During 1805, the First French Empire under Napoleon was the largest, dominant land force, while the British Royal Navy had control over the seas. During the war, the British imposed a maritime blockade, which prevented the French from fully engaging their naval forces as well as trade. Napoleon was determined to attack Britain, and his plan was that France and the Spanish fleet break through the blockade, thus clearing off the sea passage from British ships, which would facilitate trade and marine invasion. Thus a maritime battle took place near Trafalgar on October 21, 1805 between the combined fleet of France and the Spanish Navy on one, and the British Royal Navy on the other side. The French Spanish fleet lost 22 ships, and the British lost none. So, the first defeat of Napoleon was in battle at Trafalgar.