What, then, did Trafalgar achieve for Britain other than a bit of a morale boost in war that would continue for another ten, long, arduous years?
Well, actually, more than it seems. Mark Adkin put it get well in his book, The Trafalgar Companion, from which I quote:
'Nelson's triumph gave Britain the huge strategic advantage of naval supremacy- something that was to last a hundred years. She could land her armies on hostile coasts as she did in Portugal in 1808, and she could evacuate armies in trouble as at Corunna in 1809. It was the virtually unchallenged Royal Navy that supplied and reinforced Britain's Peninsular War Army throughout that six-year campaign, and enabled the Duke of Wellington to dramatically shorten his lines of communications by switching his main base from one port to another. Maritime sovereignty ensured the safety of Britain's trade and gave her unrivalled strategic flexibility in any conflict.... That final defeat of Napoleon on land was owed as much, if not, more to the drama played out on the waters off Cape Trafalgar a decade earlier.'
Trafalgar was the last major naval battle of it's age- for a reason: there did not need to be any more big battles.
With their victory at Trafalgar, the Royal Navy had confirmed it's title as the world's dominant sea power- giving Britain a lot of advantages in the ongoing war, allowing her to continue her all-important trade around the world and enabling her to build her empire- something a lot of people would perhaps rather I didn't associate with Trafalgar, due to it's 'political incorrectness'! But, the simple fact is, Britain's empire, with all it's good and bad, did have an effect on, not only our country, but the world at large. If Britain's navy was not the power of the seas when it was, then I believe the world would have been a very different place- for better or for worse is never to be known- but certainly different. And that is why I believe this period of history and the battles leading up to and including Trafalgar- particularly Trafalgar- are important, because they have had a huge impact on the world today. Whether you celebrate this fact or regret it is unimportant to me- just as long as it is acknowledged.
So, how important was the Battle of Trafalgar? Should it still be celebrated? Should it still be given the grand title of one Britain's greatest naval battles of all time? My response: absolutely! Although, the battle didn't have the effect on the war that we originally thought it did- it did have an impact, just in a different way, and not just on the rest of the war, but on the world's history over the next century. So, yes, 'Trafalgar Day' should always remain a day for celebration, commemoration and gratitude to all those who fought for us over two centuries ago. I believe we must always remember the thousands of people who fought this day 208 years ago, regardless of they're nationality, because they all played a role in shaping the world as it is today.