the campaign began early in the war of the first coalition, with an unsuccessful french attack on the neutral island of sardinia in december 1792. in february 1793, france declared war on great britain, and britain dispatched a fleet to the mediterranean under admiral lord hood to protect its trade routes in the region. the french navy was in a state of disorder due to the ongoing social upheaval, and was initially unable to oppose the british and their allies. in august 1793, hood and his spanish and italian allies were able to seize toulon and the entire french fleet after a royalist uprising in the town, followed by a four month siege by french republican armies which included a young napoleon bonaparte. the allies were eventually driven out and the french fleet recaptured, although nearly half had been destroyed by the retreating british.