Alexandria: A History and a GuideForster, E. M. (Edward Morgan)
History
Alexandria: A History and a Guide
Forster, E. M. (Edward Morgan)
Alexandria (Egypt) -- Guidebooks; Alexandria (Egypt) -- History
The Patriarch Cyril (p. 51) having destroyed the cults of Serapis
and Isis in the district (A.D. 389) sent out the relics of St. Cyr
to take their place. The relics were so intermingled with those of
another martyr, St. John, that St. John had to be brought too, and a
church to them both arose just to the south of the present Fort Kait
Bey. The two Saints remained quiet for 200 years, but then began to
disentangle themselves and work miracles, and recovered for the
district some of its ancient popularity; indeed many of their cures
are exactly parallel to those effected in the temple of Serapis.
With the Arab invasion their church vanishes, but St. Cyr has given
his name to modern Aboukir (“Father Cyr.”) In the 9th century the
Canopic branch of the Nile dried up. The Turks built some forts here
for coastal defence, but history does not recommence until the
arrival of Nelson.
(iii). MODERN.
In Napoleonic times Aboukir saw two great battles.
(_a_). _“Battle of the Nile._”
For the event that led to this engagement _see_ p. 86. Brueys,
Napoleon’s admiral, brought his fleet into the bay for safety,
and anchored them in a long line, about two miles from the
coast. He had 13 Men-of-War, 4 Frigates, 1182 canons, and 8000
men. To the north was “Nelson’s Island,” as it is now called,
which he had fortified and upon which his line was supposed to
rest. His flagship, the _Orient_, was midway in the line. He
took up this position on July 7th, 1798.
On August 1st Nelson arrived in pursuit, with 14 Men-of-War,
1012 canons and 8068 men. The wind was N.W., a usual direction
in summer. Half his fleet, including his flagship the
_Vanguard_, attacked Brueys from the expected quarter, the east.
The other half, led by the _Goliath_, executed the brilliant
manœuvre that brought us victory. It gave Brueys a double
surprise: in the first place it passed between the head of his
line and “Nelson Island” where he thought there was no room; in
the second place it took up a position to his west, between him
and the shore, where he thought the water was too shallow. Thus
he was caught between two fires—attacked by the whole British
Fleet with the exception of the _Culloden_, which, sailing too
near Nelson Island, stranded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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