Salhiya, Egypt – The Battle of Salhiya was one of the most significant military engagements at the beginning of the French campaign in Egypt.
It occurred after Napoleon Bonaparte encountered Mamluk resistance and local attempts to halt the French advance into the eastern Delta.
The battle took place in August 1798 near Salhiya, following the Battle of Embaba and the fall of Cairo.
Afterward, French forces pursued the Mamluk forces and secured their routes into the north and east of the country.
Confronting the Mamluk forces
The French relied on a more disciplined military organization and the use of artillery
against Mamluk forces that depended heavily on cavalry and swift attacks.
Nevertheless, Napoleon’s forces were able to withstand the attacks
and force their opponents to retreat, which allowed them to continue their military operations.
The confrontation with the Mamluks was not the only challenge facing the French campaign.
In fact, various forms of local resistance to the French presence began to emerge,
whether through armed clashes or outright rejection of the measures imposed by the occupying authorities.
Imposing strict security and administrative measures
Napoleon realized that military control of cities and roads did not mean the end of resistance.
Therefore, he attempted to impose strict security and administrative measures,
while simultaneously trying to win over some local groups and portray the campaign
as a force that had come to reorganize the country.
As Egyptian resistance continued and popular discontent grew, the French campaign
transformed into a protracted struggle that proved difficult for the French forces.
Ultimately, the conflict ended with their departure from Egypt in 1801.
The Battle of Salhiya remains a crucial point for understanding the first phase of the French campaign,
as it revealed early on the difficulty of completely subjugating Egypt.
This occurred despite the military and organizational superiority possessed by Napoleon forces.
