Today is the anniversary of a day that in the historical perspective, is no less important in the preservation of democracy than VE or VJ day.
208 years ago, Admiral Nelson and the Royal Navy defeated the fleet of Napoleon Bonaparte, who at the time, was making a very good go of making himself master of the world. The destruction of the combined French and Spanish fleets off the cape of Trafalgar ended Napoleons quest to invade the United Kingdom. It was an achievement on the same order of the RAF's victory over the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain over a century later, and achieved similar results, namely the preservation of the parliamentary system we maintain and enjoy today.
While the Napoleonic wars were to rage of for many more years, Nelson's victory at Trafalgar proved critical to the outcome of the war: namely, strangling the French economy, empowering our allies, permitting a rapid deployment of British troops and Wellington for his victory at Waterloo and ultimately resulting in the capture of Napoleon.
You see, Napoleon really wanted to forget the whole Trafalgar debacle, and put it out of his mind (and everyone else's on pain of death) for the remainder of his rule. Of course, when he tried to flee the country after Waterloo, he found every French port inconveniently blocked by, you guessed it, the British Fleet (it pays to pay attention to details, no matter how unsavory). Thanks to his potent ability to ignore the obvious, he got to spend his last miserable days on an equally miserable little island in the middle of the Atlantic.
So today, we honour Lord Nelson and his sacrifice in the name of freedom... and kick a Frenchman in the shins. It's traditional.
Additionally, here are a few things we can be thankful for because of Nelson and Trafalgar:
208 years ago, Admiral Nelson and the Royal Navy defeated the fleet of Napoleon Bonaparte, who at the time, was making a very good go of making himself master of the world. The destruction of the combined French and Spanish fleets off the cape of Trafalgar ended Napoleons quest to invade the United Kingdom. It was an achievement on the same order of the RAF's victory over the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain over a century later, and achieved similar results, namely the preservation of the parliamentary system we maintain and enjoy today.
While the Napoleonic wars were to rage of for many more years, Nelson's victory at Trafalgar proved critical to the outcome of the war: namely, strangling the French economy, empowering our allies, permitting a rapid deployment of British troops and Wellington for his victory at Waterloo and ultimately resulting in the capture of Napoleon.
You see, Napoleon really wanted to forget the whole Trafalgar debacle, and put it out of his mind (and everyone else's on pain of death) for the remainder of his rule. Of course, when he tried to flee the country after Waterloo, he found every French port inconveniently blocked by, you guessed it, the British Fleet (it pays to pay attention to details, no matter how unsavory). Thanks to his potent ability to ignore the obvious, he got to spend his last miserable days on an equally miserable little island in the middle of the Atlantic.
So today, we honour Lord Nelson and his sacrifice in the name of freedom... and kick a Frenchman in the shins. It's traditional.
Additionally, here are a few things we can be thankful for because of Nelson and Trafalgar:
- We're not forced to speak French as a primary language.
- There were strong and independent allies in World War II (that were most importantly, not France) to stop the Nazis.
- We never had to take DeGaulle seriously.
- We don't have to live in fear of the "Language Police".
- We can look on French history as comical relief.
- Soap products are not optional.
- Frogs legs and snails are optional.
- We needn't kiss everyone we know or are introduced to when greeting.
- And most importantly, French "popular" music is restricted to being enjoyed only in France and Quebec.
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