 Switzerland 2 2 Ostend Raid 2 3 Ireland 3 Second Coalition 4 See alsoCampaign in Egypt editMain article French Campaign in Egypt and Syria At this time Egypt was a province of the Ottoman Empire but Napoleon viewed invading Egypt as a way to threaten British dominance in the Mediterranean Sea and in India as well as to gain prestige for revolutionary arms Napoleon raised a large army including scientists and cultural experts and sailed from Toulon on 19 May Stopping to capture Malta on 12 June he landed near Alexandria on 2 July and took the city Napoleon s army proceeded to march against the Mameluke armies in Cairo and met them at the Battle of the Pyramids on 21 July Facing a huge army Napoleon organized his army into squares and used his artillery to disperse the Mameluke attacks The Mameluke army retreated into Syria leaving Napoleon dominant in Egypt Battle of the Nile edit nbsp In an isolated incident near Ile d Aix the crew of the vastly outgunned corvette Bayonnaise boarded the British Ambuscade and won her in some of the bloodiest hand to hand fightings of 1798 However the British were threatened by this move and admiral Horatio Nelson rushed to the coast of Egypt There he came upon the French fleet at anchor and systematically destroyed it in the Battle of the Nile Without a fleet Napoleon s army was trapped in Egypt and the majority would never return to France Napoleon consolidated his base in Egypt for the remainder of the year However the local population in Cairo encouraged by the battle of the Nile and annoyed by various taxes and impositions by the French revolted in October killing many of the French but eventually being suppressed Damage to mosques sustained during this revolt embittered the Egyptian population against the French Campaigns in Europe editThe French were also under pressure in Belgium and Luxembourg where the local people revolted against conscription and anti religious violence Peasants War French troops deposed Pope Pius VI establishing a republic in Rome Switzerland edit Main article French invasion of Switzerland nbsp The Battle of NeueneggOn 5 March 1798 French troops overran Switzerland at the invitation of French speaking factions in Vaud and the Old Swiss Confederation collapsed On 12 April 1798 121 cantonal deputies proclaimed the Helvetic Republic One and Indivisible The new regime abolished cantonal sovereignty and feudal rights The occupying forces established a centralized state based on the ideas of the French Revolution Ostend Raid edit Main article Expedition to Ostend On 18 May the British launched a combined Royal Navy and British Army raid on Ostend to destroy the lock gates of the Bruge Canal and to burn the French gun ships that were in the harbor The objectives were achieved but the entire army contingent of 1 300 men was either killed or captured Ireland edit An expeditionary force was sent to County Mayo in Ireland to assist in the rebellion against Britain in the summer of 1798 On 22 August nearly two months after the main uprisings had been defeated about 1 000 French soldiers under General Humbert landed in the north west of the country at Kilcummin in County Mayo Joined by up to 5 000 local rebels they inflicted a humiliating defeat known as the Castlebar races to commemorate the speed of the British retreat on the British at the Battle of Castlebar and set up a short lived Republic of Connacht before final defeat at the Battle of Ballinamuck in County Longford on 8 September 1798 Second Coalition editBy the end of the year the European powers having recovered from their previous defeats and emboldened by Napoleon s absence citation needed organized a new Second Coalition The only military activity before the end of the year was in Italy where Naples captured Rome on 28 October but was driven out by the end of the year See also editFrench Revolution French Revolutionary Wars History of Ottoman EgyptPreceded by1797 French Revolutionary Wars1798 Succeeded by1799 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Campaigns of 1798 in the French Revolutionary Wars amp oldid 1177004066, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
