The Fleet That Broke the Line — Trafalgar, 1805
On October 21, 1805, Nelson broke a larger combined fleet off Spain and changed who controlled the sea.
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The Fleet That Broke the Line — Trafalgar, 1805
Episode guide
On October 21, 1805, a British fleet met a larger combined French and Spanish fleet off the coast of Spain. Admiral Horatio Nelson won by breaking the enemy line. He also died during the victory. This episode follows the few hours when a risky plan changed control of the seas for a generation.
Show notes
Trafalgar was not the end of the Napoleonic Wars. It was the moment Napoleon lost the practical chance to invade Britain by sea. The battle also left Britain with naval dominance that shaped the rest of the nineteenth century.
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