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I have read that Nelson's victory at Trafalgar

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  Posted by Erik Lindsay (U231970) on Wednesday, 29th March 2006

  while brilliant and definitely decisive in giving the British complete control of the seas, was actually unnecessary in the overall control of Napolean and subsequent conduct of the war. It has been contended that Bonapart, a few months prior to Trafalgar, had given up any plan for invasion of England and was turning his eyes inward to consolidation of his continental empire, and was seriously considering expanding into Russia. He had, in effect, dismissed England as an immediate, serious enemy.
  
  Any truth to this, or is it just another person attempting to belittle Nelson's accomplishments?

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  Posted by marduk-slayer of tiamat (U2258525) on Wednesday, 29th March 2006

  id say its another attempt at blaming napoleons piles for us doing something right-or some do-gooder pc people trying to mollify the crapauds and dons regarding us beating 7 bells out of them

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  Posted by Backtothedarkplace (U2955180) on Wednesday, 29th March 2006

  It doesnt matter if Nelson caught them running trips round the lighthouse for happy day trippers. If you catch a fleet in the open see you give it a paggering.

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  Posted by marduk-slayer of tiamat (U2258525) on Wednesday, 29th March 2006

  it could easily ber the other way round though.
  
  that what makes the victory so great and comprehensive

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  Posted by craigd1973 (U2853338) on Thursday, 30th March 2006

  
  Erik
  
  Napoleon had already abandoned his plans to invade Britain several weeks before Trafalgar as he had to send his army to deal with the Austrians and Russians who were mobilizing against him. They were the immediate threat, not Britain, and his invasion had to be abandoned.
  
  At the time of Trafalgar Napoleon was in Bavaria on the Ulm/Austerlitz campaign.
  
  Trafalgar simply put an end to any possible future invasion plans Napoleon may have had after he dealt with the Russians and Austrians as it would have been impossible for him to rebuild another fleet. Trafalgar had no immediate significant impact on the land war as it was another 10 years before Napoleon was finally defeated.
  
  From a British view point Trafalgar is highly significant and Nelsons accomplishments can't be belittled as it saved the country from any future invasion by Napoleon. From a continental viewpoint however it was hardly significant as it didn't prevent Napoleon from expanding his empire.
  
  That's my opinion anyway but no doubt it will be shot down in flames!!
  
  Cheers
  Craig
  

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  Posted by Erik Lindsay (U231970) on Thursday, 30th March 2006

  
  Erik
  
  Napoleon had already abandoned his plans to invade Britain several weeks before Trafalgar as he had to send his army to deal with the Austrians and Russians who were mobilizing against him. They were the immediate threat, not Britain, and his invasion had to be abandoned.
  
  At the time of Trafalgar Napoleon was in Bavaria on the Ulm/Austerlitz campaign.
  
  Trafalgar simply put an end to any possible future invasion plans Napoleon may have had after he dealt with the Russians and Austrians as it would have been impossible for him to rebuild another fleet. Trafalgar had no immediate significant impact on the land war as it was another 10 years before Napoleon was finally defeated.
  
  From a British view point Trafalgar is highly significant and Nelsons accomplishments can't be belittled as it saved the country from any future invasion by Napoleon. From a continental viewpoint however it was hardly significant as it didn't prevent Napoleon from expanding his empire.
  
  That's my opinion anyway but no doubt it will be shot down in flames!!
  
  Cheers
  Craig
  Μύ
  
  You'll get no criticism from me. It was precisely this tone of evaluation of Trafalgar that stimulated my initial question. I doubt if anyone one knowledgable would minimize what Nelson accomplished from a tactical point of view, and his overall tactical genius has been pretty well recognized by all. The point of my question was that the strategic value of the victory at Trafalgar had been questioned. It was suggested that it may not have significantly affected Napoleon's ambitions or further exploits-- at least, not to the extent that many Britons seem to believe.
  
  The point being made was that events might well have proceeded exactly as they did whether or not Trafalgar had taken place. That rendered the great naval victory not merely incidental, but supererogatory and I was curious about the accuracy of what struck me as a rather almighty presumption.
  
  Your post was excellent and addressed the question exactly as I hoped some would.

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  Posted by marduk-slayer of tiamat (U2258525) on Thursday, 30th March 2006

  if we hadnt taken out the combined navy it wouldve been harrying our trade routes, which where helping us pay for the armies that tried (unsuccesfully) to defeat nap throughout europe, without that victory wed have run out of money, ergo everyone else would have, ergo no armies to kill naps armies.

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  Posted by TonyG (U1830405) on Thursday, 30th March 2006

  I have heard it alleged that in Spain Trafalgar is now regarded as th eturnin gpoint which made the Spanish nation realise it had to throw off the French yoke. If so, then the battle did have long term significance. Also, the Spanish fleet never recovered and Spain ultimaely lost her American colonies.
  
  I would agree that it probably had little effect on Napoleon's plans.

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  Posted by Nik (U1777139) on Thursday, 30th March 2006

  Even if Napoleon had ceased any action of preparation of an invasion in England, still the Trafalgar naval battle does not loses its significance as it gave the British an uncontested sea domination and not only on the local scale but on the global. You just do not let the enemy grow too much when it will be difficult to be controlled, you hit him right from the beginning (or at least the middle), thus Trafalgar still does not loses its importance.

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