Portsmouth, England – Soon after British warships crushed Napoleon’s forces at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and Adm. Horatio Nelson died aboard his ship with a musket ball in his spine, a fierce storm broke out at sea.
The Franco-Spanish side had lost 22 ships in the fighting and the British none. But rather than head for shore, the victorious Britons performed extraordinary feats of seamanship and bravery, saving the lives of thousands of their wounded and exhausted opponents.
When Britain marked the 200th anniversary of the famous battle Tuesday, along with warships from around the world, the elaborate ceremony seemed to celebrate the camaraderie the sailors showed that day as much as Britain’s victory.
Nearly 170 ships crowded the waters off Portsmouth on England’s south coast to commemorate Nelson’s stunning victory – regarded as a turning point in modern European history.
The rout contributed to Napoleon’s eventual downfall and gave Britain naval supremacy for more than 100 years.
Ahead of a mock battle, Queen Elizabeth II, in her role as Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, reviewed the fleet from aboard the icebreaker HMS Endurance, along with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.
In a written message, the queen said the presence of such a large international fleet showed how highly other nations regarded Nelson, one of Britain’s greatest military heroes.
“Adm. Lord Nelson’s supreme qualities of seamanship, leadership with humanity and courage in the face of danger are shared among our maritime community today. He could wish for no greater legacy,” the monarch said.
The fleet included 109 British vessels and 58 ships from 35 other countries. Three aircraft carriers – Britain’s Invincible, France’s Charles de Gaulle and America’s amphibious assault ship the USS Saipan – were among the warships gathered off Portsmouth, along with numerous historic tall ships.
The event was also attended by 57 heads of foreign navies.
