formed three republics in northern Italy, and made peace with Naples without even telling the government in Pairs. In July, the Austrians sent three powerful waves of men through the Alps. In only six days, Napoleon and his men attacked each wave of soldiers, and defeated each one separately. When the third was defeated in a two days' battle at Rivoli on January 14 and 15th, 1797, he invaded Austria. In October of 1797, he signed a treaty of Campo-Formio. With this treaty, France was given Belgium and lands along the Rhine River. In December 1797, Napoleon returned to Paris as a conquering hero. When he returned he received a huge welcome. At this time, he began thinking of pursuing more power that is political and military power. He wanted to become the next Alexander the Great. The Director wanted to get rid of Napoleon as soon as possible. He felt that Napoleon was getting too popular and too powerful in Paris. The Director decided that Napoleons plan of an attack on Egypt would threaten England's hold on India, a major source of British wealth. The Director gladly let him go. In May 1798, Napoleon sailed to Egypt, and won the Battle of the Pyramids. There Napoleon slaughtered the well trained soldiers from Cairo. The battle actually took place in a watermelon field, but Napoleon decided to call it the battle of the pyramids, to add a spin to the story, and just because it sounded better to himself. On July 23, he entered the city of Cairo. However, the British controlled the sea, and on August 1 Horatio Nelson, an English admiral, lead an attack that destroyed the French Navy in Aboukir Bay. Napoleon could no longer keep in touch with France. The British had successfully cut off supplies from Napoleon's men in Egypt. Napoleon then advanced in to Syria, but was stopped by the British defense of Acre. Napoleon suffered his first major defeat. The unstoppable man had been stopped. Napoleon hated a siege, he preferred a fight on an ope...
