Egypt / France: 'Oedipus in Egypt'. Napoleon contemplating the Sphinx. Oil on canvas, Jean-Leon Gerome (1824-1904), 1886

The French Campaign in Egypt and Syria (1798–1801) was Napoleon Bonaparte's campaign in the Orient, ostensibly to protect French trade interests, undermine Britain's access to India, and to establish scientific enterprise in the region. It was the primary purpose of the Mediterranean campaign of 1798, a series of naval engagements that included the capture of Malta.

Despite many decisive victories and an initially successful expedition into Syria, Napoleon and his Armée d'Orient were eventually forced to withdraw by the British army, after sowing political disharmony in France, conflict in Europe, and suffering the defeat of the supporting French fleet at the Battle of the Nile.

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

Jean-Léon Gérôme

Credit:

Pictures From History