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US-ANGLO CAPITALISMEU-NATO IMPERIALISM
Illegitimate Transfer of Inalienable European Rights via Convention(s) & Supranational Bodies
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Enduring Program of DEMOGRAPHICS WAR on Europeans
Enduring Program of PSYCHOLOGICAL WAR on Europeans
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No wars or conditions abroad (& no domestic or global economic pretexts) justify government policy facilitating the invasion of ancestral European homelands, the rape of European women, the destruction of European societies, & the genocide of Europeans.
U.S. RULING OLIGARCHY WAGES HYBRID WAR TO SALVAGE HEGEMONY
[LINK | Article]

*U.S. OLIGARCHY WAGES HYBRID WAR* | U.S. Empire's Casino Unsustainable | Destabilised U.S. Monetary & Financial System | U.S. Defaults Twice A Year | Causes for Global Financial Crisis of 2008 Remain | Financial Pyramids Composed of Derivatives & National Debt Are Growing | *U.S. OLIGARCHY WAGES HYBRID WAR* | U.S. Empire's Casino Unsustainable | Destabilised U.S. Monetary & Financial System | U.S. Defaults Twice A Year | Causes for Global Financial Crisis of 2008 Remain | Financial Pyramids Composed of Derivatives & National Debt Are Growing | *U.S. OLIGARCHY WAGES HYBRID WAR*

Who's preaching world democracy, democracy, democracy? —Who wants to make free people free?
[info from Craig Murray video appearance, follows]  US-Anglo Alliance DELIBERATELY STOKING ANTI-RUSSIAN FEELING & RAMPING UP TENSION BETWEEN EASTERN EUROPE & RUSSIA.  British military/government feeding media PROPAGANDA.  Media choosing to PUBLISH government PROPAGANDA.  US naval aggression against Russia:  Baltic Sea — US naval aggression against China:  South China Sea.  Continued NATO pressure on Russia:  US missile systems moving into Eastern Europe.     [info from John Pilger interview follows]  War Hawk:  Hillary Clinton — embodiment of seamless aggressive American imperialist post-WWII system.  USA in frenzy of preparation for a conflict.  Greatest US-led build-up of forces since WWII gathered in Eastern Europe and in Baltic states.  US expansion & military preparation HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED IN THE WEST.  Since US paid for & controlled US coup, UKRAINE has become an American preserve and CIA Theme Park, on Russia's borderland, through which Germans invaded in the 1940s, costing 27 million Russian lives.  Imagine equivalent occurring on US borders in Canada or Mexico.  US military preparations against RUSSIA and against CHINA have NOT been reported by MEDIA.  US has sent guided missile ships to diputed zone in South China Sea.  DANGER OF US PRE-EMPTIVE NUCLEAR STRIKES.  China is on HIGH NUCLEAR ALERT.  US spy plane intercepted by Chinese fighter jets.  Public is primed to accept so-called 'aggressive' moves by China, when these are in fact defensive moves:  US 400 major bases encircling China; Okinawa has 32 American military installations; Japan has 130 American military bases in all.  WARNING PENTAGON MILITARY THINKING DOMINATES WASHINGTON. ⟴  
Showing posts with label Battle of Trafalgar 1805. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Battle of Trafalgar 1805. Show all posts

June 15, 2016

Battle of Trafalgar 1805






What happened?
Invade Britannia?
 First heard London 1745
'Slaves' inspiration of lyrics
destruction of the Phoenician seafaring trading empire
Colony of Carthage by Roman Republic in 146 BC
 The Punic Wars
Roman Republic v. Carthage Colony / Empire (Phoenician)
series wars:  264 BC to 146 BC
Punic from Latin 'Punicus' = Phoenician (Carthaginian)
Carthage defeated / Roman Republic ascendency
Carthage
Third Punic War
3 year siege by Romans
walls breached, Carthage sacked
Carthage deliberately burned to ground 146 BC
over the space of 17 days
Carthage city walls and buildings were completely destroyed
Carthaginian territories were annexed by Rome
as Roman province of Africa
150,000 to 250,000 est. Carthaginians dead
many died 3 year siege / others in 6 days of fighting
50,000 Carthaginians
(small surviving portion of original population)
sold into slavery by Roman victors
Carthage is where Tunisia is now
Summary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trafalgar

Battle of Trafalgar (Oct 1805)
at:  Cape Trafalgar, Spain
British Royal Navy vs. combined French & Spanish fleets

decisive naval engagement of Napoleonic Wars
1.  control of the seas
2.  averted possibility of French invasion & conquest of Britain

Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson 

FLAG SIGNAL SENT FROM HMS Victory:

"England expects that every man will do his duty"

Ships in fleet misrecorded signal as:  "England expects every man to do his duty"

It is the misrecorded, prevalent version that is on tomb of Horatio Nelson,
St Paul's Cathedral

Battle of Trafalgar (Oct 1805)
at:  Cape Trafalgar, Spain
during:  War of Third Coalition (Aug-Dec 1805)
        European conflict:  1803 to 1806

  •         France, Napoleon I     + French client states
  •         v. THIRD COALITION
THIRD COALITION
  • Holy Roman Empire (Germany)
  • Russian Empire
  • Britain
  • Kingdom of Naples
  • Kingdom of the Two Sicilies Kingdom of Sicily
  • Sweden
  • Kingdom of France French royalists
versus

France - French Empire, Napoleon I

  • Spain
  • Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic) Etruria
  • Batavian Republic (Dutch Netherlands)
  • Napoleonic Italy
  • Electorate of Bavaria Bavaria
  • Württemberg
  • Poland Polish Legions
War of Third Coalition Battles
  • Central Europe
  • Italy
  • Atlantic
Result:  French victory

TREATY OF PRESSBURG (1805)
- consolidation of French Empire
- dissolution of Holy Roman Empire
- Confederation of the Rhine, created
*Fourth Coalition formed few months later:  hostilities resume

-------/\/\/\ 

 
Interesting European History Detour 

Holy Roman Empire
alliance between Rome's pope and German tribes confederation
starts 799 AD
800 AD crowning of Charlemagne
Charles the Great, King of Franks - founder Carolingian Empire
born in what is now Belgium (otherwise in Germany)
Charlemagne crowned by pope, in exchange for protection
irrespective of:  existing Roman Empire of the East (Constantinople)
Charlemagne's mission, uniting all of Western Europe for first time since fall of Rome ... by the sword, ie. by forced conversion to the non-European system of social and political control known as 'Christianity'
http://www.roman-emperors.org/leoiii.htm

Summary
Source, book:  Simon Dubnov, Moche Spiegel 'History of the Jews' below:
Dec. 25, 800 AD
Charlemagne Crowned by Pope Leo III

as Emperor of Romans &  "the most pious Augustus"
at St Peter's Basilica, Rome

ALONGSIDE EXISTING BYZANTINE EMPIRE - REMNANT OF FORMER EAST-ROMAN EMPIRE - THERE RE-EMERGED THE WEST-ROMAN EMPIRE OF ITALY & MIDDLE EUROPE

Holy Roman Empire (Western Roman Empire) of Italy & Middle Europe
capitals = France & Germany

Rome as spiritual & religious capital
Only much later, when pope/church power surpassed power of king, were Jews subjected to religious sector of state
In meantime, Charlemagne & successors, had Jews of new empire under patronage
& pope was reliant on Charlemagne protection
friendly relations between Holy Roman Empire new power & Jews in Narbonne, France (south)
district previously annexed to Visigoth Spain & previously under control of conquering Arabs
759 AD army of Franks, led by King Pepin (hunchback, father of Charlemagne (eldest son)) conquered Narbonne
with help of Christians - who slaughtered Arabs & surrendered city to Franks / alternatively help of Jews [not clear to me].

'Acts of Charlemagne' texts:

Jewish community of Narbonne had existing full autonomy
even had king of own of Davidic dynasty who had come from Baghdad
Isaac, chief of Jewish delegation reportedly informed Charles
if Jews surrender would not be traitors to Arabs [that makes no sense if Jews killed the Arabs, so Christians must have?]
Jewish delegation gifts Charles with 70,000 'marks' in name of Jewish king
& declares submission on condition that former autonomous community may remain intact

Charlemagne consented & granted Jews one-third of Narbonne
one-third awarded to bishop
one-third awarded to Count Emmerich
Jewish zone administered by Rabbi Makhir, descendant of Davidic dynasty
summoned by Charlemagne from Babylon & appointed as 'Nasi' (prince) / patriarch of Jews
[Therefore Narbonne division is:  Jews, Church, Nobility.]
Founders of Carolingian dynasty cooperative with Jews of Narbonne
Jews of Narbone political favour of significance to Franks
due to struggle with Arab invaders of Spain FOR control of south of France

Jews of Narbonne also enjoyed special privileges after city recaptured from Arabs
Pope Stephanus III wrote letter re Jews being permitted to own land & live with Christians
Pope Stephanus II:
"Christians till the fields and vineyards; male and female Christians living under one roof ... justice demands that all promises that were made to those unbelievers ... be abolished, because of the death of the crucified Redeemer."
Charlemagne consented to granting Jews previous privileges of Jews under Arabs:  owning land and hiring labour.
However, Charlemagne recognised Jews as main players in world trade in peak of Baghdad Caliphate, enabled by constant relations between Jewish communities of Asia and Europe.  Jewish merchants (Randanites) spoke multiple languages and travelled with goods to Asia and Africa.

Narbonne & Marseilles  = centres of international trade with mixed population. 

'History of Jews' indicates that Jews, as in ancient times, were among shipowners who shipped cargo & passengers across world.  Carolingian official documents often refer to 'Jewish and other merchants", so Jews appear pre-eminent among the traders.

Jews played key role as intermediaries in international trade (between the Baghdad Caliphate and Charlemagne).  Jews also played role in the political relations.  Jews interpreters and emissaries in negotiations with the Arabs.

Jews were under protection of the emperor
Jews could not be unlawfully harassed, slandered or have property unlawfully transferred or confiscated
Special taxes could not levied of Jews
Jews could live according to own laws (proviso:  release Christians from Sunday & holy day labour)
Jews could buy and sell foreign Moslem and pagan slaves, but slaves could not be baptised without approval of their Jewish masters (which would be denied, as law freed slave converts to Christianity). 
Jews and Christians were equal under the law courts.  But Jews were apparently more equal:
Jews were not to be subject to fire, boiling water or whipping if it is contrary to Jewish law.
In crimes of killing or incitement to kill, answerable to emperor. 
Relations with Christians were friendly in France & Jews had high status.

Clergy was unhappy with this and problems began when archbishop of Lyon began to incite hostility of Christians during sermons.
Above source, book:  Simon Dubnov, Moche Spiegel 'History of the Jews'
author:  this historian

More | Holy Roman Empire

-------/\/\/\

Interesting European History Detour 
Charlemagne, Holy Roman Emperor
three-decades of battles against the Germanic Saxons
782 AD - Massacre of Verden
Charlemagne ordered slaughter of 4,500 Saxons
force-converted Saxons to Christianity
/ all who refused were killed


[wikpedia]

*** Apart from the non-believable / superstitious factor of all religion, this force (and foreign political and social control factor) is why I cannot understand continued acceptance of what is domination by mortals, claiming to represent the wishes/communications etc of 'god' and the failure of the masses to simply accept that there is nothing but the law of man and that law is:  might is right.  Might derives from wealth and position.  That is all there is.

This intellectual oppression and backwardness exists hundred of years later because the same institutions refuse to relinquish power and privilege.  Even more horrifying:  we are heading backwards.  European societies are being invaded as a policy of the economic-political elite.  The West is about to collapse, and the world will be plunged into hundreds of years of darkness again.

Pope Leo III the Isaurian
ie the Syrian
born in Germanicia, North Syria (Anatolia, later Maraş, Turkey)
original name:  Konon
his family was removed by Emperor Justinian to Mesembria
(Bulgarian Black Sea coast) /  Thrace
refused to acknowledge Theodosius III's claim to imperial throne
joined forces with Artabasdos, general of Armeniakon
to force abdication
Meanwhile, Arabs invading
Arabs besiege Constantinople 717 AD

Byzantine Empire territories lost to Germanic, Slav and Arab incursions
loss of territories + underwater earthquake (Thera & Therasia 726 AD)
seen as signal of divine displeasure
Leo III  - "the first Iconoclast emperor"
( icon of Mary / superstitious protection ritual )
Leo III driven by desire for unity of empire
under threat from Arabs
Leo III allied with Khazars & Georgians versus Arabs
740 AD decisive in halting Umayyad Arab advance
Leo III unity drive also resulted in forced conversions of Jews + Montanists

Montanists = 2nd Century AD, f. by Montanus, early Christian sect
Montanus was a priest of Apollo or Cybele
believed he was a prophet of god
believed Paraclete (holy spirit) spoke through him

741 AD - Leo III succeeded by his son:  Constantine V

http://www.roman-emperors.org/leoiii.htm


-------/\/\/\

Back to Horatio Nelson

Battle of Trafalgar (1805)
at:  Cape Trafalgar, Spain /  British Commanders:

  • Admiral Lord Nelson
  • Cuthbert Collingwood
33 British Ships
vs. 41 combined French & Spanish


British      French    Spanish
458 dead               2,218        1,025
1,208 wounded      1,155        1,383

POW                     4,000        4,000   (*3,000 drowned in storm)


British imposed a naval blockade on France
French trade affected
French unable to fully mobilise own navy
French managed evasions of blockade, but did not inflict major defeat on British
British attacked French interests domestically and abroad with ease

Peace of Amiens
= 1802, ended hostilities French & UK
but Napoleon reportedly determined to invade Britain
to do so, control of English Channel needed
Third Coalition declared war on France
French main fleets at


  • BREST, BRITTANY
  • TOULON, MEDITERRANEAN COAST
smaller squadrons at other ports of French Atlantic
Spanish fleet


  • CADIZ
  • FERROL
British fleets well-trained & experienced

However, best officers of French navy
EXECUTED OR LEFT SERVICE - IN EARLY FRENCH REVOLUTION


French Command
Vice-Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve
command of French Mediterranean fleet
(on death of Latouche Treville)
more competent officers employed elsewhere
or fell out of favour with Napoleon Bonaparte

1798 - Battle of the Nile (1798)
British defeated French
Villeneuve not keen on British engagement

1805 Napoleon navy plan
was for French & Spanish fleets in Med. & Cadiz to:
    - break through blockade
    - join forces in Caribbean
    - then return to assist Brest fleet to emerge from blockade
    - jointly clear English Channel of British ships
    - ensuring safe passage for invasion barges

1805, Vice Admiral Lord Nelson
commanded British fleet blockading Toulon
maintained loose blockade, hoping to lure French


LOL ... I found the:  poop deck / I can't help laughing at that.  I know, it's so juvenile of me.
Poop Deck
technically:  stern deck
naval architecture
deck forms roof of cabin built in rear ('aft') of superstructure of ship
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poop_deck
originates from:  la poupe (French 'stern', from Latin 'puppis')
stern - rear part
fm. sterne, poss. Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse stjōrn, rudder
Battle
Looks like battle was fought on basis of columns of British attack ships
A.  French / Spanish in arc of ships with back-up ships sparse

B. English in x2 parallel line formations head for central French/Spanish arc.
Ships at tip (van) of British lines more concentrated than the rear of the line
probably for impact and for cover (rear ones must be for back-up)

Vice-Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve
ordered by Napoleon to sail Combined Fleet from Cadiz to Naples
war council held on Velleneuve flagship, Bucentaure
overall length, almost 60 metres
80-gun ship of the line
was the flagship of Vice-Admiral Latouche Tréville, who died onboard
shot in the arm by a musket ball 1780
during the American War of Independence
battle b/w frigates Hermoine & HMS Iris (British)
location:  Long Island

Purpose of Nelson's parallel line formation
was to cut into the arc of French Spanish ships, cutting line into 3
surrounding one-third and forcing them to fight to end
by cutting line in front of flagship, rear isolated ships would not see flagship's signals
taking those ships out of combat while they reformed (it was hoped)
tactics of going straight at target used by:
Admiral Duncan, Battle of Camperdown 1797 (v. Dutch / Holland)
Admiral Jervis, Battle of Cape St Vincent 1797 (v. Spain / near Portugal)

Advantages of plan:
1.  reduced chance that Franco-Spanish would flee (forced fight)
2.  breaking line = series of ship-to-ship actions
    faster gunnery & better morale of British advantage
3.  concentration on rear of Franco-Spanish fleet / ships on van would take long time to turn to support


van = vanguard / advance guard - leading part of advancing military formation
 

Medieval Army Tradition
 
    'van' = derived from medieval army traditional division
    medieval dived into three (3) -  BATTLES or WARDS
        1.  Van -
vanguard - advance guard / front
        2.  Middle
        3.  Rear - protects from attack from rear
             aka 'rereward' or 'rearward'
             rearmost (if deployed in column)
             left-hand ward (if deployed in line)

        Rearguard in military tactics established by battles of 1800s.
        Before mechanisation of troop formations,
        rearguard tactics usually used cavalry forces.
        *later highly mobile infantry + mechanised (armoured) forces

        narrow definition of rearguard = covering attachment protecting main ground force
        WWI & WWI rearguard definition became more expansive
        rearguard became minor unit of regular or irregular troops protecting withdrawal
        of large numbers of military or civilian personnel
        methods:  blocking, defending, delaying or interfering
        purpose:  to gain time (for regrouping)


  •         defensive action (holding territory); or
  •         pre-emptive assault on enemy offensive ops ('spoiling attack')
Rearguard actions in nation-state battles combat is desperate & vicious
Rearguard can expect high casualties, if not suicide mission


[Find the tactics really exciting and interesting.  Must be such a rush being a commanding officer ... It must also feel really good to be in combat, if you know what you're doing (and if you don't get hurt).  This is weird, but I sort of get a rush just from reading about tactics.  Probably because I'm perfectly safe here at the keyboard.  LOL]

Burgundian Army 1400s
van / vanguard typically consisted of:

1.  FORE-RIDERS contingent (forward scouts drawn from this section)
2.  MAIN BODY of vanguard (accompanying civil officials, trumpeters, messengers, summon surrender of towns)
3.  WORKMEN under direction of Master of Artillery (aim:  clear obstacles that obstruct logistics & artillery)

Artillery - large-calibre weapons, eg cannon, howitzers, missile launchers / operated by crews. [TFD]
[from Old French, from artillier, to equip [TFD]]

Trafalgar Battle Plan
Nelson instructed his captains of battle plan
over x2 dinners abroad HMS Victory
order of sailing (ie where ships were when enemy sighted)
would be order of action that followed
therefore no time wasted on creating set formation
second in command:  Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood
easy recognition:
Nelson Chequer - Nelson ordered the ships of his fleet
painted in a distinctive yellow & black pattern

Nelson knew not to over-plan tactics & to give captains free hand
as nothing is sure in sea battle / chance factor (Machiavelli considered chance factor, too, I think)
circumstances would dictate actions
subject to only guiding rule:
1.  enemy's rear to be cut off
2.  concentrated force on the cut off enemy rear


[Imagine how cool it would be studying different military compositions, battle tactics and traditions of eg. Persians, Mongols, Ottomans, Native Americans, Romans, Greeks and so on.]

Villeneuve anticipated attack on rear
drawn pre-battle chase exhausted Villeneuve
who lost his courage
Villeneuve did not act on anticipation

/ inexperienced officers
/ maintain formation in more than one group unlikely

French internal power struggle or similar
Villeneuve was to be replaced by another
but found pretext to sail prior disgrace before fleet

 
WEATHER TURNED FROM CALM TO A WEEK OF GALES
slowing progress of Combined Fleet =  British plenty of warning
of Combined Fleet departure from harbour
reluctance of some captains to leave Cadiz 

= did not follow Villeneuve orders closely & straggled from harbour
without set formation
fleet set in order after several days

/ spotted force of 18 British ships in pursuit
began to prepare for battle in night
/ ordered into single line
Nelson's fleet in pursuit with wind behind
Villeneuve ordered 3 columns but changed to single line
result:  sprawling formation
some change ordered (turn about), causing problems for inexperienced seamen
some problem with wind conditions (light)
caused delay & ragged formation

Nelson outnumbered & out-gunned:

Combined Fleet    Britain / Nelson


30,000 men            17,000 men
 2,568 guns              2,148 guns

As British drew close, officers and sailors - anxiety
perception:  England's fate rested on this battle

Nelson went to poop / rear deck & ordered signal:

ENGLAND CONFIDES (EXPECTS) THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY

using 'England' to refer to United Kingdom

British fleet included significant contingents from:


  • Ireland
  • Scotland
  • Wales
Tricky Move
Nelson led column to van (front / left) of Franco-Spanish arc
& abruptly turned to point of attack

ships moving very slowly because winds light

British ships in front under heavy gunfire from several Franco-Spanish ships for hour
before they could employ own guns

Villeneuve signal:  'Engage the enemy"

British Royal Sovereign outran rest of British fleet & was in firing line
managed to break line & fire devastating shot at Santa Ana

HMS Belleisle under fire 45 minutes until British ships came to rescue
de-masted completely, unable to move / fight


HMS Victory was under fire 40 minutes
projectiles wounded crew & shot wheel away
had to be steered from tiller belowdecks
HMS Victory cut Franco-Spanish line at 12:45
coming close to Bucentaure, killing & wounding many gundecks


HMS Victory locked masts with French Redoutable
crew of Redoutable, which included strong infantry corps
gathered for attempt to board & seize HMS Victory

Nelson Wounded

Nelson struck in left shoulder by musket bullet fired from mizzentop of Redoubtable
bullet passed through his spine at 6th & 7th thoracic vertebrae
middle segment (abt. base neck to end rib-cage)

lodged 2 inches below his right scapula (big flat shoulder bone) in muscles of his back

mizzentop is platform at upper end of each lower mast
fightingtop
could be manned by snipers or swivel guns to fire on enemy decks
swivel gun = mini cannons

HMS Victory gunners called on deck to fight boarding enemy
HMS Victory had ceased firing
gunners forced below decks by French grenades

Nelson carried below deck

As second French ship prepared to board HMS Victory, British ship approached & fired on French
high casualties caused by carronade
carronade is a cannon on big wheels, made by Carron Company, ironworks, Scotland
powerful short-range anti-ship and anti-crew weapon
eventually fell out of use as rifled naval artillery changed shape of shell & engaged in fewer close engagements

Rifling
is swirly or twisted grooves inside barrel of firearm
which gives projectile a spin, which stabilises the projectile
& makes projectile more aerodynamic & accurate

Bucentaure (enemy flagship)
was isolated & under attack
surrendered in 3 hours

Franco-Spanish centre and rear overwhelmed as more British ships entered battle
Franco-Spanish van (front / lead) sailed away

British took 22 vessels of Franco-Spanish fleet & lost none

Nelson, dying, ordered fleet to anchor as storm approaching
even so, severely damaged ships sank or ran aground on shoals
some recaptured by French & Spanish prisoners overcoming small seizure crews
others recaptured by ships from Cadiz

Nelson seemed to have a big thing about doing one's duty
Reportedly, on deathbed, pleased that he had done his duty

Nelson last recorded words:   "God and my country"
Nelson may have been reciting prayer

Horatio Nelson died 4:30 - 3 hrs after being hit
Nelson's corpse was preserved in barrel of brandy
Nelson buried in St Paul's Cathedral
Nelson memorial column erected Trafalgar Square

[Battle continues ... but it's not the same without Nelson]

Looks like the Franco-Spanish kept attacking to get back the seized ships
influenced Collingwood's decision to sink or set fire to the most damaged of remaining prizes
Only x4 seized ships survived to be taken to Britain


HMS Victory headed to Gibraltar for repairs, carrying Nelson's corpse
Rosia Bay, Gibraltar repairs before return to Britain
injured crew brought ashore & treated at Gibraltar naval hospital

Trafalgar Cemetery
in Gibraltar dead from injuries buried

Defeat was kept secret for over a month by France
French media was tightly controlled
when news broke, it was proclaimed a victory

[I'd say French media remains tightly controlled.]

Vice-Admiral Villeneuve aboard his flagship, taken to Britain as prisoner.
1806 released. Returned to France.  Stabbed x6 to chest with dining knife.
French officially recorded this as 'suicide'
[So corrupt.  Who does that?  No wonder I get bad vibes from the French.]
Although Battle of Trafalgar was British victory
this had negligible impact on War of Third Coalition
Napoleon decisively defeated Third Coalition in BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ
knocking Austria out of war & forcing dissolution of Holy Roman Empire
but Battle of Trafalgar meant Napoleon could no longer challenge British at sea

Napoleon's next move:  Continental System establishment
to deny Britain trade with continent
Napoleonic Wars continued another decade after Trafalgar
French were never able to seriously challenge British in large-scale engagement

  • French were never able to seriously challenge British in large-scale engagement
  • French were forced to abandon immediate plans for invasion of Britain

but French threat continued:  Napoleon began large-scale shipbuilding program
that had produced 80 ships by time of his fall 1814
(+ more under construction)
Britain had 99 active ships
given time, French could have overwhelmed British in time, with sheer numbers
almost a decade after Trafalgar, British navy maintained close blockade of French bases
but Napoleon's empire fell in time
*main difference = morale of the leaders  /  morale of leadership won the battle

British Royal Navy dominated the sea until WWII
victory at Trafalgar given as reason
but historians now argue that economic strength was an important cause of British naval mastery

1905 Centenary

1905 centenary not attended by royal family to avoid upsetting french (recent 'Entente cordiale' agreements series)

Gala was held at Royal Albert Hall but event ended with


  • God save the King
  • La Marseillaise
[That's just b*llshit.  Nelson scarified his life.  What an insult to Nelson.  Assh*les.]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trafalgar
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Horatio Nelson
1758-1805
born at the Rectory of Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk
son of the village rector Edmund Nelson
Royal Navy at Chatham (1770)
Captain Maurice Suckling , uncle, patronage


  • first attachment:  Caribbean-bound merchant ship
  • then expedition to the Arctic (1773)
  • India thereafter
near fatal malarial fever / recurrent partial paralysis + incurable sea-sickness
  • 1779 - age of 20, captain of frigate in West Indies
  • American War
served under Admiral Robert Digby & Lord Samul Hood during American War
  • 1784 - return  to West Indies:  enforcement of:
NAVIGATION ACTS preventing direct trade between remaining colonies & new American states
rigid enforcement of law brought him into conflict with:
    - traders
    - commander-in-chief
    - governor of Leewward Island
this rotten lot tried to have Nelson removed or court-martialled
Nelson successfully petitioned to Admiralty & King George III
on Nevis, married widow with son
out of favour with Admiralty on return to Britain
for doing his duty in the West Indies

& reportedly with King George for associating with disreputable son
Nelson was refused another ship
but recalled 5 years later at outbreak of wars with France
Revolutionary Wars:  1792-1802
1794 tasked with securing Corsica for British
during attack on Calvi, Nelson blinded in right eye by stone splinters
returned to duty following day, despite injury

British fleet encountered Spanish fleet off Cape St Vincent
British heavily out-gunned
but British decisive win 1797
credit:  Nelson - bold, unorthodox tactics (again)
Nelson received knighthood

detached to Santa Cruz in the Canary Islands
to capture rumoured Spanish treasure
lost right arm by grapeshot injury (amputation)
grapeshot:  mass of small metal balls (not single projectile)

Battle of the Nile
1798 - Abu Qir (Aboukir) Bay - Alexandria, Egypt
dusk attacks by Nelson
British win / massive French losses
leaving French army stranded in Egypt

Nelson was wounded
Nelson returned to Naples for recovery
affair with wife of Sir William Hamilton (Emma)
granted peerage:  Baron Nelson of the Nile
appointed principal military adviser to Court of Ferdinand IV, King of Two Sicilies

Controversy
1.  advice to send army to recapture Rome from French (big defeat)
2.  affair with Emma Hamilton

Relinquished command b/c ill health
overland escort of Hamiltons to England
Separation from wife on return
Emma Hamilton pregnant with daughter Horatia
financial issues led to return to active service
1801 - promotion:  vice-admiral
second in command:  expedition to break armed neutrality of Baltic States
engaged in battle with Danish fleet, coast of Copenhagen
heavy losses, both sides
lol ... ignored commanding officer's signal to disengage from firing
reportedly put telescope to blind eye & claimed he did not see signal
hour later battle was won
Nelson elevated to viscount
& appointed commander in chief of fleet & commanding officer (Parker) was recalled
next assignment:  flagship HMS Victory / Battle of Trafalgar (above)

Emma Hamilton died in abject poverty in Calais nine years later.
Nelson's daughter Horatia returned to Norfolk & married clergyman.

http://www.ourcivilisation.com/smartboard/shop/nelsonh/about.htm


Horatio Nelson
Invade Britannia

Rule, Britannia!
Lyrics

Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves!
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.

When Britain first, at heaven's command,
Arose from out the azure main,
This was the charter of the land,
And Guardian Angels sang this strain:

(Chorus)

The nations not so blest as thee
Must, in their turn, to tyrants fall,
While thou shalt flourish great and free:
The dread and envy of them all.

(Chorus)

Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
More dreadful from each foreign stroke,
As the loud blast that tears the skies
Serves but to root thy native oak.

(Chorus)

Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame;
All their attempts to bend thee down
Will but arouse thy generous flame,
But work their woe and thy renown.

(Chorus)

To thee belongs the rural reign;
Thy cities shall with commerce shine;
All thine shall be the subject main,
And every shore it circles, thine.

(Chorus)

The Muses, still with freedom found,
Shall to thy happy coasts repair.
Blest isle! with matchless beauty crowned,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.

(Chorus)
Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves!
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.

Source | Lyrics



COMMENT

So daring.  Wow, I like Nelson a lot.   My new hero.

The Villeneuve stabbing is ugly.  It's not nice to say this, but I don't think I like the French much.  Seem untrustworthy, vicious and treacherous.

Even so, Napoleon seems kind of impressive:  didn't give up.  Began large-scale ship-building.  Got to admire that.  LOL

Think the Battle of Trafalgar should be celebrated in a big way by the British and not doing so on the centenary was an insult to Nelson, as was playing the French national anthem on Nelson's day.  Immediate interests of appeasing the French should not have come before properly honouring a national hero.  That's a disgrace.

Nelson seems really exceptional.   Not sure if it was worthwhile giving up his life for the nobility/merchant class of Britain, especially when they unfairly punished him for doing his duty blocking trade (per British law) and when, in the end, they dishonoured him on the centenary of his sacrifice for his country. Or is that sacrifice for the wealthy, ruling nobles and merchant class?

If Nelson could see his country today, he would probably conclude it wasn't worth dying for an England that was stolen by the nobility and merchant class from under natural Englishmen, and handed to third world invaders that displace Horatio Nelson's people today.

Signing Off With Russians