| Abstract | Napoleonova ekspedicija u Egipat započela je 1798.g. i trajala je do 1801.godine. Razlozi ekspedicije su višestruki, od novih prekomorskih posjeda do slabljenja britanske moći i utjecaja, osim toga Napoleon je imao i privatne razloge. Francuski direktorij je za ekspediciju osigurao preko 30 tisuća ljudi te veliku flotu za transport. Putem do Egipta osvojena je i Malta, čija je strateška vrijednost ogromna. Pri dolasku u Egipat prvo je zauzeta Aleksandrija, zatim se preko teškog marša kroz pustinju došlo do Kaira. Prije zauzimanja Kaira došlo je do glasovite Bitke kod piramida u kojoj je Napoleon porazio dva glavna mamleučka bega; Ibrahim bega i Murat bega. Nakon te bitke Francuzi ulaze u Kairo. Slijedećih nekoliko mjeseci je potrošeno na niz manjih okršaja u kojima je uništen mamleučki otpor, zatim su Francuzi pokušali pacificirati lokalno stanovništvo, što im nije pošlo za rukom te je kulminiralo pobunom u Kairu. U međuvremenu je britanska flota uništila francusku, što je ostavilo vojsku zarobljenom u Egiptu. Suočen s teškom situacijom i s opasnošću od invazije Osmanske vojske, Napoleon se odlučuje na invaziju Sirije. Kampanja u Siriji je trajala nekoliko mjeseci i kulminirala je opsadom Akre koju Napoleon nije mogao zauzeti, uslijedilo je teško povlačenje natrag u Egipat. Nakon povratka Napoleon je porazio još jednu osmansku vojsku kod Aboukira, ali situacija u Egiptu je bila sve lošija i Napoleon je čuvši za vijesti iz Europe, odlučio napustiti zemlju i vratiti se u Francusku. Nakon odlaska vrhovnog zapovjednika, vojska je izgubila moral te se nakon iskrcavanja britanske vojske morala predati. Uz vojni i politički aspekt, ekspedicija je imala i znanstvenu stranu, 150 različitih znanstvenika i učenjaka je pratilo ekspediciju i u Egiptu došlo do raznih otkrića, od kojih he daleko najpoznatiji i najbitniji kamen iz Rossete, koji je omogućio dešifriranje hijeroglifa. Ekspedicija je trajala 3 godine i završila je neuspjehom, međutim ostavila je neizbrisiv trag na svjetsku povijest i jako je utjecala na Napoleona kojeg je Egipat promijenio te je zasigurno imala ulogu u njegovom daljnjem napretku što ga je dovelo do carskog prijestolja. |
| Abstract (english) | Napoleon's expedition to Egypt began in 1798 and lasted until 1801. The reasons for the expedition were multiple, ranging from acquiring new overseas territories to weakening British power and influence. Additionally, Napoleon had personal motives. The French Directory provided more than 30,000 men and a large fleet for transport. On the way to Egypt, Malta was conquered, whose strategic value was immense. Upon arriving in Egypt, Alexandria was first captured, followed by a difficult march through the desert to Cairo. Before capturing Cairo, there was the famous Battle of the Pyramids in which Napoleon defeated two main Mamluk beys: Ibrahim Bey and Murad Bey. After this battle, the French entered Cairo. The next few months were spent on a series of smaller skirmishes that crushed the Mamluk resistance. Then the French tried to pacify the local population, but they were unsuccessful, which culminated in a revolt in Cairo. Meanwhile, the British fleet destroyed the French one, leaving the army stranded in Egypt. Faced with a difficult situation and the threat of an Ottoman invasion, Napoleon decided to invade Syria. The Syrian campaign lasted several months and culminated in the siege of Acre, which Napoleon could not capture. This was followed by a difficult retreat back to Egypt. After returning, Napoleon defeated another Ottoman army at Aboukir, but the situation in Egypt continued to worsen. Hearing news from Europe, Napoleon decided to leave the country and return to France. After the departure of the supreme commander, the army lost morale and, after the British forces landed, was forced to surrender. In addition to the military and political aspects, the expedition also had a scientific side. 150 different scientists and scholars accompanied the expedition and made various discoveries in Egypt, the most famous and important of which was the Rosetta Stone, which enabled the deciphering of hieroglyphs. The expedition lasted for 3 years and ended in failure. However, it left an indelible mark on world history and had a significant impact on Napoleon, as Egypt changed him and certainly played a role in his future rise to the imperial throne. |
