Countryside of Egypt

The countryside of Egypt indicates military forwarding in Egypt, carried out by the general Bonaparte and its successors of 1798 to 1801, in order to seize Egypt and the East, within the framework of the fight against the Great Britain, only power to maintain the hostilities to revolutionary France.

It doubles of an scientific exhibition, many historians, botanists, draftsmen accompanying the army in order to Re-discover the richnesses of Egypt. It thus is sometimes also called forwarding of Egypt when its with dimensions martial scientist is considered.

The May 19th 1798 (30 floréal) the French task force leaves Toulon, but ships accompany them by Genoa, Ajaccio, Civitavecchia. On the whole more than 400 ships take part in this fleet, like: 40000 men and: 10000 sailors. The fleet first of all seizes Malta the June 11th, then unloads with Alexandria on July 1st.

One of the most famous battles of this countryside is the Bataille of the Pyramids which takes place the July 21st 1798.

Context

It is the mode of the Directoire which decides forwarding of Egypt. The directors who assume the executive power in France have recourse to the army to maintain the order vis-a-vis the threats Jacobin are and royalist. They call upon the Bonaparte general, already haloed success, in particular thanks to the countryside of Italy.

The goal of forwarding remained secret a long time: some think that it is necessary to move away Napoleon Bonaparte too cumbersome and too ambitious; but it is especially a question of obstructing the British commercial power, for which Egypt is an important part on the road of the the Eastern Indies. As France is not ready to attack Great Britain of face, the Directoire decides the indirect intervention.

Egypt is then a province of the Ottoman Empire, folded up on itself and subjected to the dissensions of the Mamelouk S. She escapes narrow control from the Sultan. In France, the Egyptian fashion beats full sound: Napoleon Bonaparte dreams to walk on the traces of Alexandre Large the. The intellectuals think that Egypt is the cradle of Western civilization and that France was to bring the Lumières to the Egyptian people. Lastly, the French traders installed on the the Nile complain about the annoyances caused by the Mamelouk S.

Before the departure of Toulon

The noise runs suddenly that: 40000 troops of ground and: 10000 sailors are brought together in the ports of the the Mediterranean; that an immense armament prepares with Toulon: 13 ship of the lines, 14 frigates, 400 buildings are equipped for transport with this many army, whose destination is always an impenetrable mystery: Where does it go? One does not know. Why the Commission of sciences and arts did send to Toulon 100 its members taken in each one of its classes? Would one intend to go to found a colony in some distant ground?

The general-in-chief Bonaparte has under his orders Berthier, Caffarelli, Kléber, Desaix, Lannes, Damas, Murat, Andréossy, Belliard, Menou and Zayonscheck, etc Among his aide-de-camps one notices his brother Louis Bonaparte, Duroc, Eugene de Beauharnais, noble Polish Sulkowski.

The large fleet of Toulon had received the squadrons of Genoa, of Civitavecchia, Bastia; it is ordered by the admiral Brueys and the rear-admirals Villeneuve, Duchayla, Decrès and Gantheaume.

One is about to install and leave, when an incident of little real importance comes all to suspend and all to stop: the Tricolor raised on the Palate of France, in the capital of Austria, by Bernadotte, ambassador of the French Republic, had given place to a tumult in which the character of the ambassador was insult, and Bernadotte had left Vienna. The advantages recognized by the Traité of Campo-Formio are thus called in question, and a glorious peace, obtained after so many combat and sacrifices, seems broken where one flattered oneself to see it strengthened for a long time.

In fear of a rupture with the emperor, the Directoire sees only one man, Bonaparte, that it was advisable to oppose to him. However, after some explanations, the businesses are arranged and peace is maintained. Bonaparte receives order to go to Toulon as soon as possible.

Bonaparte arrives at Toulon the May 9th. Ten days after, at the time of embarking, addressing himself particularly to its brave men of the army of Italy, he says to them: Soldiers! you are one of the wings of the Armée with England. You made the war of the mountains, the plains and the seats; it remains you to make the maritime war. The Roman legions, that you sometimes imitated, but not equalized yet, fought Carthage in turn on this same sea and with the plains of Zama. The victory never gave up them, because constantly they were brave, patient to support the tirednesses, disciplined and linked between them… Soldiers, sailors, you were so far neglected; today, the greatest solicitude of the Republic is for you… The spirit of the liberty, which returned, as of its birth, the Republic, referee of Europe, wants that it is to it seas and nations more lointaines.

The day of its arrival, he had said to them: I promise with each soldier that with the return of this forwarding, it will have at his disposal what to buy six arpents of ground .

Catch of Malta

The army, full with confidence in the talents of its general, embarks with joy; twenty days after, it is in front of Malta. Bonaparte did not have certainly any legitimate reason to attack and take this island of sharp force; it pleads the futile ones, and, thanks to the little of attachment which the population had preserved for the knights, it is enough to some blows of gun to make fall the frightening fortress from Valetta to the capacity from the French.

Bonaparte seizes Malta by the reason most extremely, and especially because of its important position in the the Mediterranean.

Before leaving this island, the general-in-chief makes free the prisoners mahométans who languished in the bagnes of the religion. There was in this act, at least as much of policy than of humanity: one was going to fight against Moslems, it was necessary, as much as possible, to make them favorable by generous processes. Thirteen days after the departure of Malta, the fleet is for Alexandria. Before the unloading, which was done immediately, the general had addressed this proclamation to his army: The people with whom we will live are mahométans; their first article of faith is this one: “There is of another God only God, and Mahomet is its prophet”. Contradicted them not; act with them as you acted with the Jews, with the Italians; have regards for their muphtis and their imans, as you had for the rabbis and the bishops. Have for the ceremonies which the Koran prescribes, for the mosques, the same tolerance that you had for the convents, the synagogs, the religion of Brace and that of Jesus-Christ. The Roman legions protected all the religions. You will find here uses different from those of Europe, it should be accustomed there. The people to whom we go, treat the women differently that us; but in all the countries that which viol is a monster. Plundering enriches only one small number of men; it dishonors us, it destroys our resources; it returns to us enemy of the people which it is of our interest to have for friends. The first city that we will meet was built by Alexandre. We will find with each step of great worthy memories to excite the emulation of Français.

Unloading in Alexandria

Menou, which was to leave the last the Egypt, there takes ground the first. Bonaparte and Kléber unload together and unite it in the night in Marabou, on which in Africa the first Tricolor is planted. The general-in-chief, educated that Alexandria for him to oppose resistance, hastens to unload, and at two o'clock in the morning, it is started on three columns, arrives at the improvist under the walls of the place, orders the attack; the enemy yields and flees. The French soldiers, in spite of the order of their chief, precipitate in the city, which does not have time to capitulate and goes to discretion.

Once main of this capital, and before penetrating front on the Egyptian ground, the winner addresses on July 1st a proclamation to the Moslem inhabitants of Alexandria. Since too a long time the beys who control Egypt insult with the French nation and cover its traders of affronts. The hour of their punishment arrived. Since too a long time this bunch of slaves, bought in the Caucasus and Georgia, the most beautiful part of the world tyrannizes; but God, on whom depends all, ordered that their empire finishes. Populate of Egypt, one will say to you that I come to destroy your religion, do not believe it; answer that I come to restore you your rights, to punish the usurpers, and that I respect God, his prophet and Coran more than Mameloucks. Say to them that all the men are equal in front of God; wisdom, the talents, the virtues put only difference between them… Is there a more beautiful ground? it belongs to Mameloucks. If Egypt is their farm, that they show the lease that God made some to them… Cadis, sheiks, imans, tchorbadjis, known as with the people which we are also of Moslem truths. Isn't this we who destroyed the knights of Malta? Isn't this we who destroyed the pope who said that it was necessary to make the war with the Moslems? Isn't this we who were in all times the friends of the Large-Lord and the enemies of his enemies? … Three times happy those which will be with us! They will thrive in their fortune and their row. Happy those which will be neutral! they will have time to know us, and they will line up with us. But misfortune, three times misfortune with those which will be armed for Mameloucks and which fight against us! There will be no hope for them, they périront.

When all is completely unloaded, the admiral Brueys receives order to lead the fleet in the damping of Aboukir. As for the squadron, it must, or to enter the old port of Alexandria, if that may be, or to go to Corfou. The indubitable arrival of the English, who already had shown themselves in trimmings of Alexandria twenty-four hours before the arrival of the French, make these precautions necessary. It is moreover greatest caution to avoid the chances of a naval action: a defeat could have the most disastrous continuations under so much of reports/ratios; it is still greater interest as fast as possible to go on Cairo, in order to frighten the chiefs of the enemies and to surprise them before they had taken all their measurements of defense.

Towards the battle of the Pyramids

Desaix gets under way with its division and two parts of countryside; it arrives, through the desert, the 18 messidor, with Demenhour, fifteen miles of Alexandria. Bonaparte, by leaving this last city, leaves the command to Kléber of it. The general Dugua walk on Rivet washer; it has order to seize and protect the entry in the port from it from the French flotilla, which must follow the road of Cairo, on left bank of this river, and join the army by Rahmanié. The 20, Bonaparte arrives at Demenhour, where it finds the army joined together. The 22, one are started for Rahmanié: one rests there while waiting for the flotilla, which carries the provisions: it arrives the 24. The army restarts during the night; the flotilla follows its movement.

The violence of the winds suddenly involves it beyond the left of the army and the growth against the enemy flotilla. This one is supported by the fire of: 4000 Mamelukes, reinforced peasants and Arabs, and however, though inferiors of number, the French make lose with the enemy his launches drain-holes. Attracted by the noise of the gun, Bonaparte runs to the step of load. The village of Chebreis is attacked and carried after two hours of a combat of keenest. The enemy flees in disorder towards Cairo, leaving 600 died on the battle field.

After one day of rest in Chebreis, the victorious army goes back to its continuation. Thermidor 2, one arrives at a half mile of the village of Embabé. Heat is unbearable: the army, overpowered of tiredness, would have needed to take some rest; but the Mamelukes whom one saw spreading in front of the village, do not give him time of them. Bonaparte arranges its troops in battle, and showing them famous Pyramides which one saw behind of the left of the enemy, would have exclaimed Soldiers, think that top of these monuments, forty centuries contemplate you . And at the same time, it orders the attack. It is the beginning of the Bataille of the Pyramids, victorious for the French troops.

Victoire of the pyramids, defeat of Aboukir

The brigade Dupuy, which continues to follow the enemy in rout, between during the night in Cairo that the beys Mourad and Ibrahim had just left.

Thermidor 4, the large ones of this capital go to Gizeh, near the general-in-chief, and offer to him to give the city to him. Three days after, it transports its general headquarter there. Desaix receives the order to follow Mourad, which had taken the way of the High-Egypt. A body of observation is placed at Elkanka to supervise the movements of Ibrahim, who moved towards the Syria. Bonaparte in person is put at its continuation, beats it with Salahie and completely drives out it of Egypt, after which it returns to Cairo.

Chemin making, it receives the news that the French fleet had just been destroyed almost entirely by the English, at the time of a battles in Aboukir.

Bonaparte in Egypt

However Bonaparte, as good policy as skilful general, behaves in Egypt as if he were the absolute monarch.

Little time after arrives the birthday of the birth of the prophet; this solemnity is celebrated with the largest pump. Bonaparte directs itself the military evolutions which take place on this occasion; it appears with the festival and in the sheik vêtu with Eastern, the turban at the head! it is on this occasion that the couch qualifies it title of Ali-Bonaparte . About the same time, it makes take severe measures for the protection of the caravan of the pilgrims who go to Mecque. On this subject, he wrote itself a letter with the governor of this city.

Nevertheless the populations, by no means convinced of the sincerity of all these attempts at conciliation, revolt unceasingly with the taking away of the taxes become necessary to provide for the needs for the army. The unforeseen attacks, the dagger, all the means are licit to exterminate these infidels come from the Occident. The military executions do nothing but exasperate these furies far from extinguishing them. The French, finally, are truly the Masters only ground which they have under their feet.

The September 22nd 1798 brings the birthday of the foundation of the French Republic. Bonaparte makes celebrate this festival with all the possible magnificence. By its orders, an immense circus is built in the greatest place of the Cairo; 105 columns, on each one whose fleet a flag bearing the name of a department, decorate this construction, with which a colossal obelisk, in charge of inscriptions, occupies the center. On seven ancient furnace bridges are read the names of the brave men died in the field of honor. One enters the enclosure while passing under a triumphal arch, on which is represented the Bataille of the Pyramids. There is a little awkwardness: if this painting flatters the pride of our soldiers, it makes test painful feelings with the overcome Egyptians, and which one makes an effort, but in vain, to make faithful allies.

The day of this festival, the general-in-chief addresses a short speech to the soldiers, in whom, after having made the enumeration of their exploits since the Siège of Toulon, he says to them: Since the English, famous in arts and the trade, to the hideous one and wild Bedouin, you fix the glances of the world. Soldiers, your destiny is beautiful… In this day, 40 million citizens celebrates the era of the representative government, 40 million citizens think of vous.

After being itself returned Master of the country by the force, Bonaparte wants to make enjoy Egypt all the benefits of civilization. By its care, Cairo takes soon the aspect of a European city; its administration is entrusted to a Couch chosen among the most advisable men of the province. The other cities receive at the same time municipal institutions. An Institute, composed following the example that of the motherland, is organized. The conqueror, become legislator equips it with a library, of a cabinet of physics, a chemistry laboratory, a garden of botany, an observatory, a museum of antiquities, a menagerie and under academician, it joint that of President of the Institute of Egypt.

By its orders, scientists draw up a comparative table of the weights and measures Egyptian and French, they compose a vocabulary French-Arabic and they calculate triple Egyptian calendar, copte and European. Two newspapers, one of literature and political economy, under the title of Egyptian Decade , the other of policy, under that of Egyptian Mail , are written with the Cairo.

The army, reduced considerably, as much by the diseases that by the iron of the enemy, does not have to expect any more since the fire of the fleet to receive reinforcements of the motherland. To obviate this disadvantage, Bonaparte orders a lifting among the slaves, since the age of sixteen up to twenty-four years; : 3000 sailors, escaped with the disaster of Aboukir, are enrégimentés and form the nautical legion .

All the streets of the Cairo were closed the night by doors, in order to put the inhabitants safe from a knack on behalf of the Arabs. The general-in-chief makes remove these fences, behind which, in the event of sedition, the Egyptians could fight with some advantage against the French; the event justifies the precaution of Bonaparte.

The revolt

The October 22nd 1798, while it was to the old man Cairo, the population of the capital is spread out of weapons in the streets, is strengthened on various points, and mainly in the large mosque. The Chief of brigade Dupuy, ordering place, is killed the first. The brave man Sulkowski, aide-de-camp cherished of Bonaparte, has the same fate. Excited by the Sheik S and the Imam S, the Egyptians swore by the Prophète to exterminate all the French. All those which they meet, either in their houses, or in the streets, are pitilessly cut the throat of. Gatherings is had a presentiment of with the doors of the city to defend of it the entry with the general-in-chief who, pushed back with the door of the Cairo, is obliged to make a turning to enter by that of Boulaq.

The situation of the French Army is more critical: the English threaten the seaboard towns; Mourad Bey always holds the countryside in the High-Egypt; the generals Menou and Dugua contain hardly the Low-Egypt. The Arabs brought together with the peasants make common cause with revolted of Cairo; all the desert is out of weapons. In a proclamation of the Large Lord, widespread with profusion in all Egypt, one reads: French people are a nation of stubborn infidels and scélérats without brake… They look at Coran, the Old Testament and the Gospel, like fables… In little, troops as many as frightening will advance by ground, at the same time as vessels as high as mountains will cover sea surface… It, if God likes it, is reserved to you to govern their whole destruction (of the French); as dust that the winds disperse, they will not remain any more any vestige of these infidels: because the promise of God is formal, the hope of malicious will be misled, and the malicious ones will perish. Glory with the Lord of the worlds!

Bonaparte is not disconcerted by the storm which threatens it of all shares. By its orders, the Arabs are pushed back in the desert, the artillery is directed all around the rebellious city. It continues itself revolted street in street, and obliges them to concentrate in the large mosque; he with generosity to offer their forgiveness to them, they refuse it, and persist in their obstinacy. Happily for the French, the sky covers clouds, the thunder thunders. This phenomenon is extremely rare in Egypt, the Moslems of the time, ignoramuses and superstitious, regard it as a warning of the sky, and they beseech the leniency of their enemies: “It is too late, their fact of answering Bonaparte; you started, it is with me to finish. ” And, immediately, it orders with its guns to strike down the mosque. The French break the doors of them and are introduced there of sharp force: animated by the fury and revenge, they make a dreadful carnage of unhappy Égyptiens.

Become again the absolute master of the city, the general-in-chief makes seek the authors and the instigators of the revolt. Some Sheik S, several Turks or Egyptians, convinced to have soaked in the plot, is carried out. To supplement the punishment, the city is struck of a strong contribution, and its Divan is replaced by a military commission. In order to mitigate the effects produced by the decree of the Large Lord, one posts in all the cities of Egypt a proclamation which finishes as follows: Cease basing your hopes on Ibrahim and Mourad, and put your confidence in that which has with its liking the empires and which created the humains Most religious of the prophets said: “Sedition is deadened; cursed is that which will awake it! ”. The revolt indeed did not awake any more as long as Bonaparte remained in Egypt.

Suez Canal

Again seeing quiet owner of its conquest, it benefits from this rest period to go to visit the wearing of Suez and to make sure of its own eyes of the possibility of a channel dug, said one, in antiquity, by order of the Pharaons, and which made communicate the Red Sea with the the Mediterranean. Before leaving for this forwarding, it returns to the inhabitants of Cairo, like guarantees forgiveness, their national government; a new Couch, composed of sixty members, replaces the military commission.

Then, accompanied by his colleagues by the Institute, Berthollet, Monge, the father Dutertre, Costaz, Caffarelli, and followed by an escort of 300 men, it takes the way of the Red Sea, and three days of walk in the desert suffice for this caravan to arrive at Suez. After having given orders to supplement the fortifications of the place, Bonaparte crosses the Red Sea, and will recognize in Arabia the famous fountains of Brace. On its return, surprised by the rising tide, it runs the risk to drown; but it was of its destiny to be still a long time happy. Arrived at Suez, it receives an Arab delegation who comes to request the alliance of the French. Finally, after some research, one finds traces of old the Canal of the Pharaons Sésostris and Néchao {{II}}, and voyage drank it is reached.

On these entrefaites, one learns that Djezzar, pasha of Syria, seized the fort of El-Arich, located in the desert, with ten miles of the border of Egypt, that it is intended to defend. Not doubting more imminence of a war with the Large-Turk, the general decides to prevent the events of them, and the forwarding of Syria is committed.

The forwarding of Syria

Of return to Cairo, it gives order to: 10000 men to be held ready to go. The generals Good, Kléber, Lannes and Régnier, order the infantry, the general Murat, the cavalry, the general Dammartin, artillery, and the general Caffarelli of Falga, the weapon of the genius. The rear-admiral Perrée owes, with three frigates, outward journey to cross in front of Jaffa, and to bring artillery of seat: that of countryside east of 80 pieces of ordnance.

Régnier, who orders the avant-garde, arrives in few days in front of El-Arich, seizes the place, destroys part of the garrison, and forces the remainder to take refuge in the castle; at the same time it puts in escape the Mamelukes of Ibrahim and is made main of their camp Seven days after his departure of Cairo, Bonaparte arrives in front of El-Arich, and at once it makes cannonade one of the turns of the castle. The garrison capitulates two days afterwards; part of the soldiers take service in the French Army.

After sixty miles of a painful walk in the desert, the army arrives at Gaza; it is refreshed there and rests there during two days. Three days after, one is under the walls of Jaffa. This place is surrounded by high walls, flanked turns. Djezzar entrusted defense of it to troops of elite; the artillery is been useful by: 1200 gunners Turkish. It of is very required to make itself some main before going further. It is one of the boulevards of Syria; its port offers a sure shelter to the squadron: on its fall success depends mainly on forwarding.

All the outer works are with the capacity of besieging; the breach is practicable; when Bonaparte envoit a Turk with the commander of the city to summon it to go, this one makes it decapitate and orders an exit. It is pushed back and as of the evening of the same day the balls of besieging make collapse one of the turns, and in spite of the desperate resistance of its defenders, Jaffa succumbs. Two days and two nights of carnage are hardly enough to appease the fury of the soldier; : 4000 prisoners without defense are cut the throat of by order of the general! This barbarian execution found apologists: Because to maintain in the tender a so considerable number of prisoners, it had been necessary to entrust the guard of it to an escort which had decreased by as much the forces of the army; that if one had allowed them to be withdrawn with complete freedom, it was reasonable to fear that they were not going to enlarge the rows of the troops of Djezzar.

Before leaving Jaffa, Bonaparte establishes there a Divan, a large hospital, in which the soldiers reached of the Peste are received. Symptoms of this dreadful disease had appeared among the troops as of the beginning of the seat. A report/ratio of the Good generals and Rampon had given sharp concerns to Bonaparte on the propagation of this plague. In order to dissipate fears and to tranquillize the spirits, he traverses all the rooms of pestiferous, speaks to the patients, the console, touches their wounds in their saying: see it to You, that is not nothing . Leaving the hospital, he answers those which show it to have made a great imprudence: It was my duty, I am the general-in-chief.

De Jaffa, the army moves on Saint-Jean-in Acre. Making way, it takes Kaïffa, where it finds ammunition and provisioning of any species. The castles of Jaffet, from Nazareth, the town of Tyr also fall in its capacity; but it must find the term or rather the suspension of its triumphs under the walls of Saint-Jean-D' Acre. This shack, located on the edge of the sea, could receive on this side of the helps of any species; the English navy reinforced that of the Large Lord and was used to him like guide and as example.

After sixty days of attacks reiterated, after two fatal attacks and without result, the place holds always firm. However, in addition to the reinforcements until it waits on the side of the sea, an large army is formed in Asia by order of the Large Lord and is on the point of going against the infidels, and Djezzar, to assist its movements, orders a general exit against the camp of Bonaparte. This attack is supported by artillery and the crews of the English vessels. The general-in-chief, with his ordinary impetuosity, had soon driven back the columns of Djezzar behind their walls.

After this success, it flies to the help of Kléber which, cut off in the ruins, held head, with: 4000 French, with: 20000 Turks. Bonaparte conceives all the advantages at a glance that the positions of the enemy offer to him: it sends Murat, with its cavalry, on the the Jordan to defend the passage of it; Vial and Rampon goes on Nablus, and itself is placed between the Turks and their stores. Its provisions are crowned happier success. The enemy army, attacked with the improvist on various points at the same time, is put in rout and is cut in its retirement; it leaves: 5000 died on the battle field; its camels, its tents, its provisions become the price of the victory of the winners. Such are the advantages gained with famous the Bataille of the Mount-Thabor.

From return in front of Saint-Jean-D' Acre, Bonaparte learns that the rear-admiral Perrée unloaded in Jaffa seven parts of seat; it orders successively two attacks which are vigorously pushed back. A fleet is announced, it carries Othoman house; it is necessary to hasten to take the city before it received in its port the help which arrives to him. A fifth general attack is ordered; all the outer works are carried, the Tricolor is planted on the rampart, the Turks are pushed back in the city, and their fire starts to slow down: still a new effort, and Saint-Jean-D' Acre is taken or will capitulate.

But it was in the place a French emigrant, Phélippeaux, officer of the genious, one of the school-fellows of Bonaparte at the Military academy. By its orders, guns are placed according to the most advantageous directions; new cuttings off rise as by enchantment behind the ruins of those which besieging carried. At the same time, Sidney Smith, which orders the English fleet, arrives at the head of the crews of its vessels. Besieged take again all their courage and has a presentiment of itself with its continuation. The fury of the French is with his roof; resistance is not less obstinate. Finally three consecutive and always pushed back attacks learn in Bonaparte that it would be imprudent to longer be obstinated with the catch of Saint-Jean-D' Acre. It raises the seat from there, and to comfort its soldiers, it addresses this proclamation to them: After, with a handle of men, having nourished the war for three months in the heart of Syria, taken 40 parts of countryside, 50 flags, fact: 10000 prisoners, shaven the fortifications of Gaza, Kaïffa, Jaffa, Acre, we will return in Égypte.

The situation of the army is more critical; in addition to the enemy who could worry his derrières during his retirement, tirednesses and the deprivations which awaited it in the desert, it has with its load a great number of pestiferous: to leave behind, it was to deliver them to the fury Turks, who would not fail to cut the throat of them in reprisals of the massacres of Jaffa; to receive and take them along in the middle of its rows, it had been to support progress of the plague of gaîté of heart.

There are two deposits of patients: one in the large hospital of the Carmel mount, and the other in Jaffa. By order of the general-in-chief, all those of the Carmel mount are evacuated on this last city and Tentura. The artillery horses whose parts are abandoned in front of Acre, all those of the officers, all those of the general-in-chief are delivered to the Daure director, to be used to them as transport; Bonaparte is with foot and gives the example.

The army, to conceal its departure with besieged, is started during the night. Arrived at Jaffa, the general orders three evacuations of pestiferous towards three different points: one by sea, on Damiette, the second and the third by ground on Gaza and El-Arisk.

In its retirement, the army makes a desert of all the countries where it passes: cattle, harvests, houses, all are destroyed by iron and fire; the town of Gaza, remained faithful, is only saved.

Lastly, after four months of absence, forwarding arrives at Cairo with: 1800 wounded; it lost in Syria 600 dead men of the plague and: 1200 which perished in the engagements.

The failure tested at the time of the Siège of Saint-Jean-in Acre (1799) had had repercussion in Egypt; the emissary Turkish and English made run the noise that the army expeditionary was mainly destroyed, that its chief had died. Bonaparte, in skilful policy, easily destroyed the impressions that these carried out had produced on the spirits, and makes feel with the Egyptians how much were chimerical the hopes which they had based on his reverses. By its orders, the troops, while entering to Egypt, take the attitude of a triumphing army: the soldiers carry in their hands of the branches of palm tree, emblems of the victory. In its proclamation with the inhabitants of Cairo, he says to them: It arrived at Cairo, the Well-Kept , the chief of the French Army, the Bonaparte general, who likes the religion of Mahomet; it arrived quite bearing and quite healthy, thanking God for the favors of which it fills it. It entered to Cairo by the door of the Victoire. This day is one great day; one in seen the similar one forever; all the inhabitants of Cairo left to its meeting. They saw and recognized that it was well the same general-in-chief Bonaparte as a proper person; they were convinced that all that had been known as on its account was false… It was in Gaza and Jaffa; it protected the inhabitants from Gaza; but those of Jaffa, stray, not having wanted to go, it delivered them all, in its anger, with plundering and death. It destroyed all the ramparts and makes perish all that was there. There was in Jaffa approximately 5  000 men of the troops of Djezzar: it has them all détruits.

Towards the terrestrial battle of Aboukir

The army finds in Cairo the rest and all the provisioning which it needed to remake its tirednesses; but its stay in this city was not to be of long life. Bonaparte, educated that Mourad-Bey, thwarting the continuations of the generals Desaix, Belliard, Donzelot, Davoust, goes down from High-Egypt, starts himself to go to attack it with the Pyramids; there he learns that a Turkish fleet of one hundred veils is in front of Aboukir and threatens Alexandria.

Without wasting time and returning to Cairo, it orders with its generals to go in all haste to the front of the army which order the pasha of Roumélie, Saïd-Mustapha, to which the bodies of Mourad-Bey and Ibrahim joined. Before leaving Gizeh, where it was, the general-in-chief written with the Couch of Cairo: Eighty buildings dared to attack Alexandria; but, pushed back by artillery of this place, they went to wet in Aboukir where they start to unload. I let them make, because my intention is to attack them, kill all those which will not want to go, and leave the life to the others to carry out them in triumph to Cairo. It will be a beautiful spectacle for the ville.

Bonaparte goes initially to Alexandria, from there it goes on Aboukir, whose fort went to the Turks. Its genius makes him make provisions at once such, that Mustapha must overcome or perish with all them his. Its army, which counts: 18000 combatants, is supported by a many artillery; cuttings off defend it on the side of the ground, and on the side of the sea, it communicates freely with the fleet. The general-in-chief orders the attack instead of awaiting it; all yields to the impetuous value its soldiers; in few hours, the cuttings off are removed: 10000 Turks drown in the sea, the remainder is taken or killed. Intrepid Murat, which deserves most of the glory of this day, captive fact the enemy general Saïd-Mustapha, whose son, which ordered in the fort, must, with all the escaped officers with carnage, to form the triumphal procession of the winner. The population of Cairo, indicator to return Bonaparte with her famous prisoners, accommodates of a superstitious homage the prophet-warrior who had predicted his triumph with a so remarkable precision.

The victory of Aboukir is the last exploit of the general-in-chief in Egypt; another phase of its astonishing career starts:

  • considering that there remained to him nothing any more to make in Egypt which was worthy of its ambition, awaited that the forces of which he could still lay out, were not, with much near, sufficient to undertake a forwarding of some importance beyond the borders of its conquest, which was well shown to him by the failure of the seat of Acre;
  • far-sighted besides that its army, always going weakening by the combat, the diseases, it would be seen, a little earlier, a little later, in the sad need for signing a capitulation and for going captive to its enemies;
  • that a so deplorable event would destroy all the prestige of its many victories;
by these various reasons, it takes the resolution spontaneously to return to France. He had learned by his communications with the English fleet, during the exchange of the prisoners of Aboukir, and in particular by the Gazette of Frankfurt , that Sidney-Smith him envoit, that since its absence, the fatherland had tested reverses, that the enemies had taken again its own conquests, that the humiliated nation, dissatisfied with the dictatorial government, remembered with pain glorious peace that he had signed with the Traité of Campo-Formio; he understands finally that one required for him and that he would be received.

He announces his secrecy only to one small number of friends whose discretion and devotion are well-known for him. A voyage in the delta is the pretext which it proposes to leave Cairo without waking up the suspicions; the scientists Monge, Berthollet, the painter Denon, the generals Berthier, Murat, Lannes, Marmont, accompany it.

The passage of witness with Kléber

The August 23rd 1799, a proclamation learns with the army that the general-in-chief Bonaparte had just transmitted his capacities to the Kléber general; this news is received with some dissatisfaction, but indignation ceases soon. Kléber had proven reliable; it justifiably deserved all the confidence of the troops, and then one was easily carried to believe that Bonaparte had left for raising to France of new reinforcements with which it would hasten to turn over to Egypt to recover to the head from his former comrades in arms.

At the falling night, the frigate Muiron comes to silently take it on the shore, three other buildings form its escort. One often wondered by which miracle it could be made that, during a navigation of forty and one days, it did not meet only one enemy vessel which opposed it in its crossing; relations give to understand that by a tacit agreement it had bought the neutrality of the English; that is hardly probable; as much would be worth to support that it had also made a pact with Horatio Nelson so that it let it approach without obstacle with the Egyptian shore with the fleet which carried its many army. At the time of the departure, one points out to him with concern which an English corvette observes it: “Bah! exclaim Bonaparte, we will arrive, fortune us forever given up, we will arrive, in spite of the English. ”

The flotilla between on October 1st in the port of Ajaccio, the head winds retain there until 8 qu' it installs for France. With the sight of the coasts, one sees appearing ten English veils; the rear-admiral Gantheaume wants to transfer edge towards Corsica; “Not, Bonaparte says to him, this operation would lead us in England, and I want to arrive to France”. This act of firmness and courage saves it; the October 8th 1799 (16 vendémiaire year IX), the frigates wet in the roads of Frejus. As there were patients on board and that the plague had ceased in Egypt, six months before its departure, it is allowed to the Bonaparte general and his continuation to take ground immediately. At six o'clock in the evening, it gets under way for Paris, accompanied by Berthier, its chief of staff.

Scientific exhibition

The armada which started from Toulon carried with it soldiers but also 167 scientists, engineers and artists, members of the Commission of Sciences and Arts: the Geologist Dolomieu, Dreaded Henri-Joseph, the mathematician Gaspard Monge, the chemist Claude Louis Berthollet, Alive Denon, Jean-Joseph Fourier, the Naturalist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, the Botanist Alire Raffeneau-Delile, the engineer Pierre Simon Girard belongs to the voyage. They found the Institut of Egypt which had the role of propagating the Lumières in Egypt thanks to an interdisciplinary work. An scientific magazine is created, the Egyptian Décade .

During forwarding, the scientists observed Egyptian nature, took drawings and were interested in the resources of the country. The Pierre de Rosette was discovered in the village of Rachid in July 1799 by a young officer of the genious, Pierre-François-Xavier Bouchard. Their discoveries were alas confiscated by the British and finished with the British Museum.

Their work gave place to the Description of Egypt, published under the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Napoleonean propaganda

As of its arrival in Egypt, Bonaparte makes post a declaration with the Egyptian people which poses it in liberator of the country oppressed by the Mamelukes , while being claimed of a friendship with the Sublime Door. This position is worth solids supports in Egypt to him (and, well later, the admiration of Mehemet Ali, which makes a success of what Bonaparte only tried).

The countryside of Egypt largely also benefits the image from Bonaparte in France:

  • the Courrier of Egypt is addressed to the task force and must support moral troops. The painter Antoine-Jean Gros in the table of Pestiferous of Jaffa paints in 1804, represents Napoleon as an healer, as the kings of the Ancien Mode who touched the scrofula after the ceremony of the Sacre. On this painting, one can see Napoleon touching the body of a man having the plague. This belonged to the propaganda orchestrated by Napoleon. He forever touched nor even approximate a man reached of this disease of fear of also catching it, moreover it was painted six years after the facts, in 1804, year of the crowning of Napoleon {{Ier}}.

  • the defeat of the Mamelouk S with the Pyramides (battles of Embabeh) gives place to accounts and drawings per tens; one allots to Napoleon celebrates it sentence: top of these pyramids, forty centuries of history contemplate you .

  • One overlooks on the other hand the naval demolished of Aboukir, as well as the failure of the countryside of Syria.

While returning of Egypt, where it leaves command of operations with Kléber which is a little later assassinated Bonaparte is haloed of a prestige based on this propaganda, which opens the way of the capacity to him, and from which he profits while becoming First Consul, at the time of the Coup d'etat of the 18 brumaire (November 1799).

Military forces: Army of the East

See also: Armed with the East (Countryside of Egypt)

Chronology

  • 1799
    • May 20th: Seat of Saint-Jean-in Acre, after 8 attacks the French troops withdraw
    • April 16th: Bonaparte carries help to the troops of Kléber about to succumb to the foot of the Mount-Thabor
    • : terrestrial Battle of Aboukir
    • August 23rd: Bonaparte embarks on the frigate Muiron and gives up the command with Kléber

  • 1800

    • January 24th: Kléber concludes with the British admiral Smith convention from El-Arich
    • February: The French troops start to be folded up, but the British admiral Keith refuses the terms of convention
    • March 20th: Battle of Héliopolis, Kléber gains an ultimate victory against: 30000 Turkish
    • June 14th: A fanatic, named Soleyman assassinates Kléber in his garden of the Cairo. The general Menou takes the command in his place
    • September 3rd: The British take again Malta with the French

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