French observers judged the Mamluks’ famed bravery as tactically worthless.

Evidence

From their perspective, the French in their description of the battle realized that the Mamluks’ reputation was completely unwarranted. … Those Mamluks, famous among the Egyptians for their bravery, have no idea about military tactics, except how to draw blood with their weapons. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 640