The Army of the Orient sails to Egypt, clashing with religious pirates in Malta. Bonaparte seizes Alexandria, encountering resistance from the garrison. Napoleon breaks the power of the Order in the Middle East and introduces himself to the people of Egypt. The Mameluke warlords rule Egypt, prompting a call for gathering in Cairo. French impressions reveal the country's unexpected nature.
53:30
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Quick takeaways
Napoleon captures Alexandria with minimal resistance, but struggles with communication due to poor translation of his proclamation, hindering effective interaction with the Egyptian population.
The French face challenges caused by language barriers and encounter a substantial army of Mamluks in Cairo, setting the stage for a climactic confrontation between Napoleon and the Mamluks.
Deep dives
Napoleon's Expedition to Egypt
Napoleon Bonaparte prepares to lead a large expeditionary force to Egypt, with the aim of establishing French control over the region. The Army of the Orient, comprised of 40,000 soldiers, including veterans from the Army of Italy, sets sail with a fleet of ships and a core of civilian scientists and thinkers. The expedition lands in Alexandria, facing minimal resistance from the poorly equipped garrison. As Napoleon seizes control of the city, he proclaims himself as a new ruler, promising to deliver justice, equality, and prosperity to the Egyptians. However, communication issues arise as Napoleon's proclamation is poorly translated into Arabic, hindering effective communication with the local population.
Battle for Alexandria
The French forces storm Alexandria, encountering minimal resistance from the poorly supplied garrison. The capture of Alexandria provides a valuable port for the French to disembark the rest of their troops and supplies. Despite facing challenges of dehydration and limited resources, the French successfully conquer the city and begin establishing their presence. Napoleon presents a proclamation promising a new era of fair rule, participation, and respect for Islam. However, the poor translation of the proclamation hampers effective communication with the Egyptian population.
Mamluk Resistance and French Plans
The Mamluk warlords, Murad Bey and Ibrahim Bey, leaders of the ruling class in Egypt, respond to the French invasion by calling for reinforcements and rallying thousands of Mamluks. The French continue to face challenges in communication, as they struggle to effectively convey their intentions to the Egyptian people due to language barriers. Meanwhile, Napoleon aims to demonstrate good governance and nurture trust among the Egyptians, while emphasizing the failures of the Mamluk leadership.
Impressions of Egypt and Preparations for Confrontation
The French begin to realize that the reality of Egypt differs from their initial expectations as they face various hurdles and hardships. The Mamluks gather a substantial army in Cairo, preparing to confront the French forces. Despite the apparent military disadvantage, the Mamluks remain confident in the power of their cavalry and engage in boastful rhetoric. The stage is set for a climactic confrontation between Napoleon and the Mamluks.
The Army of the Orient sets sail. They make a brief stop in Malta, where Napoleon clashes with an ancient organization of religious pirates. The French landing in Egypt turns into a debacle. Bonaparte seizes Alexandria in a messy, but one-sided battle and introduces himself to the people of Egypt. We meet the Mameluke warlords who rule the country, and examine Napoleon's approach to usurping their authority.