✦ History

Part of Napoleonic Wars

Battle of Trafalgar

October 21, 1805 · Off Cape Trafalgar

Result British victory

British naval victory over the combined French and Spanish fleets off Cape Trafalgar. It ended Napoleon's hopes of invading Britain and gave Britain command of the seas.

On the map Contemporaries

French Empire and allies

Coalition

France
Spain
United Kingdom
Pierre-Charles Villeneuve Vice-Admiral, Commanded the combined fleet; captured in the battle Federico Gravina Admiral, Commanded the Spanish squadron; mortally wounded
Horatio Nelson Vice-Admiral, Commanded the British fleet; killed in the battle Cuthbert Collingwood Vice-Admiral, Led the lee column and took command after Nelson fell

Strength and losses

Strength
c. 20,000
Casualties
c. 16,000
Killed
4,395c. 5,000
Wounded
2,541c. 3,000
Captured
7,000–8,000c. 8,000
Ships
c. 33
Ships lost
c. 18
Ships captured
17
Guns
c. 2,874
Guns lost
c. 1,445
Strength
c. 16,000
Casualties
c. 1,700
Killed
c. 500
Wounded
c. 1,200
Ships
c. 27
Guns
c. 2,272

Units

Franco-Spanish combined fleet (1805) Strength 33
British Mediterranean Fleet (1805) Strength 27

Also involved 3