Trafalgar 200 was a series of events in 2005 held mostly in the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the
Battle of TrafalgarThe Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars . The battle was the most decisive British naval victory of the war...
, where a
BritishThe Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of HM Armed Forces . From the beginning of the 18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early...
fleet led by Admiral Nelson (who died in the battle) defeated a joint Franco-Spanish fleet during the
Napoleonic WarsThe Napoleonic Wars were a series of conflicts declared against Napoleon's French Empire and changing sets of European allies by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionized European armies and played...
. During the summer of 2005 there was an
International Fleet ReviewFor a full list of ships present, see List of ships present at International Fleet Review, 2005The International Fleet Review took place on 28 June 2005, as part of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations to commemorate the 200th year after the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.- 2005 Review Line-up :During the...
, the first since 1977. Dinners and other commemorations focussed on
Trafalgar DayTrafalgar Day is the celebration of the victory won by the Royal Navy, commanded by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson over the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. The formation of the Navy League in 1894 gave added impetus to the movement to recognise...
21 October at ,
Trafalgar SquareTrafalgar Square is a square in central London, England. With its position in the heart of London, it is a tourist attraction; and one of the most famous squares in the United Kingdom and the world. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base...
(
T Square 200T Square 200 was the name given to the son et lumière event, held in Trafalgar Square on Sunday, October 23, 2005, to mark the bicentenary of the sea battle, the Battle of Trafalgar, fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined navies of France and Spain off Cape Trafalgar, Spain on 21...
) and other locations.
In an apparent effort to avoid giving offence, at the Fleet Review the fleets in the mock battle were called simply "Red" and "Blue".
Trafalgar 200 was a series of events in 2005 held mostly in the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the
Battle of TrafalgarThe Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars . The battle was the most decisive British naval victory of the war...
, where a
BritishThe Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of HM Armed Forces . From the beginning of the 18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early...
fleet led by Admiral Nelson (who died in the battle) defeated a joint Franco-Spanish fleet during the
Napoleonic WarsThe Napoleonic Wars were a series of conflicts declared against Napoleon's French Empire and changing sets of European allies by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionized European armies and played...
. During the summer of 2005 there was an
International Fleet ReviewFor a full list of ships present, see List of ships present at International Fleet Review, 2005The International Fleet Review took place on 28 June 2005, as part of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations to commemorate the 200th year after the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.- 2005 Review Line-up :During the...
, the first since 1977. Dinners and other commemorations focussed on
Trafalgar DayTrafalgar Day is the celebration of the victory won by the Royal Navy, commanded by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson over the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. The formation of the Navy League in 1894 gave added impetus to the movement to recognise...
21 October at ,
Trafalgar SquareTrafalgar Square is a square in central London, England. With its position in the heart of London, it is a tourist attraction; and one of the most famous squares in the United Kingdom and the world. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base...
(
T Square 200T Square 200 was the name given to the son et lumière event, held in Trafalgar Square on Sunday, October 23, 2005, to mark the bicentenary of the sea battle, the Battle of Trafalgar, fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined navies of France and Spain off Cape Trafalgar, Spain on 21...
) and other locations.
In an apparent effort to avoid giving offence, at the Fleet Review the fleets in the mock battle were called simply "Red" and "Blue". This originates from the military map convention in which enemy positions are marked in red, and friendly (or allied) positions in blue. The phrase "
blue on blueBlue On Blue is Leigh Nash's debut solo album. Nash began working on the album a year after Sixpence None the Richer disbanded. Produced by Pierre Marchand who is famous for his collaborations with Sarah McLachlan, the album consists of pop songs....
" refers to an attack on ones' own forces in a "
friendly fireFriendly fire is an expression meaning fire from one's own side or allied forces, as opposed to fire coming from enemy forces, and was a tactic originally adopted by the United States military....
" encounter.
International Fleet Review
The Trafalgar 200 celebrations were perhaps most remembered for the
International Fleet ReviewFor a full list of ships present, see List of ships present at International Fleet Review, 2005The International Fleet Review took place on 28 June 2005, as part of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations to commemorate the 200th year after the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.- 2005 Review Line-up :During the...
, held in the
SolentThe Solent is a stretch of sea separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
in the presence of Queen
Elizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II is the queen regnant of sixteen independent states known informally as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,...
. Planning this event was an enormous task, and Admiral Sir
Alan WestAlan West may refer to:*Alan West , English midfielder*Alan West, Baron West of Spithead, British politician and admiral in the Royal Navy*Alan West , former vocalist of English death metal band Bolt Thrower...
, then First Sea Lord, is shown here with the official chart of anchorages for the International Fleet Review.
External links