Battle of Trafalgar

battle_name=Battle of Trafalgar

Consequences

Following the battle, the Royal Navy was never again seriously challenged by the French fleet in a large-scale engagement. Napoleon had already abandoned his plans of invasion before the battle but they were never revived for fear of the Royal Navy.

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Nelson became Britain's greatest military war hero, and an inspiration to the Royal Navy but his unorthodoxy was not often emulated by later generations. In 1808, Nelson's Pillar was erected in Dublin to commemorate Nelson and his achievements (many sailors at Trafalgar had been Irish), and remained until it was blown up by the IRA in 1966. London's famous Trafalgar Square, which was named for his victory, and Nelson's statue atop Nelson's Column finished in 1843 towers triumphantly over it. Conversely, generations of French schoolchildren were taught that Trafalgar was an "inconclusive battle in which the British Admiral was killed".

Related Topics:
1808 - Nelson's Pillar - Dublin - IRA - 1966 - London - Trafalgar Square - Nelson's Column - 1843

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The Royal Navy proceeded to dominate the seas for the remaining years of sail. The rise of Imperial Germany as a naval power in the early 20th Century challenged the Royal Navy for the first time. The First World War set them against each other and resulted in the inconclusive large fleet action at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. In the Second World War the Germans turned to unrestricted submarine warfare as an alternative to large fleet action.

Related Topics:
Imperial Germany - 20th Century - First World War - Battle of Jutland - 1916 - Second World War - Unrestricted submarine warfare

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An anecdotal consequence is that French Navy officers are not called "sir" ever since.

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