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Battle of the Pyramids in Napoleonic art prints. Napoleon with an
army of 36,000 seized Malta on the 10th of June 1798 form the Knights of
St John then sailed on to land wets of Alexandria on July 1st. They seized
Alexandria form the Mameluke ruler Ibrahim who fled into Syria. But the
Mameluke military Commander Murad Bey was determined to stop napoleon
entering Cairo so blocked the French advance at Embabeh on the left
bank of the Nile near the pyramids. Under his command he had 40,000 troops
but only 6,m000 of these were the fierce fighting force of Mamelukes.
On July 21st napoleon moved onto the Egyptian positions and Murad launched
an all out attack with his cavalry. but the 6,000 Mamelukes were no match
for the French Infantry and Artillery which fired volley after volley. which
devastated the Mamelukes, when the charge had failed the disorganized Egyptian
Infantry fled. With only 300 casualties napoleon marched onto Cairo.
The Battle of Aboukir, 1801: When Nelson shattered the French fleet in the Bay of Aboukir he
foresaw, as his despatches showed, that the army of Bonaparte was
land-locked. Bonaparte, having made an unsuccessful attempt, after
traversing the Palestine Desert, to effect the siege of Acre, defended by
Sir Sidney Smith, was obliged to anticipate the retreat from Moscow, and
wearily trudge back to Egypt. Next his ambitious stake for Empire recalled
him to France, and he left Egypt hurriedly and the army of occupation to
its fate. Eventually the British Government, alive to the fruits of
Nelson's victory, despatched Sir Ralph Abercromby to dislodge the
imprisoned French battalions and to capture the covetable land of Egypt.
In March 1801, Abercromby with Smith of Acre, and Moore, afterwards of
Corunna, was prepared to disembark on the shore affronting the castle of
Aboukir. The General had no maps, no clues of military topography.
Everything depended on his imperturbable coolness, and on that intrepid
and resourceful spirit and action of the men in his command. In the early
morning every man for the landing was in his position in his boat. In the
fury of the cannonade, three boats were sunk, but a fair number out of the
180 men involved were saved. The captain of this enterprise of seamanship
was Alexander Cochrane, of the famous family of Dundonald. Eventually the
troops plunged through the surf, with bayonets fixed and flags flying, and
dashed up the sandhills. The 42nd Highlanders, rapidly clambering up,
raced up to the French defenders, and closed with bayonet and butt-end. In
the meantime the French cavalry had courageous ridden into the sea and cut
down many of the close packed troops in boats. Again, too, squadrons
charged into the ranks of the alert invaders, but they were repulsed with
heavy casualties. Nothing could stop the fearless headway of the dauntless
infantry, seamen and marines. General Moore was the life and soul of this
wondrous attack, which caused him the loss of nearly 700 killed and
wounded. The affair was almost as acrobatic as that of Quebec, and the Frenchmen
had a quick awakening from their experiences of native troops. In a few
hours after the original order for landing, the scattered enemy were in
headlong retreat on the road to Alexandria, upon which the English eagerly
prepared to advance.
The Battle of Alexandria or Canopus, 1801 After the heroic landing of the English at Aboukir, the
decisive defeat of the French defenders, and their scurry back
to their stronghold at Alexandria, Sir Ralph Abercromby's
crowning effort of his life as a soldier had to be put
forth. It was meet that in this triumphant labour he
should be seconded by the heroic energies of his own
countrymen. As will be seen the 92nd Highlanders and the
90th Regiment of Perthshire Light Infantry did much towards the
ousting of the French from Egypt. These regiments, with
the 40th Foot as cover, formed the first order of attack upon
the enemy drawn up at Mandora in front of the French position on
the sandhills stretching between Alexandria and the lake of
Aboukir. With characteristic elan these devoted regiments
advanced eagerly against the foe, and although raked by grape
shot, rushed to the mouths of the guns and straightway captured
them, cutting down their valiant defenders to a man.
Shortly after this, General Abercromby had his horse shot under
him and was rescued by the Perthsires. In the meantime
great difficulty had been felt by the seamen and marines in
their attempts to drag the guns through the loose sand.
Added to this the English had their first experience of a
mirage, and the plain on the right of the enemy appeared to be a
vast lake. At this juncture Abercromby momentarily
despaired, and proceeded to await the advance of heavy guns from
the ships with which to defend his captured ground. This
halt enabled the French commander, General Menou, to increase
his forces to nearly 14,000 men. It also encouraged him to
attack the reckless invaders. Accordingly on the 21st
March, at that hour before day break termed by Caesar prima luce,
Menou ordered his arms to advance, and drive the British into
the lake. But there was no surprise, as Abercromby had his
men ready. First the pickets were driven in, and the enemy
came on with a mighty rush. The 42nd Highlanders and the
Welsh Fusiliers met them nobly, and after a few rounds of volley
firing hurled themselves at the enemy with the bayonet.
Next the French "Invincibles" tore down to the attack
in the horrid darkness of smoke, only to find themselves in a
lane of Highlanders, who mercilessly slew them. Quite 700
of the French heroes fell and the survivors were glad to deliver
their standard to Major Stirling of the 42nd. Feeling
victory within his grasp, Abercromby shouted "My brave
Highlanders, remember our country, remember your
forefathers!" Incited by this appeal the Scots went
madly to the attack. As a last effort Menou called on his
cavalry to make a final charge. On they came under
Brigadier Roize, only to be thoroughly broken and impaled.
Not till then was it noticed that Abercromby was mortally
wounded. He had been ubiquitous in the fight, and at one
stage was engaged in a hand to hand struggle with two
dragoons. When his wound was at length insupportable he
lay down in agony, and amid the tears and shouts of his
followers was taken on board the "Foudroyant" where he
died. Fourteen hundred British and 3,000 French
represented the loss that day. Closely following on this
signal victory succeeded the surrender of the French at Cairo,
and their evacuation of Egypt. (extract from
British Battles 1898) |
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Battle of the Pyramids 21st July 1798 by Louis Lejeune.
Open edition print. Image size 27 inches x 12 inches (69cm x 31cm). Price £39.00
Open edition prints. Image size 21 inches x 9 inches (53cm x 23cm). Price £33.50
ITEM CODE DHM0054
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Napoleons Speech to his Army before the Battle of the Pyramids by Antoine-Jean Gros (GL)
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 40 inches x 28 inches (102cm x 71cm). Price £500.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 22 inches (76cm x 56cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE GE17981
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Napoleons Entry into Cairo by Gustave Bourgain (GL)
Napoleon enters Cairo, on the 22nd July 1798 after his victory against the Egyptian army at the Battle of the pyramids on July 21st. Napoleon with an army of 36,000 seized Malta on the 10th of June 1798 form the Knights of St John then sailed on to land wets of Alexandria on July 1st. They seized Alexandria form the Mameluke ruler Ibrahim who fled into Syria. But the Mameluke military Commander Murad Bey was determined to stop napoleon entering cairo so blocked the French advance at Embabeh on the left bank of the Nile near the pyramids. Under his command he had 40,000 troops but only 6,000 of these were the fierce fighting force of Mamelukes. On July 21st napoleon moved onto the Egyptian positions and Murad launched an all out attack with his cavalry. but the 6,000 Mamelukes were no match for the French Infantry and Artillery which fired volley after volley. which devastated the Mamelukes, when the charge had failed the disorganized Egyptian Infantry fled. With only 300 casualties napoleon marched onto Cairo.
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE GIAA1703
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Battle of Mount Thabor, 16th April 1799 by Louis Lejeune.
Open edition print. Image size 12 inches x 9 inches (31cm x 23cm). Price £14.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 40 inches x 30 inches (102cm x 76cm). Price £590.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 26 inches (91cm x 66cm). Price £500.00
ITEM CODE VAR0144
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Battle of Aboukir Bay 25th July 1798 by Louis Lejeune.
Open edition print. Image size 12 inches x 9 inches (31cm x 23cm). Price £14.00
ITEM CODE VAR0143
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Battle of Canopees, 1801 by Henry Dupray. (P)
Original antique print c.1890, mounted on card at the time. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £75.00
ITEM CODE HD0041
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Battle of Aboukir, 1801 by Henry Dupray. (P)
Original antique print c.1890, mounted on card at the time. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £75.00
ITEM CODE HD0042
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