Antique Arms & Militaria

A Superb, Original, Napoleonic French 'Prisoner-of-War' Travelling Dressing Case. A Unique Object D’art Created By A French Napoleonic War Combatant P.O.W Held in British Captivity. Sold To British Visitors To The Prisoner’s Markets

In wood covered in straw-work parquetry. A near identical example to one that is on display in the Burghley House Collection. Made by the captured Napoleonic and French wars French Prisoners-of-War in the early 1800's in order to subsidise their meagre prison rations, and this fine piece is made to give the impression it is a sizeable book when closed. The interior bears many small drawers and compartments and a fold away mirror in vauxhall plate, and a fine hand painted watercolour of Beaufort Castle in Invernesshire. All of the interior straw-work is pristine in colour and unfaded showing wonderful contrasts.
Great Britain was at war with France continuously from 1793 to 1802. Hostilities ceased briefly in 1802, but conflict soon recommenced. The Napoleonic Wars continued until 1815, when Napoleon?s forces were finally defeated at Waterloo.

In 1796 the first prison to house French prisoners was built at Norman Cross, some 5 miles north of Peterborough. Conditions must have been both harsh and crowded; disease killed more that 1,700 inmates between 1797 and 1814.
To supplement their rations and to provide small income, some prisoners made ornaments, models and toys, which they were allowed to sell. The materials used included straw, wood, bone and even human hair. Many of the items made were extraordinary in their complexity and design and were always very desirable to collectors. The proximity of Burghley House to the camp meant that members of the Cecil family acquired many fine examples.

Those displayed at Burghley include a number of containers made of wood with applied decoration of coloured straw, a stationery box, a set of bone spillikins in a pocket case, a framed straw-work picture of the house built for Napoleon Bonaparte on St Helena, to where he was exiled, a bone set of dominoes and playing cards and a detailed model of an 80-gun ship-of-the-line with hair rigging.

The last photo in the gallery shows a photograph of one section of the collection in the museum of Waterloo, taken in around 1900, showing all the weapons of Waterloo en situ, including all the protagonists {British, French, Prussian and Belgian muskets, swords, pistols, armour uniforms, etc}. The museum was founded and owned by a veteran of the 7th Hussars that fought at Waterloo

12.75 inches wide, x 9.25 inches x 3 inches.  read more

Code: 20852

A Stunning & Superb Condition, Original Indian Mutiny Period Elite 2nd Dragoon Guards Officer's Silver Pouch

Hallmarked silver and dated to 1855. This was acquired from a museum grade collector of Waterloo artefacts and also 2nd Dragoon Guards artefacts, from the 19th century. We also acquired the regimentally marked 2nd QDG 1796 Napoleonic Wars pistol code number 22648 {now sold}. A dress officer’s finest grade silver pouch, in absolute pristine condition. Quite simply a wonderful artefact of British elite cavalry uniform regalia, that is also an 'object d'art' from one of the most beautiful and finest quality military uniforms ever worn.
Hallmarked London silver, dated 1855. Picture 10 in the gallery shows the pre 1885 2nd QDG full dress badge, when worn on their helmet the garter belt motto would change to the words Queen's Dragoon Guards, on the 1855 pouch it has "Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense" as with the full dress badge but surmounted by a crown.

Rectangular curved box with silver lid, with cast silver supports and rings and lined with silver wire bullion bands. Box covered in tooled black leather lining with morocco red leather trim. The silver cover bears an engraved acanthus leaf border, bearing at its centre the elite royal cavalry badge, of a gold, crowned garter star, emblazoned with royal motto "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense", and the central relief VR cypher of Queen Victoria.
In 1857 the 2nd the Queen's Bays, were sent to India for the Indian Mutiny, and this pouch would have been worn in this conflict by its officer owner.
After the recapture of Delhi the focus of the conflict was on Lucknow, 150 miles northeast of Allahabad. Sir Colin Campbell had already rescued the beleaguered garrison there but had not prevented the rebels from capturing the city and holding it with 130,000 men. Campbell now had a force of 20,000 to march on Lucknow. The rebels made several sorties out of the town to engage with them. On 6 March two squadrons of the Bays made a charge under the command of Major Percy Smith. This got out of control over broken ground and three men were killed, including Major Smith. They were unable to retrieve his body. One corporal was unhorsed and unable to remount, so was cut to pieces. Six other men were wounded and many of the horses suffered terrible wounds from the mutineers' swords and bayonets. Lucknow was recaptured by 16 Mar 1858, but 20,000 rebels escaped. The cavalry units were already scattered around the countryside chasing small parties of rebels so were not in position to block the mass exodus on 16 Mar. "We came on bodies of Cavalry and Infantry of the enemy. Bays where ordered to the front to charge and pursue! Away we went as hard as possible, Major Smith and I leading. We did not stop for three miles, cutting down and pursuing the mutineers right up to Lucknow, and across the river. We are told the most gallant. Smartest, though somewhat rash thing that was done before Lucknow".

In a battle at Nawabganj, east of Lucknow, 2 squadrons under Major Seymour were part of the cavalry element of Hope Grant's 3,500-strong column that attacked a force of 15,000 mutineers entrenched at a river crossing. They made a 12 mile night march to surprise the rebels. There was a three hour battle during which the British were surrounded but they turned the tables and drove the enemy off, having killed 600 and captured 9 guns. The British lost 67 killed or wounded in action, but 33 died of sunstroke and 250 ended up in hospital. All members of the regiment had suffered from fever or sunstroke, both proving fatal in many cases. The CO, William Campbell died on 6 July 1858, after being promoted to brigadier. The second lieutenant-colonel, Hylton Brisco had suffered with fever and retired in September. Because of the fatalities and sickness, officers were gaining promotion without purchase. Captain William Henry Seymour, whose letters home provide valuable information on the Bays in India, attained his majority and lieutenant-colonelcy so that within 8 months he had gone from captain to CO of the regiment.
7.5 inches x 3.5 inches x 1.75 inches deep at the curve. 8.75 ounces weight total.  read more

Code: 22333

A Rare African Bushman’s Tribal Poison Arrows and Tree Branch Leather Capped Quiver & Poison Stick

Acquired with, and displayed with, in the gallery, the poison stick, {picture 4 in the gallery} but the deadly poison stick we cannot sell with the bushman’s arrows and quiver. 5 arrows with iron heads with long hafts, two fire sticks and one poison stick***

Like the notorious and more well known South American Curare paralytic poison, { extracted from the plant Strychnos toxifera} the African poisons are similarly extremely effective in their task.

Along the Acokanthera sp. the most popular three types for the extraction of arrow poison were, A. oblongiflora, B. oppositifolia, and C. schimperi in general known as Bushman's poison, poison bush, poison tree or winter-sweet.

All parts of the plant can be used. Stems, roots, or even leaves, but wood chips are preferred, they are put in a large container, filled with water and boiled for up to 12 hours. Additional water is added in case the water evaporates before this time period is attained. Once all the water has evaporated, a thick sticky black substance is left in the container.

The plant parts are discarded. This substance is then cut into pieces, put into containers or wrapped and stored away from people where it can later be mixed with water or tree gum to form a thick paste which can be applied to the arrows. The poison paste type gum can them be applied to a poison stick and carried in the quiver and added to the arrow head when required. This poison stick has two such gum like deposits. One black the other paler brown. This would be for the bushman to know which poison was which, for different purposes and strengths for example. This poisons are extremely poisonous and can kill a 50 kg animal with ease in less than 20 minutes.

Although the Strophantus kombe (Zambezi tail flower or Poison Rope) was the most used of the species, Strophantus amboensis (Omuhundure), Strophanthus hispidus and Strophantus speciosus (Common Poison rope) was also used. The poison derived from S. hispidus was known as inee or onaye and was used mostly at the west coast of Africa (Senegal, Gambia, Guinea and Gabon), S. gratus in equatorial Africa, S. kombe was used mostly in central and east Africa as far south as the Zambezi, S. amboensis southern Angola and northern Namibia and S. speciosus in South Africa.

The seeds are collected, crushed and mix with saliva or other additives to form a paste, the paste was then left in strong sunlight for several hours before use. This poison can literally kill an average man in 5 to 10 minutes, a big animal in 20 minutes.

The Bushman would despatch his arrows with a basic stick bow which would effectively be disposable and easy to replace if lost or broken. Unlike the arrows, that require forged iron heads, and thus black-smithing.

An article from the New York Times, published March 15th 1964, un-edited;
If the victims can tell about it at all, they say that for a split second they heard a high, faint whistling, then felt a sharp, searing blow, as though struck by a hot blade. This is how a deadly arrow sounds and feels, and if the arrowhead is poisoned, the last moments can bring excruciating pain and sometimes madness.

In the past few weeks, the poisoned arrow had claimed a number of victims, including an American woman missionary, in the terrorized Kwilu Province of the Congo. Guerrilla rebels there killed the Congolese Army Chief of Staff himself with a poisoned arrow that sped out of the undergrowth and felled him as he led a column of reinforcements along a jungle road.

The reason weapons so primitive as bows and arrows survive in an age of light, efficient, rapid‐fire small arms is that they are ideally suited to the stealth of guerrilla warfare. (Some special United States troops are being taught jungle archery.) Both the bow and arrow and a sister weapon, the dart‐hurling blowpipe, are nearly silent and thus not only can take their victims by surprise but do not reveal their firing positions, as with shots discharged by explosives. Aimed by experts, poisoned arrows and darts can be as deadly as bullets and, depending on the poison, considerably less merciful.

POISONED arrows have been used principally by African and South American tribes, and poisoned darts by tribes of the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. Poisoned arrows were not unknown to the North American Indian, however. The Osage tribesmen of what is now Missouri and Arkansas made poison by enticing a rattlesnake to bite a piece of liver which was then diced and pressed into clamshells for preservation. In wartime the shells were entrusted to the squaws, who carried them to the battlefield and helped the braves dip their arrows.
Compare this businesslike approach with the traditional rituals of African tribes preparing poison for war. Death was presumed wingless until a medicine man had reeled off incantations over simmering pots, though it may be noted that the men were careful to let the women have a major share of the work right from the start. It was said that the casualties among the women were more numerous than among the warriors on the battlefield.

THE kind of poison varied from tribe to tribe and from region to region. In less inhibited southern Africa, tribes made a fanciful poison of scor pions and spiders ground with lethal plant juice and snake venom, whereas in the more cultivated regions of the north, a vegetal poison was considered amply fatal. In between were other concoctions. Pygmies endorsed poisons derived from powdered red ants. The bushmen of Bechuanaland still favor a poison made by crushing the pupae of beetles found among the roots of infested marula trees.

Reference *Special Conservation* Item, see info page.

*** Despite being brought to the UK quite unknowingly several generations ago, the poison stick cannot be sold by us, and thus included with the arrows, for obvious health and safety reasons, as it is restricted for sale by the 'Poisons Act of 1972'  read more

Code: 24674

A Very Good, Antique Decorated Spanish Antique Albacete Fighting Knife, aka The Albacete Knife Plug Bayonet. With Pieced Blade & Dot Punched Decoration With A Brass and Carved Bone Hilt

Although frequently termed the plug bayonet knife, they were not actually used as bayonets as such, but, once the term was used it has remained in common parlance, even today.

A 19th Century Spanish Fighting knife; Albacete Spain; This knife measures 10.75 inches in length with a ornate double edged 6.75 inch blade. The blade has four pierced hole added for traditional decoration as well as pin point punch engraving decoration. The hilt is brass with carved bone. The bone has been fluted length ways and filled with decorative brass panels.

The term "Albacete plug bayonet" likely refers to the historical use of knives from Albacete, Spain, as the earliest form of plug bayonets. These daggers were inserted directly into a musket's barrel, creating a pike-like weapon but preventing the firearm from being used for shooting. While the specific term "Albacete plug bayonet knife" isn't a historical designation, it highlights the Spanish city's renowned knife-making tradition in the 16th and 17th centuries, which produced the raw materials for these early military bayonet  read more

Code: 25895

A Fine 1796 Infantry officer's Sword Of The Napoleonic Wars, From The Peninsular Campaign to Waterloo. With A Near Mint Mercurial Gilt & Silver Hilt.

Mercurial gilt hilt with double shell fold down guard and silver bound grip, and engraved blade with traces of the Royal cypher and crest, very bright polish. From the Napoleonic Wars, the Peninsular war, The War of 1812 in America, then in 1815 at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, and with around 95% of the gilt remaining on the hilt. A simply stunning sword in wonderful condition. British infantry officer's sword of the Napoleonic Wars. The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major conflicts pitting the French Empire led by Emperor Napoleon I against an array of European powers formed into various coalitions. They revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly owing to the application of modern mass conscription. The wars are traditionally seen as a continuation of the Revolutionary Wars, which broke out in 1792 during the French Revolution. Initially, French power rose quickly as the armies of Napoleon conquered much of Europe. In his military career, Napoleon fought about 60 battles and lost seven, mostly at the end. The great French dominion collapsed rapidly after the disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. Napoleon was defeated in 1814, and then once more in 1815 at Waterloo after a brief return to power. The Allies then reversed all French gains since the Revolutionary Wars at the Congress of Vienna.

Before a final victory against Napoleon, five of seven coalitions saw defeat at the hands of France. France defeated the first and second coalitions during the French Revolutionary Wars, the third (notably at Austerlitz), the fourth (notably at Jena, Eylau, and Friedland) and the fifth coalition (notably at Wagram) under the leadership of Napoleon. These great victories gave the French Army a sense of invulnerability, especially when it approached Moscow. But after the retreat from Russia, in spite of incomplete victories, France was defeated by the sixth coalition at Leipzig, in the Peninsular War at Vitoria and at the hands of the seventh coalition at Waterloo.

The wars resulted in the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and sowed the seeds of nationalism that would lead to the consolidations of Germany and Italy later in the century. Meanwhile, the global Spanish Empire began to unravel as French occupation of Spain weakened Spain's hold over its colonies, providing an opening for nationalist revolutions in Spanish America. As a direct result of the Napoleonic wars, the British Empire became the foremost world power for the next century, thus beginning Pax Britannica.

No consensus exists about when the French Revolutionary Wars ended and the Napoleonic Wars began. An early candidate is 9 November 1799, the date of Bonaparte's coup seizing power in France. However, the most common date is 18 May 1803, when renewed war broke out between Britain and France, ending the one-year-old Peace of Amiens, the only period of general peace in Europe between 1792 and 1814. Most actual fighting ceased following Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo on 18 June 1815, although skirmishing continued as late as 3 July 1815 at the Battle of Issy. The Second Treaty of Paris officially ended the wars on 20 November 1815. Overall this battle cum dress sword is in fabulous condition, from a large former museum collection of original Napoleonic Battle of Waterloo swords

The last photo in the gallery shows a photograph of one section of the collection in the museum of Waterloo, taken in around 1900, showing all the weapons of Waterloo en situ, including all the protagonists {British, French, Prussian and Belgian muskets, swords, pistols, armour uniforms, etc}. The museum was founded and owned by a veteran of the 7th Hussars that fought at Waterloo. Light surface old pitting to the blade.

No scabbard.  read more

Code: 25896

A Very Good Victorian 2nd Foot Quilted Pattern Shako Plate c. 1861-69.

A brass, quilted (1861-69) pattern shako plate for the 2nd Foot (later 1st West Surrey Regiment) with two soldered lug fastenings (east and west).

The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) was a line infantry regiment of the English and later the British Army from 1661 to 1959. It was the senior English line infantry regiment of the British Army, behind only the Royal Scots in the British Army line infantry order of precedence.

The regiment was shipped to the Cape Colony during the Eighth Xhosa War in 1851. On 25 February 1852 a detachment of 51 men under the command of Ensign Boyland were aboard HMS Birkenhead travelling from Simon's Town to Port Elizabeth when the ship struck rocks. The troops were assembled on deck and remained at attention to afford the embarked women and children time to take their place in the lifeboats. Shortly after this the ship broke up and the vast majority of the troops on board were either drowned or fell victim to sharks. The bravery of the troops, made up of cadres from ten different regiments, led to the naming of the Birkenhead Drill. It once again became the 1st Battalion when the 2nd Battalion was reformed in 1857, and went to China in 1860 at the time of the Second Opium War, fighting at the Third Battle of Taku Forts and the capture of Beijing. It was stationed in the Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda from 1864 to 1866. Although too far North for yellow fever to establish itself in perpetuity, the disease was introduced to Bermuda several times during the 19th century by mail boats from the West Indies, causing endemics that resulted in many deaths, most particularly among members of the armed forces. Under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel F. L. O. Attye, the battalion arrived at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda (aboard HMS Orontes from Gibraltar, via Madeira) on 15 July 1864, in the midst of one of these epidemics and its losses in Bermuda included Assistant Surgeon James Murray Chalk at St. George's Garrison on 8 February 1865 and Douglas James Mounteny Rose, the five-year-old son of Lieutenant-Colonel Rose, who died the following day. The battalion lost fifty-two officers and men in the epidemic. The battalion departed Bermuda for Cork, Ireland, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Werge, aboard HMS Orontes on 3 November 1866.

The regiment was not fundamentally affected by the Cardwell Reforms of the 1870s, which gave it a depot at Stoughton Barracks in Guildford from 1873, or by the Childers reforms of 1881 – as it already possessed two battalions, there was no need for it to amalgamate with another regiment. Under the reforms it became The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment on 1 July 1881. In 1897–98, a battalion took part in the Tirah Expedition on the North-West Frontier.  read more

Code: 25897

A Deeply Convex Domed Moghul & Sikh Indian Hand Forged Steel Shield, Decorated With Koftgari Work

Just returned from over 40 hours of specialist hand cleaning and polishing with final conservation . This Indo-Persian Dahl is a circular, convex shield used in military combat or as an ornamental item, originating from the Indian and Persian regions. This shields, also known as Sipar, were typically made from steel or leather and were adorned with elaborate floral designs, often using koftgari (gold and silver inlay), and featured four domed bosses.

a style of shield as popular with the Moghul and the Sikh empires

The Mogul-Sikh Wars were a series of conflicts between the Sikh community and the Mughal Empire, primarily during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The tensions began with the growing popularity of Sikhism, founded by Guru Nanak in the Punjab, and escalated with the persecution of Sikh leaders, particularly under Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Key figures, such as Guru Hargobind and Guru Gobind Singh, played pivotal roles in militarizing the Sikh community in response to Mughal oppression, leading to the formation of the Khalsa, a collective of Sikh warriors devoted to defending their faith.

The conflicts intensified with the rise of Emperor Aurangzeb, who targeted the Sikhs due to their increasing power and influence. Following significant battles, including the siege of Anandpur, the Sikhs faced heavy losses, but their resolve only strengthened, leading to notable victories against Mughal forces. The eventual execution of Sikh leader Bandā Bahādur and subsequent massacres highlighted the brutal nature of these confrontations. Ultimately, the resistance of the Sikhs contributed to the decline of the Mughal Empire, as they established a robust martial tradition and expanded their influence throughout the Punjab region, fostering a sense of unity and resilience within the Sikh community.  read more

Code: 25900

A Beautiful Noble's Early Antique Sinhalese Ceylonese Piha Kaetta Knife Dagger

A most engaging ornate pihas and likely made exclusively by the Pattal Hattara (The Four Workshops). They were employed directly by the Kings of Kandy. Kandy, the independent kingdom, was first established by King Wickramabahu (1357-1374 AD). The last Kandyan king was in the early 1800's, and the workshops are no longer in existence today.The simplest are of plain steel, but very graceful form, with wooden or horn handles, and carried in the belt, to lop off inconvenient branches as one passes through the jungle, or, to open coconuts, or cut jungle ropes. From these knives there are all transitions to the finest versions of nobles and princes, the most elaborate and costly of silver or gold inlaid and overlaid knives worn by the greatest chiefs as a part of their formal dress, and possibly never intended for regular use. The workmanship of many of these is most exquisite but this fine work is done rather by the higher craftsmen, the silversmiths and ivory carvers, than by the mere blacksmith. Many of the best knives were doubtless made in the Four Workshops, such as is this example, the blades being supplied to the silversmith by the blacksmiths.
"The best of the higher craftsmen (gold and silversmiths, painters, and ivory carvers, etc.) working immediately for the king formed a close, largely hereditary, corporation of craftsmen called the Pattal-hatara (Four Workshops). They were named as follows; The Ran Kadu [Golden Arms], the Abarana [Regalia], the Sinhasana [Lion Throne], and the Otunu [Crown] these men worked only for the King, unless by his express permission (though, of course, their sons or pupils might do otherwise); they were liable to be continually engaged in Kandy, while the Kottal-badda men were divided into relays, serving by turns in Kandy for periods of two months. The Kottal-badda men in each district were under a foreman (mul-acariya) belonging to the Pattal-hatara. Four other foremen, one from each pattala, were in constant attendance at the palace.This beautiful noble's dagger is stunningly decorated with veka deka liya vela [double curve vine motif] and the flower motif sina mal, and a bold vine in damascene silver. The blade is traditonal iron and the hilt beautifully carved black coral  read more

Code: 14577

An Original 18th Century, Royal Naval, Board of Ordnance Issued Fire Bucket. Bearing BO Broad Arrow Stamp and Makers Stamp. Battle of Copenhagen, Battle of The Nile & Trafalgar Period

Hardened leather with all stitched seams in excellent condition, and leather handle. Bears the remainder of an applied royal crest. Broad arrow & Board of Ordnance stamp to the base.
Fire aboard a wooden ship was a constant peril, from such as burning powder shot or cannon fire, or even from an enemy fire ship, and could be the destruction of a vessel and crew in a very short time, if not subdued as quickly as possible. Thus good and sturdy leather fire buckets were an essential piece of Royal Naval equipment aboard every vessel. We show a row of Royal Naval issue fire buckets reproductions aboard Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory, now in permanent dock at Portsmouth. It is still the flagship of the Royal Navy in honour of Nelsons famous victory at Trafalgar. Fire buckets have been popular with collectors and owners of period homes for a very long time. They represent a time long before most towns had established and well-equipped fire departments ready to respond at a moment’s notice to a house or shop fire, when people relied on their neighbours to come to their aid. The risk for catastrophe from fire was great. A single stand-alone house could be consumed in minutes. In towns, fire in densely populated neighbourhoods could quickly result in the destruction of dozens of buildings.

Between 1630 and 1700 Boston experienced at least six major fires that destroyed well over 200 buildings. Most fire buckets were likely purchased from merchant craftsmen who specialised in leather goods, or wholesalers who imported wares from England. The earliest reference for the sale of fire buckets in Boston comes from a 1743 newspaper where an advertisement from an unnamed merchant simply states, “A Parcel of Choice Fire Buckets to be sold.” it is very rare to find a mark or signature on a fire bucket that identifies its maker.

At Christies auction house on the 17th December 2015 a fire bucket from HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship, sold for £6875
Leather handle likely replaced  read more

Code: 24005

A Fine & Most Rare, French Napoleonic Wars Consulat To Empire Period Early 19th Century Flintlock Officer's Pistol From 1801, Manufacture St Etienne, Lock Interior Marked Duran, Identical To Another Sold By the Smithsonian Institution Of New York in 1996

Lock marked St Etienne, and the barrel marked RS, the identical marking as on the Smithsonian Institutes pistol. Likely the version used by L'officier de marine, such as at Trafalgar in 1805, it was also an option for the L'officier Gendarmerie. It was the pattern designed to be used in most cavalry of the Consulat and during the early years of the Empire, as well as in the Navy. The cavalry examples were usually 3cm longer. They were produced until 1808

The modèle An IX replaced the modèle 1777, which had been criticized to the point where the older modèle 1763 had been brought back into service.

This pistol is superficially similar in appearance to the well respected Pistolet modèle 1763/66 pattern. The Pistolet modèle An IX is in effect the same in terms of changes made to the musket pattern of the same year, but when compared to the modèle 1777/1786 had the spring and brass barrel bands of its predecessor restored to make it much easier to service.

The Battle of Trafalgar, (October 21, 1805), was a naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars, which established British naval supremacy for more than 100 years; it was fought west of Cape Trafalgar, Spain, between Cádiz and the Strait of Gibraltar. A fleet of 33 ships (18 French and 15 Spanish) under Admiral Pierre de Villeneuve fought a British fleet of 27 ships under Admiral Horatio Nelson.

Nelson was outnumbered, with 27 British ships of the line to 33 allied ships including the largest warship in either fleet, the Spanish Santísima Trinidad. To address this imbalance, Nelson sailed his fleet directly at the allied battle line's flank, hoping to break the line into pieces. Villeneuve had worried that Nelson might attempt this tactic but, for various reasons, had made no plans for this eventuality. The plan worked almost perfectly; Nelson's columns split the Franco-Spanish fleet in three, isolating the rear half from Villeneuve's flag aboard Bucentaure. The allied vanguard sailed off while it attempted to turn around, giving the British temporary superiority over the remainder of their fleet. In the ensuing fierce battle 20 allied ships were lost, while the British lost none.

Nelson's own HMS Victory led the front column and was almost knocked out of action. Nelson was shot by a French musketeer during the battle, and died shortly before it ended. Villeneuve was captured along with his flagship Bucentaure. He attended Nelson's funeral while a captive on parole in Britain. The senior Spanish fleet officer, Admiral Federico Gravina, escaped with the remnant of the Franco-Spanish fleet (a third of the original number of ships); he died five months later of wounds sustained during the battle.

The victory confirmed the naval supremacy Britain had established during the course of the eighteenth century, and was achieved in part through Nelson's departure from prevailing naval tactical orthodoxy.  read more

Code: 25387