FRENCH ARTILLERY IN EGYPT - NAPOLEONIC ERA

During the revolutionary wars (1792-1799) and - especially - in the Napoleonic period (1799-1815), France probably had the most efficient war machine on the Old Continent, which almost led to its lasting hegemony over Europe. It will be a truism to say that the key element of this machine was the French army. Artillery played a very important role in this army. It is worth adding here that already in the 18th century, French artillery was one of the best in Europe, thanks to the reforms of Count de Valliere and - especially - Count de Gribeauval. The latter reform was aimed at a far-reaching unification of the equipment, reducing its weight, and thus - improving its maneuverability on the battlefield. To a large extent, this is what works, lizards and artillery vehicles, the so-called of the Gribeauval system remained in the French army during the revolutionary wars and at the beginning of the Napoleonic era. Napoleon Bonaparte attached great importance to artillery on the battlefield and took care of its expansion. For example, in 1805, there were 34,000 in the Grand Army. artillery (who belonged, inter alia, to 8 regiments of foot artillery and 6 regiments of horse artillery), and in 1814 already 103,000! Such a quantitative increase was due, inter alia, to the fact that Napoleon sought to strengthen his infantry with artillery fire as much as possible - for example, in 1805 there were two guns per 1,000 infantry, in 1807 more than two guns, and during the 1812 campaign, three guns were already used. per 1000 walkers. The basic equipment of the French artillery at that time were 4-, 8- and 12-pounder cannons and 6-inch howitzers. It should also be added that the French artillery was well trained and clearly dominated its counterparts in other armies of Europe at that time.