1796–1799Reputable source · 2 sourcesWell documented
The Italian and Egyptian Campaigns
On the timeline · around 1796–1799 ·
What happened
Napoleon first made his name in the wars of the Revolution. His lightning Italian campaign of 1796–97 shattered the Austrians and turned the young general into a national hero. In 1798 he sailed for Egypt, winning the Battle of the Pyramids against the Mamluks — but the venture unravelled when Admiral Nelson destroyed the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile, stranding the army. Napoleon slipped back to France to seize power.
Why it matters
These campaigns built the Napoleon legend and gave him the fame and prestige he used to overthrow the Directory. The Egyptian expedition also carried scholars whose work — including the discovery of the Rosetta Stone — helped found Egyptology.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Battle of the Pyramids · Reputable source
- World History Encyclopedia. Battle of the Nile · Reputable source
Related timelines
- Ancient Egypt → — The campaign's scholars discovered the Rosetta Stone