Trafalgar – Nelson’s Naval Supremacy

Episode 13 of Turning Points: History’s Greatest Battles recounts the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) — the defining naval clash of the Napoleonic Wars. Facing a combined French and Spanish fleet intent on invading Britain, Admiral Horatio Nelson led 27 British ships against 33 enemy vessels near Cape Trafalgar, off the coast of Spain. Instead of following traditional tactics, Nelson boldly broke the enemy line in two, creating chaos and forcing close-range combat. The British fleet’s superior discipline and gunnery turned the battle decisively in their favor. By day’s end, 22 enemy ships were destroyed or captured — and not a single British ship was lost. Nelson was mortally wounded during the fight but lived long enough to hear of his victory. His final words, “Thank God I have done my duty,” became legendary. Trafalgar ended Napoleon’s hopes of invading Britain and secured British naval supremacy for more than a century, making it one of the most important turning points in global history.