During the Napoleonic Wars, an all-consuming war determined the course of European history. The history of European naval warfare was forever changed when British naval commander Horatio Nelson's innovative battle strategies rendered old tactics ineffective. During the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, Nelson showed the value of ingenuity and self-confidence. Later, during the Battle of the Nile, Nelson proved that a mobile fleet was the key to victory. Finally, at the Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson's new tactics made the archaic rigid line tactic unnecessary. The Napoleonic Wars took place in Europe from 1803 to 1815 between France and various coalitions formed by other European countries. The Napoleonic Wars began when Napoleon rose to power at the end of the French Revolutionary Wars. This marked the fall of the French monarchy and the rise of Napoleon. Other European countries, wary of their non-monarchical neighbor led by Napoleon, declared war on it. Napoleon initially seemed invincible when he defeated the 6 coalitions formed against him. However, soon after, he suffered a series of major defeats which led to his downfall. The Spanish, who had previously been his allies, revolted against him using guerrilla warfare when he replaced Joseph Bonaparte, the brother of their monarch Ferdinand VII Napoleon. Napoleon's naval power was stifled by the British navy and he was finally defeated on June 18, 1815 by the 7th Coalition at the Battle of Waterloo. If he did not die, he never returned to power and died a few years after his ultimate defeat. Napoleon's death did not end his influence, however, as his wars changed history forever. Naval warfare was changed during the war when the clever strategies of British naval commander Horatio Nelson. Nelson plays...... middle of paper ...... pture while Nelson's squadron suffered approximately 1,500 (Kennedy Hickman, n.d.). Nelson's new strategy was so effective against the old tactics that he lost a quarter of what the enemy had lost. The old tactics meant that the enemy did not have a great opportunity to attack Nelson as he approached and could barely return fire when Nelson began to attack. Nelson made the old tactics of rigid battle lines useless with his new strategy. Horatio Nelson's maverick leadership and innovative strategies gave Europe a new perspective on naval warfare. During the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, Nelson's victory helped change the idea that soldiers should listen to commands at all costs. During the Battle of the Nile, Nelson showed that mobile forces were far superior to static forces. Finally, at the Battle of Trafalgar Nelson, Nelson's new tactics made old battle strategies useless..