Battle of the Pyramids

E23556

The Battle of the Pyramids was a decisive 1798 victory in which Napoleon Bonaparte’s French army defeated the Mamluk forces near Cairo, securing French control over much of Egypt.

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Observed surface forms (2)

Surface form Occurrences
Bataille des Pyramides 1
Battle of Shubra Khit 1

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
military engagement
aftermath French occupation of Cairo
collapse of organized Mamluk resistance near Cairo
alsoKnownAs Battle of the Pyramids
surface form: Bataille des Pyramides
belligerent First French Empire
surface form: French Republic

Mamluk forces
campaignObjective establish French influence in Egypt
threaten British interests in India
commander Napoleon Bonaparte
conflict French Revolutionary Wars
continent Africa
country Egypt
date 21 July 1798
era French Revolutionary Wars
surface form: French Revolutionary era
followedBy Battle of the Nile
FrenchArmy Army of the Orient
surface form: Armée d’Orient
FrenchCasualties relatively light
FrenchCommander Napoleon Bonaparte
geographicContext near the Nile River
historicalPeriod late 18th century
involvedUnitType French artillery
French infantry
Mamluk cavalry
Mamluk infantry
location Egypt
near Cairo
MamlukCasualties heavy
MamlukCommander Ibrahim Bey
Murad Bey
namedAfter proximity to the Pyramids of Giza
notableFeature demonstrated effectiveness of disciplined infantry squares against cavalry
enhanced Napoleon Bonaparte’s military reputation
opponent Mamluk Sultanate
partOf Napoleon's Egyptian campaign
surface form: French campaign in Egypt and Syria
precededBy Napoleon's Egyptian campaign
surface form: French landing at Alexandria
result French victory
strategicSignificance secured French control over Cairo
secured French control over much of Egypt
strengthFrench approximately 25,000 soldiers
strengthMamluk approximately 6,000–7,000 cavalry
several thousand infantry and irregulars
tacticalSignificance decisive French victory over Mamluk forces
theatre French campaign in Syria
surface form: Middle Eastern theatre of the French Revolutionary Wars
usedFormation divisional square formation
infantry squares against cavalry
year 1798

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Battle of the Pyramids alsoKnownAs Battle of the Pyramids
this entity surface form: Bataille des Pyramides
Murad Bey conflict Battle of the Pyramids
Murad Bey conflict Battle of the Pyramids
this entity surface form: Battle of Shubra Khit
Napoleon's Egyptian campaign hasPart Battle of the Pyramids
Antoine-Jean Gros notableWork Battle of the Pyramids