Napoleon’s review of Boulogne, about 1830–40, by an unknown artist
Museo Napoleonico, Roma (inv. MN 1236) On 18 May 1803, the Peace of Amiens collapsed because Britain refused to evacuate Malta and Napoleon failed to guarantee Dutch independence. Britain once more declared war on France.

Napoleon was deeply occupied with his programme of internal administrative reforms and could not launch an immediate attack. He began to order craft for a vast invasion flotilla, however, and gathered his 'Army of England' in camps around Boulogne. This army started to train and prepare for an invasion of Britain, which would be launched as soon as the English Channel could be cleared of British ships.

Invasion >>