On January 26th, 1799, Napoleon led his army northwards toward Syria in response to the Ottoman Empire's refusal to acknowledge French rule in Egypt. Their primary objective: the city of Jaffa. The French forces, comprising over twenty thousand troops, were organized into two divisions under the command of Kleber and Dumas.
As they positioned themselves on the outskirts of Jaffa, a French messenger had already been dispatched to deliver an ultimatum to the city's inhabitants: surrender or face an imminent invasion. While awaiting their response, Napoleon turned to Dumas, who handed him a freshly printed newspaper from Paris.
"General Bonaparte, news has arrived that a new coalition has formed, consisting of the Austrians, British, Russians, and Naples, all declaring war on France," Dumas informed him.
Napoleon scanned the contents of the newspaper, confirming the truth in Dumas' words. A sense of concern and uncertainty permeated the Army of the Orient, as soldiers worried about the potential invasion of France and the well-being of their families. Some expressed a desire to return home and defend it.
Taking a deep breath, Napoleon exhaled slowly. "I understand their concerns, General Dumas, but we have a crucial mission here in the East. Our role is of utmost importance."
"And what if they weren't able to hold General Bonaparte?" Dumas asked. "What are you going to do?"
Dumas pressed further, inquiring about Napoleon's plans should their forces in Syria face significant challenges. The general turned his gaze towards Dumas, his expression serious and determined.
"If that were to happen, I will return to France and defend her against any foreign invaders," Napoleon declared resolutely.
As the French forces awaited a response from Jaffa, General Kleber's eyes widened in horror as he caught sight of a gruesome spectacle atop the city's walls. It was the French messenger they had sent inside to negotiate, his severed head impaled on a pike. Napoleon and Dumas quickly grabbed their spy glasses, confirming the dreadful sight. Anger flared within Napoleon, his face contorted with fury."This heinous act will not go unanswered," Napoleon seethed with anger. "They dare to desecrate our emissary? They will pay for their barbarism."
Without hesitation, Napoleon issued the command, and the French artillery sprang into action. Artillery boomed and mortars thundered as a devastating bombardment rained down upon the city. Explosions shook the ground, engulfing Jaffa in chaos and destruction. The walls crumbled under the relentless assault, reducing the once formidable defenses to a pile of rubble.
As the walls were breached, Napoleon ordered Dumas and Kleber to flood the city and kill every soldier defending it. No quarter would be given. The French soldiers, fueled by a mixture of vengeance and determination, poured into the city streets like a relentless tide.
Their bolt-action rifle fired, and French cavalry chased the fleeing soldiers and citizens down the narrow alleys and into the courtyards. The streets became a battlefield, strewn with fallen bodies and the debris of war.
After five hours of fierce resistance from the Ottoman and Mamluks forces inside Jaffa, the city has finally fallen to French hand with Napoleon walking menacingly towards the kneeling Ahmed al-Jazzar, the commander of the Ottoman troops garrisoned in Jaffa, and Abdallah Bey the governor of Jaffa.
As he arrived in front of them, Napoleon looked down, giving them a deadly glare that sent shivers down their spines.
"You thought you could defy us and desecrate our messenger?" Napoleon said coldly, "You will pay dearly for your actions."
Without a moment's hesitation, Napoleon pulled out his revolver and aimed it directly at Ahmed al-Jazzar, the defiant commander of the Ottoman troops. He squeezed the trigger, and a single gunshot reverberated through the air. He repeated the action with the governor of Jaffa, and now their lifeless bodies lay on the ground.
Napoleon sighed in satisfaction, his anger subsiding. "It feels good."
Dumas and Kleber stepped forward, looking down on the bodies of Al-Jazzar and Abdallah.
"We have rounded up two thousand prisoners who laid their arms down willingly, General Bonaparte," Dumas reported. "What should we do?"
"What should we do?" Napoleon scoffed. "Execute them of course. Those men don't deserve to be treated as prisoners of war after that display of barbarism…"
Dumas hesitated for a moment and then spoke. "General Bonaparte, may I offer a suggestion? Rather than executing them, perhaps we could put them to work. We could send them to the mines or use them for forced labor, such as building railways. It would serve as a deterrent to others and benefit our own objectives."
Napoleon's eyes narrowed, his expression turning cold. He fixed his gaze on Dumas.
My decision is final, General Dumas. No one should dare defy my orders. These prisoners have shown their true colors by defiling our emissary, and they will face the consequences of their actions. Execute them."
Dumas nodded reluctantly, understanding that Napoleon would not be swayed. He turned to relay the orders to the soldiers, while Kleber, though troubled by the decision, maintained his stoic composure.
In the remaining hours of the day, French forces would line up Ottoman soldiers against the wall, their hands bound and their faces filled with fear. The crack of their bolt-action rifle fire pierced the air as the firing squads carried out their grim duty. One by one, the prisoners fell to the ground, their lifeless bodies joining the ranks of the fallen.
Napoleon watched the execution unfold, his expression neutral, he couldn't care less about their lives being wasted in this execution. He had to set a terrible example so that other cities won't repeat their mistake.
As he watched the execution, a cry attracted Napoleon's attention. He turned to look towards the direction of the sound and there he saw French soldiers dragging women inside harem buildings. He knew what they would do to them but Napoleon decided not to interfere.
"This is probably the darkest chapter in this campaign," Napoleon muttered under his breath.
Two weeks later, after the battle of Jaffa, Napoleon set his eyes towards Acre and lay sieged. This is where the real Napoleon Bonaparte failed, but in this world, Napoleon was determined to change that.
Instead of the British troops, Napoleon faced the Russians and Ottomans. Just like Jaffa, the citadel of Acre couldn't withstand the overwhelming firepower of the French artillery and mortars. 500 shells bombarded the city every day until the walls of Acre began to crumble. The French soldiers, motivated by their recent victories, fought with unparalleled zeal, storming the breached walls and engaging in intense close-quarters combat with the defenders.
Napoleon, observing the battle from a safe distance, took note of the enemy's resilience. They must be scared of suffering the same fate as those who were in Jaffa, but fortunately for them, Napoleon wouldn't do such a thing as he was in a good mood.
On February 25th, 1799, Napoleon conquered Acre. Since the start of his campaign, Napoleon had suffered casualties of 500. Although it was small, it weighed heavily on his shoulders.