Battle of Trafalgar: A Determined Admiral's Triumph Against the Odds

On October 21, 1805, the Battle of Trafalgar took place off the coast of Cadiz in southwest Spain. British Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, despite being one-eyed and one-armed, led his fleet to a tremendous victory against the French and Spanish navies. Nelson's unconventional tactics and superior leadership broke the enemy's formation and ensured British domination. With the enemy's flagship crippled, Nelson's fleet outmaneuvered the disarrayed enemy ships, sinking or capturing a significant number. The Battle of Trafalgar secured Nelson's place as the greatest naval figure in British history, although his triumphant victory came at the cost of his own life.