1805 AD
Battle of Trafalgar
Nelson's fleet defeated French and Spanish forces at Trafalgar, securing British naval supremacy.
- Time period
- 1805 AD
- Region
- Spain
- Theme
- Military
- Civilization
- Napoleonic Wars
The Battle of Trafalgar took place on 21 October 1805 off southwestern Spain during the War of the Third Coalition. Horatio Nelson led 27 British ships of the line against 33 French and Spanish ships, attacking in two columns to break the allied formation. The British captured or destroyed 18 enemy ships without losing any of their own, but Nelson was mortally wounded. The victory confirmed Britain's naval supremacy and ended Napoleon's plans to invade Britain.