French Invasion Quotes

I see by your letter to my father that you are rather afraid the French may invade England.

In early 1798, the Directory, the oligarchy that was ruling revolutionary France, ordered its top general, Napoleon Bonaparte, to plan the invasion of England. Instead, Napoleon organized and carried out the invasion of Egypt, which became the first modern incursion by the West into the Middle East.

Napoleon's plan was for his army to arrive in Egypt not as conquerors but liberators. Landing in Aboukir Bay on July 1, 1798, the French captured Alexandria the next day, overcoming the surprised Mamelukes - the despotic local rulers - with a combination of modern artillery and infantry tactics.

[Describing England:] In the year 1796, the alarm of an apprehended French invasion reached a great height. The [government cabinet] ministers were suspected, and not without reason, of fomenting this alarm, for the sake of strengthening their popularity, and keeping up the national frenzy against the French republicans, which was now beginning to flag.

South Carolina is a weak frontier colony, and in case of invasion by the French would be their first object of attack. We have not much to fear, however, while we retain the affection of the Indians around us; but should we forfeit that by any mismanagement on our part, or by the superior address of the French, we are in a miserable situation. The Cherokees alone have several thousand gunmen well acquainted with every inch of the province … their country is the key to Carolina

Reliable information has been received by the Imperial Government to the effect that French forces intend to march … through Belgian territory against Germany. The Imperial Government cannot but fear that Belgium, in spite of the utmost goodwill, will be unable, without assistance, to repel so considerable a French invasion with sufficient prospect of success to afford an adequate guarantee against danger to Germany. It is essential for the self-defense of Germany that she should anticipate any such hostile attack. The German Government would, however, feel the deepest regret if Belgium regarded as an act of hostility against herself the fact that the measures of Germany's opponents force Germany, for her own protection, to enter Belgian territory.

The English Channel is such a narrow little puddle, you cannot help wondering why no invader has succeeded in crossing it since 1066.

Cinco de Mayo is an important day. The Mexicans had to defend themselves from the French. It is historically significant, but it is not Mexican Independence Day.

Be not deceived by the lure of equalizing property which they [the French] hold out to you. They come only to rob, plunder, and destroy …. If the sway of our impious invaders were here established, you would not. My beloved people, enjoy the comfort of uniting with the celestial spirits I Heaven … in singing ‘Glory to God On High and on Earth Peace to Men of Good Will.”