As part of an overall French plan to take control of the English Channel and thus enable Napoleon's Grande Armée to invade England, French and Spanish fleets sailed from the port of Cádiz in the south of Spain on 18 October 1805.  They encountered the British fleet recently assembled to meet this threat, along the southwest coast of Spain, off Cape Trafalgar on 21 October.  For a summary of the battle, click the video below.  Click the map to view an enlarged verison.