The French campaign in Egypt 1798-1801. Napoleon Bonaparte led the campaign to conquer Egypt with the primary purpose to defend French trade interests and to establish enterprises in the region. The army marched as far as Saint-Jean-dÁcre in Syria, however the campaign ended in defeat for Napoleon and the wihtdrawal of the french troops. Even if the campaign wasn’t successful it added to Napoleons fame and helped him later to become the Emperor of France.