Napoleon Bonaparte of France invasion of Egypt

Compiled by: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On July 25, 1799 AD, Napoleon Bonaparte of France, during his invasion of Egypt, defeated an Ottoman army of 10,000 led by Mustafa Pasha at Abukir. Napoleon, who undertook the invasion of Egypt in 1798 as part of his plan to protect French trade interests and undermine Britain's access to India, had boasted prior to his campaign: “Having occupied and fortified Egypt, we shall send a force of 15,000 men from Suez to the Sultanate of Mysore (in India), to join the forces of Tipu Sultan and drive away the English.â€‌
Three years later in 1801, despite several victories, he was eventually forced to withdraw after unsuccessful attempts to pose as liberator from Ottoman rule or win the confidence of the Egyptians, even though he participated at al-Azhar in the birth anniversary celebrations of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), clad in Arab clothes and turban, and telling the congregation that he has changed his name to Ali Bonaparte.
His abortive expedition into Syria, mounting political disharmony in France, conflict in Europe, and the defeat of the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile by the British led by Nelson, made him end the occupation of Egypt.