Book contents
- The Cambridge History of the Napoleonic Wars
- The Cambridge History of the Napoleonic Wars
- The Cambridge History of the Napoleonic Wars
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Maps
- Key to maps
- Tables
- Contributors to Volume II
- Introduction to Volume II
- Part I The Nature of Warfare in the Napoleonic Era
- 1 Military Strategy and Tactics
- 2 Siege Warfare
- 3 Small Wars and Guerrilla Fighting
- 4 Maritime Warfare
- Part II The State of the Armed Forces
- Part III Raising and Supplying the Armies
- Part IV Napoleon’s Military Campaigns in Europe
- Part V Other Spheres of War
- Bibliographical Essays
- Index
4 - Maritime Warfare
from Part I - The Nature of Warfare in the Napoleonic Era
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 December 2022
- The Cambridge History of the Napoleonic Wars
- The Cambridge History of the Napoleonic Wars
- The Cambridge History of the Napoleonic Wars
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Maps
- Key to maps
- Tables
- Contributors to Volume II
- Introduction to Volume II
- Part I The Nature of Warfare in the Napoleonic Era
- 1 Military Strategy and Tactics
- 2 Siege Warfare
- 3 Small Wars and Guerrilla Fighting
- 4 Maritime Warfare
- Part II The State of the Armed Forces
- Part III Raising and Supplying the Armies
- Part IV Napoleon’s Military Campaigns in Europe
- Part V Other Spheres of War
- Bibliographical Essays
- Index
Summary
The maritime aspects of the wars of the French Revolution and Empire were asymmetric, between a British seapower empire of oceanic connectivity and a French dominated European system that focussed on territorial control and economic restriction. The inclusive British political system privileged naval strength, the defence of trade, and sea control. This position was based on battle fleet dominance, which remained undefeated across two decades. British identity became ever more closely linked to naval success as Nelson, the Nile and Trafalgar added new names to national culture. This sustained long-term funding for major infrastructure projects, new ships, and high levels of skilled manpower. Superior ships and men enabled the Royal Navy to defeat naval rivals, and attacks on commercial shipping by national warships and privateers. Naval dominance sustained a hard-line economic war that broke the Russian economy, and seriously damaged that of France, while the City of London and the British economy more generally continued to support the national war effort through extensive capital loans, and private measures, such as those of Lloyds Patriotic Fund. Seapower could not defeat Napoleon, it supported a grand alliance that would achieve that aim. By 1815 Britain had become a global seapower empire of unrivalled wealth and influence.
Keywords
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge History of the Napoleonic Wars , pp. 65 - 86Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023