Nelson developed the art of war at sea to the new, terrible form he characterised as 'annihilation' to counter the war effort of Napoleonic France. Nor did Bonaparte disagree - he kept a bust of Nelson in his private quarters. His elevated conception of war ensured that every battle he fought was used to solve major strategic problems, and his many successes ensured he was the only contemporary to rival Bonaparte as ultimate exemplar of total war. It guaranteed Britain's control of the oceans, the basis of her global power for over a century.īy 1805 Nelson was already a national hero, and considered the ultimate naval commander. Little wonder the battle transcended the mundane calculation of ships and men, victory and defeat.
During the engagement at Trafalgar, on 21 October 1805, the Royal Navy annihilated the greatest threat to British security for 200 years, but lost Britain's national hero in the process.
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