Page 82 - All About History 58 - 2017 UK

Time Traveller’s Handbook

NAPOLEONIC

EGYPT Egypt, 1798–1801

apoleon Bonaparte, still a general for Revolutionary France but with one eye on seizing
power, has invaded Egypt. His intention was to establish a colony and disrupt British trade Bring your own equipment.
with India. Unfortunately, the Egyptians have not thanked him for liberating their country All of Napoleon’s scientific
Nfrom the Ottoman Empire instruments were on his ship
as he had hoped. In fact, they Le Patriote, which hit rocks off the
are instead resisting him quite ALEXANDRIA Alexandria coast and sank 4 July 1798.
vigorously. But since the British
Navy destroyed his fleet at G G G Form a square when
GI AIZA
EZZ
Aboukir a few months ago, SUE attacked. French infantry
he can’t retreat or expect any CAIRO are able to hold off repeated
reinforcements. This conquest cavalry charges using a square
is doomed to fail but will formation to protect their cannons
kick-start the serious study of and supplies.
the land of the pharaohs.
Fancying himself a modern- Bring flea powder. Bubonic
day Alexander the Great, plague is ravaging the French
Napoleon handpicked 150 troops in the city of Jaffa and
scientists, artists and engineers the disease is transmitted by flea bites.
— collectively known as ‘the
savants’ — to join his 55,000 Respect Islam. Napoleon
troops. Instructed to document claims he worships Allah
the ancient civilisation in “more than the Mamelukes do”
unprecedented details, their but this isn’t really fooling anybody —
G.01
heavily publicised results will FIG least of all Murad Bey.
inspire a European fascination
with Egyptology. Be fooled by mirages. The
soldiers are often tricked by
illusions of distant lakes but
WHERE TO STAYHERE TO STAY
W Napoleon’s mathematician, Gaspard
Na
M
Upper Egypt is under the control of the insurgent Mamelukes, so Cairo is probably the safest er Egypt is under the control of the insurgent Mamelukes, so Cairo is probably the safest
Upp Monge, has shown that they are actually
caused by refraction.
place to stay. Napoleon has attempted to ‘civilise’ the city, adding a botanical garden, library and place to stay. Napoleon has attempted to ‘civilise’ the city, adding a botanical garden, library and ca
a public health service, but be careful not to align yourself too closely with the French.ic health service, but be careful not to align yourself too closely with the French.
a publ
On 22 October 1798 there will be a revolt Share French maps. The
On 22 October 1798 there will be a revolt
in charts created on this
in the city and the local inhabitants will kill the city and the local inhabitants will kill
FIG.02IG.02
Cairo’s commander, General Dupuy, before going airo’s commander, General Dupuy, before going F expedition are so accurate that
C
on to murder every on to murder every the French government has classified th
them as state secrets.
Frenchman Frenchman th
they can find. they can find.
Napoleon will Napoleon will Panic when Napoleon leaves.
quickly crush
quickly crush Although the Little Corporal
the rebellion
the rebellion abandoned Egypt in favour of
and restore
and restore seizing power in France in 1799, the
se
Br
order but it’s
order but it’s British won’t recapture Egypt until 1801.
probably best
probably best
to be out of
to be out of Stand too close to General
the city that Kléber. On 14 June 1800, the
the city that
week.
week. French commander will be
sta
stabbed to death by a Syrian student,
and his chief engineer also wounded.
an
822