Battle of Abukir (1801)

The Battle of Abukir (1801), also known as the Battle of Aboukir, was a military engagement fought on 8 March 1801 near Abukir, Egypt, between the French forces of the Army of the Orient, commanded by General Louis Friant, and the British expeditionary force, commanded by Sir Ralph Abercromby. The battle was a crucial part of the British campaign to expel Napoleon Bonaparte's army from Egypt, which had been occupied since 1798.

The British landing was fiercely contested by the French, who held fortified positions along the beach. Despite heavy resistance and suffering significant casualties, the British managed to establish a beachhead and push the French back. The British victory at Abukir allowed them to consolidate their position in Egypt and subsequently advance inland.

The battle marked a turning point in the Egyptian campaign. Although French forces continued to resist for several months, the British victory at Abukir significantly weakened their position and ultimately led to the French surrender in September 1801, ending Napoleon's ambitions in Egypt. The battle is distinct from the naval Battle of Abukir (also known as the Battle of the Nile) fought in 1798, which saw a British fleet destroy the French fleet anchored in Abukir Bay.