Napoleon’s Expedition from Egypt to Palestine

When Napoleon lead his army from Egypt to Palestine, an Armenian deputation from Jerusalem met him in his tent, soon after the Battle of Tabor. Eager to win their support, Napoleon offered them a wide autonomy in Palestine. The Armenians immediately began preparing to fight, along with the French for the Ottoman-occupied “key to the gates of the East”—Damascus. However, the outbreak of bubonic plague disrupted Napoleon’s plans forcing him to return to Egypt.  While Napoleon was in Egypt, a number of Armenian secret agents provided him information about the Middle East.

When Napoleon lead his army from Egypt to Palestine, an Armenian deputation from Jerusalem met him in his tent, soon after the Battle of Tabor. Eager to win their support, Napoleon offered them a wide autonomy in Palestine. The Armenians immediately began preparing to fight, along with the French for the Ottoman-occupied “key to the gates of the East”—Damascus. However, the outbreak of bubonic plague disrupted Napoleon’s plans forcing him to return to Egypt.  While Napoleon was in Egypt, a number of Armenian secret agents provided him information about the Middle East.