Primary sourceSpeech1798
Speech on the Egyptian Campaign
Napoleon · 1798
Napoleon's speech to his troops in 1798 justifying and explaining the invasion of Egypt.
Napoleon's own speech justifying his invasion of Egypt, revealing his political rhetoric and ambitions.
About this source
What it is
This speech was given by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798 to the soldiers of his expedition to Egypt. In it, he compares his army to ancient Roman legions and addresses the people of Egypt directly regarding religion and rights. The text is preserved among his collected speeches.
Why it matters
This speech reveals Napoleon's use of rhetoric to justify military conquest, invoking both classical history and claims of respect for local religion and customs. It is an important source for understanding how he presented his campaigns to both his own soldiers and to the people he was invading.
Look closer
- Why might Napoleon compare his army to the Romans fighting Carthage?
- What does he promise to the Egyptian people, and why?
- How might this speech be read differently by French soldiers versus Egyptians at the time?
This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Napoleon Bonaparte on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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