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[[Image:Trafalgar.jpg|400px|thumb|''Victory'' (center) breaking through the enemy line. A broadside has crippled the French flagship ''Bucentaure'', seen off ''Victory’s'' port side, while Nelson's gunners fire a second broadside into the ''Santisima Trinidad''. Just astern, the ''Temeraire'' manoeuvres to trap the ''Redoubtable'' between herself and ''Victory'' (''The Battle of Trafalgar'' Robert Taylor)]]

[[Image:Trafalgar.jpg|400px|thumb|''Victory'' (center) breaking through the enemy line. A broadside has crippled the French flagship ''Bucentaure'', seen off ''Victory’s'' port side, while Nelson's gunners fire a second broadside into the ''Santisima Trinidad''. Just astern, the ''Temeraire'' manoeuvres to trap the ''Redoubtable'' between herself and ''Victory'' (''The Battle of Trafalgar'' Robert Taylor)]]

The '''Battle of Trafalgar''' was a naval battle fought during the [[Napoleonic Wars]] on October 21, 1805 off the coast of southwestern Spain.  It involved the [[Royal Navy]] under the command of Viscount Admiral Lord [[Horatio Nelson]] against the combined forces of [[France]] and [[Spain]]. The destruction of the Franco-Spanish fleet gave Britain uncontested dominion over the world’s oceans for over 100 years, and it was because the British won the battle that they and not the French eventually came to rule an empire that included [[India]], [[Canada]], [[Hong Kong]], and [[Singapore]], and preside over a world economy in which [[London]] was the financial heart of [[Europe]]. The battle also immortalised the memory of Nelson who was shot and died of his wounds at the moment of his greatest victory.  

The '''Battle of Trafalgar''' was a naval battle fought during the [[Napoleonic Wars]] on October 21, 1805 off the coast of southwestern Spain.  It involved the [[Royal Navy]] under the command of Viscount Admiral Lord [[Horatio Nelson]] against the combined forces of [[France]] and [[Spain]]. The destruction of the Franco-Spanish fleet gave Britain uncontested dominion over the world’s oceans for over 100 years, and it was because the British won the battle that they and not the French eventually came to rule an empire that included [[India]], [[Canada]], [[Hong Kong]], and [[Singapore]], and preside over a world economy in which [[London]] was the financial heart of [[Europe]]. The battle also immortalised the memory of Nelson who was shot by a French sharpshooter in the rigging of the enemy ships and died of his wounds at the moment of his greatest victory.  

==Background==

==Background==

On 19 October the British observed the Franco-Spanish fleet leaving Cadiz, under orders to try to break into the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. The main body of Nelson's fleet lay at anchor 48 miles off the coast and he immediately ordered pursuit. At dawn on 21 October the British fleet was only 9 miles away from the enemy, and at 11.48 am Nelson's flagship HMS ''Victory'' hoisted the signal ''England Expects That Every Man Will Do His Duty'' followed soon after by ''Engage the enemy more closely''. Having insufficient vessels to form the originally intended three lines, two columns were formed, led by HMS ''Victory'' and Admiral [[Cuthbert Collingwood|Lord Collingwood's]] 100-gun ship of the line HMS ''Royal Sovereign''. At this angle the British guns could not be brought to bear on the enemy, who opened fire with broadsides of their own uncontested. The wind had dropped and for the British fleet the approach was slower than planned, into a storm of cannon shot. Travelling at greater speed, Collingwood's ship breached the Franco-Spanish line well ahead of the rest of his column and the ''Royal Sovereign'' suffered heavily as she quickly drew the attentions of three French and three Spanish ships. As the columns cut through the enemy line they were able to "rake" their gunfire, firing into the bow and stern of enemy ships as they passed between them, this time the enemy guns unable to return fire.

On 19 October the British observed the Franco-Spanish fleet leaving Cadiz, under orders to try to break into the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. The main body of Nelson's fleet lay at anchor 48 miles off the coast and he immediately ordered pursuit. At dawn on 21 October the British fleet was only 9 miles away from the enemy, and at 11.48 am Nelson's flagship HMS ''Victory'' hoisted the signal ''England Expects That Every Man Will Do His Duty'' followed soon after by ''Engage the enemy more closely''. Having insufficient vessels to form the originally intended three lines, two columns were formed, led by HMS ''Victory'' and Admiral [[Cuthbert Collingwood|Lord Collingwood's]] 100-gun ship of the line HMS ''Royal Sovereign''. At this angle the British guns could not be brought to bear on the enemy, who opened fire with broadsides of their own uncontested. The wind had dropped and for the British fleet the approach was slower than planned, into a storm of cannon shot. Travelling at greater speed, Collingwood's ship breached the Franco-Spanish line well ahead of the rest of his column and the ''Royal Sovereign'' suffered heavily as she quickly drew the attentions of three French and three Spanish ships. As the columns cut through the enemy line they were able to "rake" their gunfire, firing into the bow and stern of enemy ships as they passed between them, this time the enemy guns unable to return fire.

The fighting that followed was severe and mostly at close quarters, the "pell mell" which Nelson had hoped for. Many of the British ships were seriously damaged, including ''Victory'' which had engaged the French flagship ''Bucentaure'' and the ''Redoutable''. Nelson was relying on the superior gunnery and ship handling skills of the British, which eventually forced the surrender of Villeneuve 1.45pm, although some of the Spanish ships continued to mount fierce resistance until 4.30pm. Nelson himself was shot by a French musketeer around 1.15pm, and died from his wound at 4.30pm, having been informed that the battle was won.  

The fighting that followed was severe and mostly at close quarters, the "pell mell" which Nelson had hoped for. Many of the British ships were seriously damaged, including ''Victory'' which had engaged the French flagship ''Bucentaure'' and the ''Redoutable''. Nelson was relying on the superior gunnery and ship handling skills of the British, which eventually forced the surrender of Villeneuve 1.45pm, although some of the Spanish ships continued to mount fierce resistance until 4.30pm. Nelson himself was shot by a French musketeer around 1.15pm, and died from his wound at 4.30pm, having been informed that the battle was won. His body was preserved in a vat of brandy and taken back to England for a hero's funeral.

[[Image:Nelsons column.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Nelson's statue atop ''Nelson's Column'']]

[[Image:Nelsons column.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Nelson's statue atop ''Nelson's Column'']]

The total number of casualties on both sides totalled 8,500, and the British took 20,000 prisoners.

The total number of casualties on both sides totalled 8,500, and the British took 20,000 prisoners.