Here's To Lord Nelson, slayer of frogs

[Saras]

And that was? A rather quiet 19th century, I'd say.

[Thorgal]

In fact Trafalgar had some importance at a moral or symbolic level, but it had very little real effect on the overall course of the war. For instance only some weeks after Napoleon won at Austerlitz.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Thorgal
In fact Trafalgar had some importance at a moral or symbolic level, but it had very little real effect on the overall course of the war. For instance only some weeks after Napoleon won at Austerlitz.

It prevented the invasion of Britain in the short and medium term. Pretty significant really.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by duke o' york
I told the French women in my office to respond to any idiotic mentions of Trafalgar by claiming that it was also the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. That should have given the nationalists something to think about!
It wasn't the anniversary, but still. I think it's nearer Christmas, because William was crowned on Christmas Day as the new (French) king of England (well, a mixture of English and French that has become more intermixed in every generation since).

I seem to recall (hearing) that the Battle of Hastings was around Michaelmas, which was late September.

[Thorgal]

It prevented the invasion of Britain in the short and medium term. Pretty significant really.

France loss only 13 of more than 70 ships in his fleet at Trafalgar (and were rebuilt quickly) while Spain lost 8 of about 35. They would have invaded Britain after Trafalgar but Napoleon was occupied in other things.

[C0ckney]

that's just plain wrong i'm afraid.

[Az]

And that was? A rather quiet 19th century, I'd say.

The rise of a unified germany, the continuation of Russian Serfdom, the continuing grip of the church and monarchy in spain, just from the top of my head.

[Theben]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Here is what Rosbifs despise. Actual men fighting for the greater good of the world, and slaying this nation of clerks and shopkeepers into irrelevance.

When you say "actual men fighting" you're referring to the French, right?

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Dauphin
I seem to recall (hearing) that the Battle of Hastings was around Michaelmas, which was late September.

That sounds about right. IIRC, Harold had to work hard too keep much of his army from deserting to harvest their fields. Plus, that forced march of his from York to Hastings couldn't have been done in winter snows.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Last Conformist
Yes they were.

Yes and no. Vikings were going to sack Paris so the King of France agreed to give them Normandy in exchange for not attacking any more French lands.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Thorgal
In fact Trafalgar had some importance at a moral or symbolic level, but it had very little real effect on the overall course of the war. For instance only some weeks after Napoleon won at Austerlitz.

Napolean gave up invading the UK after Trafalgar and so the best he could really hope for would have been a draw. That's pretty significant. The victory also encouraged the UK to fight until the end instead of agreeing to a perminent truce.

[Az]

[q=C0ckney]
az, spiff, all frogs = gutted.
[/q]

The brits gloating I understand - it's moronic nationalistic posturing but why would anyone else be glad about this?

[Dinner]

Well, there was that whole period of peace between the end of the Napoleanonic wars and the Crimea War to be thankful about. You know the one which allowed industricalization and economic advancement to take hold in the west. Hell, Crimea was just a little hickup and other then a few colonial wars there wasn't a major war in Europe for a century.

That's worth being thankful about.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Oerdin


Napolean gave up invading the UK after Trafalgar and so the best he could really hope for would have been a draw. That's pretty significant. The victory also encouraged the UK to fight until the end instead of agreeing to a perminent truce.

Napoleon had given up on the invasion long before Trafalgar. He started marching towards Austria at the end of August.

[Dinner]

The British victory put an end to Napoleon's plans to invade Britain across the English Channel. Once the threat of invasion was removed, British troops could be used to fight on the European continent, which was a major factor in Napoleon's ultimate fall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trafalgar