Hat 8311 Napoleonic Naval Cannon and Crew

The Franco-British rivalry on the seas and oceans had its roots at least at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, i.e. the time of the Spanish Succession War. In the course of the eighteenth century, this rivalry deepened, finding an outlet in the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) and during the US War of Independence (1775-1783). From this point of view, the maritime struggles of France and Great Britain during the Revolution and the Napoleonic era were only a continuation, and not a completely new conflict. At that time, the main bases of the French navy were such ports as Brest, Rochefort and Toulon. As most of the French Navy's officer corps were aristocratic, many of them deserted during the Revolution. Also, the discipline and training of the crews of French frigates or ships of the line at that time was lower than the level presented by the Royal Navy. During the Napoleonic Wars, there were several naval battles, the most important of which was undoubtedly the one fought in 1805 at Trafalgar. As a result of this battle, the Royal Navy gained dominance over the seas and oceans until the beginning of the 20th century, pushing the French Navy on the defensive. It is worth adding that after 1805, French squadrons rather remained in ports, engaging significant British forces in the naval blockade, and the French primarily undertook private actions.