The 1st of August 1798 saw the British fleet sailing towards Alexandria into a land of classical history and mythology, the sun setting like blood over the River Nile and French flags flying over the city. The scene could not be more perfectly suited to the cataclysmic battle that would soon take place there, in which Horatio Nelson would guild his legend forever. Charged with leading a squadron of fourteen ships into the Mediterranean to find Napoleon Bonaparte and his vast fleet, Nelson had chased him all the way to Alexandria which the French had seized along with the rest of Egypt. At last, lookouts spot the masts of Napoleon’s ships - a moment of near transcendent excitement for Nelson and the men of his fleet. At last, it seemed, the moment had come for their battle of total annihilation in all its gore and glory. Wary of this, the French commanders urged Bonaparte to withdraw, but in his hubris the French general refused. So it was that the greatest naval battle of the 18th century began, to the thunder of cannons, screaming sailors, and the chaos of gun smoke, soot, splinters and blood…. Join Dominic and Tom as they describe one of the most decisive and dramatic moments of both naval history and Horatio Nelson’s life: the Battle of the Nile. _______ LIVE SHOWS *The Rest Is History LIVE in the U.S.A.* If you live in the States, we've got some great news: Tom and Dominic will be performing throughout America in November, with shows in San Francisco, L.A., Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Boston and New York. Tickets on sale now at TheRestIsHistory.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor
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On the quarter deck of the Vanguard, a slim, slender man in his late 30s, pale and sandy haired, bowed his head in silent prayer.
At long last, God had given Horatio Nelson the battle he wanted.
Now on every ship in the fleet, the drums were pounding and every face was glowing with eagerness, excitement and just a hint of nerves.
On his flagship, Nelson turned to face the east.
The light was fading, but for the first time in months, he felt happy.
All his life he had been preparing for this moment.
Now was his chance to join the heroes of history.
He did not intend to waste it.
So, ladies and gentlemen, Forrester, O'Brien, Sandbrook, Modern Masters of prose who have brought the age of Nelson to life.
And that, of course, was from Nelson, hero of the seas, by our very own Dominic Sambrook, describing the scene on the evening of the 1st of August, 1798, as the British fleet sails towards the Battle of the Nile.
Dominic.
Unbelievable drama.
It is an incredibly melodramatic scene.
Tomorrow, the sun setting over the coast of Egypt, the Nile and the Nile, yeah.
This place of legend, this place of classical history, which is the classical history that has fascinated so many people in the late 18th century.
And now, on the greatest stage of all, Horatio Nelson is meeting his moment of destiny.
So listeners who've stuck with us from the beginning of this series will remember that Nelson had been sent into the Mediterranean with A squadron of 14 ships of the line to search for Napoleon Bonaparte and the armament, this enormous fleet and expeditionary force that has been sailing south.
The British didn't know where it was going.