Austria's Proposal: A Pivotal French Revolution Moment

In 1791, the French Revolution was well underway, and the crowned rulers of Europe watched with a mixture of scorn, excitement, and fear. Initially, the new emperor of Austria, Leopold II, looked on the Revolution calmly and even made some approving remarks. However, as the Revolution became more radical, Leopold and other European monarchs, including King Frederick William II of Prussia, feared that the revolutionary spirit might expand across the continent and into their colonies. In August 1791, Leopold and Frederick William II issued the Declaration of Pillnitz, which threatened severe consequences if anything should happen to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette of France. This declaration was seen as a provocation by the French government, which responded with a series of provocations of its own, ultimately leading to a French declaration of war on Austria in April 1792. Thus began the French Revolutionary Wars, which pitted the French First Republic against several monarchies, including Austria and Prussia, and lasted from 1792 until 1802.

Austria's Leopold II initially sympathised with the French Revolution, believing a constitutional monarchy would prolong Louis XVI's reign

Leopold's concept of constitutional monarchy was based on respect for the political rights of citizens and a harmony of power between the executive and the legislative. He believed that the sovereign, even an hereditary one, was only the delegate and agent of the people for whom he was in office. He thought that the people should be the object of all his care and work and that every country should have a fundamental law or contract between the people and the sovereign that limits the latter's power.

Leopold's view of the monarchy's role was influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment, which aimed to reorganise the state on rational principles to further the welfare of its subjects. However, his views differed from most members of his family, and he is sometimes referred to as the 'only constitutionally-minded Habsburg'.

Leopold's initial reaction to the French Revolution was cautious. However, as the revolution became more radical, he became increasingly disturbed and joined with the Prussians in issuing the Declaration of Pillnitz in 1791. This declaration was seen as a serious threat by the revolutionary leaders in France and was denounced. The declaration, along with the Brunswick Manifesto, contributed to the radicalisation of the political movement in France, with the National Convention eventually abolishing the monarchy.

Despite Leopold's initial sympathy for the French Revolution, his concern for his sister, Marie Antoinette, who was married to Louis XVI, and the pressure from French émigrés, nobles who had fled France, ultimately led him to intervene. This intervention took the form of the Declaration of Pillnitz, which threatened severe consequences if anything happened to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette.

Leopold's Padua Circular called for a European military coalition to invade France and reinstall the monarchy

Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and brother of Marie Antoinette, authored the Padua Circular, a diplomatic note dated July 6, 1791. It was prompted by the arrest of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette after their failed escape attempt, known as the Flight to Varennes. The circular called on the sovereigns of Europe to unite and demand the royal couple's freedom. Leopold II proposed an alliance of Austria, Prussia, Britain, Spain, Russia, and other forces against the French Revolution, with the aim of restoring Louis XVI to his full pre-1789 powers.

The Padua Circular stated that the arrest of the King and Queen of France compromised the honour of all sovereigns and threatened the security of all governments. It expressed fears about potential future acts of violence and the potential for the revolution to spread. Leopold II proposed that the sovereigns unite to forcefully avenge any future outrages committed against the security, person, and honour of the King, Queen, and the royal family. He also stated that they would only recognise laws and a constitution in France that had the voluntary approval of the King.

The circular led to a convention between Prussia and Austria on July 25, 1791, which settled their disputes, pledged cooperation over France, and paved the way for the Declaration of Pillnitz, jointly authored by Austria and Prussia in August 1791. The Declaration of Pillnitz threatened severe consequences if anything happened to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. However, it was seen as a non-committal gesture by Leopold II, and it failed to garner much enthusiasm from other European powers.

Despite the lack of collective action, France viewed the Declaration of Pillnitz as a serious threat and denounced it. When Austria refused to recall its troops from the French border and back down on its perceived threat of using force, France declared war on Austria and Prussia in the spring of 1792. This marked the beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars, which lasted from 1792 until 1802 and resulted in significant French victories and the spread of revolutionary principles across Europe.

Leopold's Declaration of Pillnitz was a joint statement with Prussia's King Frederick William II, threatening severe consequences if anything happened to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Leopold's Declaration of Pillnitz was a joint statement issued on 27 August 1791 by Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II and King Frederick William II of Prussia. It was a statement of five sentences, declaring the joint support of the Holy Roman Empire and Prussia for King Louis XVI of France against the French Revolution. It also threatened severe consequences if anything happened to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette.

Leopold was the brother of Marie Antoinette and had become increasingly concerned about her safety and that of her family. However, he felt that any intervention in French affairs would only increase their danger. At the same time, many French aristocrats were fleeing France and taking up residence in neighbouring countries, spreading fear of the Revolution and agitating for foreign support for Louis XVI. After Louis and his family fled Paris in what became known as the Flight to Varennes in June 1791, they were apprehended and returned to Paris, where they were kept under armed guard.

On 6 July 1791, Leopold issued the Padua Circular, calling on the sovereigns of Europe to join him in demanding Louis' freedom. The Declaration of Pillnitz was intended to serve as a warning to the French revolutionaries to stop infringing on the king's prerogatives and to permit his resumption of power. It stated that Austria would go to war if and only if all the other major European powers also went to war with France. Leopold chose this wording so that he would not be forced to go to war. He knew that the British prime minister, William Pitt, did not support war with France. Leopold issued the declaration only to satisfy the French émigrés who had taken refuge in his country and were calling for foreign interference in their homeland.

The declaration was largely symbolic, as Austria and Prussia vowed to commit troops only if all major European leaders intervened, which was highly unlikely. In fact, Leopold had purposely worded the proclamation to avoid going to war. Instead, he and Frederick William hoped to both appease the émigrés while intimidating French revolutionaries into pursuing more conciliatory policies. In France, however, it was largely seen as a threat to the revolution, and it led to further radicalization. Although Leopold subsequently retracted the declaration, tensions continued to increase. Notably, in September 1791, the National Assembly annexed the papal territories Avignon and the Comtat Venaissin. Then, in February 1792, Austria and Prussia made a defensive alliance.

On 20 April 1792, France declared war on Austria, launching the first of several French Revolutionary wars that engulfed Europe for nearly a decade.

The Declaration of Pillnitz was more of a bluff than a challenge, but it still caused panic in France

The Declaration of Pillnitz was a statement issued on 27 August 1791 by Frederick William II of Prussia and Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor, who was Marie Antoinette's brother. It declared the joint support of the Holy Roman Empire and Prussia for King Louis XVI of France against the French Revolution. The declaration was intended to serve as a warning to the French revolutionaries to stop infringing on the king's prerogatives and to permit his resumption of power.

However, the wording of the declaration was carefully chosen by Leopold to avoid committing to war. He knew that the British Prime Minister did not support war with France and issued the declaration only to satisfy the French émigrés who had taken refuge in his country and were calling for foreign interference in their homeland. The declaration stated that Austria would go to war if and only if all the other major European powers also went to war with France.

Despite Leopold's intentions, the Declaration of Pillnitz caused panic in France. The National Assembly of France interpreted it as a threat to the revolution, which radicalised the French revolutionaries and increased tensions. The declaration was used as a pretext by radicals such as Jacques Pierre Brissot to gain influence and push for war with Austria, which was eventually declared in April 1792, leading to the French Revolutionary Wars.

The panic caused by the Declaration of Pillnitz can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, it was seen as a challenge to the sovereignty of the French government, which had already been threatened by the king's attempted escape to Varennes in June 1791. Secondly, the declaration's vague wording and mention of severe consequences if anything should happen to the king and queen could be interpreted as a threat of military intervention. Thirdly, the presence of French émigrés in neighbouring countries, spreading fear of the Revolution and agitating for foreign support, contributed to a sense of unease in France. Finally, the declaration played on existing fears among European leaders about the potential spread of revolution to their own countries.

The Gironds in France wanted war with Austria to militarise and energise the revolution, gain public support and consolidate their power

The Girondins, a group of friends who often dined together and spoke on the same issues on the Assembly floor, were a significant political force in the French Revolution. They were moderate revolutionaries who supported democratic reforms, a strong legislative branch, and a weaker executive branch. They played a significant role in the revolutionary government, but their feud with the more radical Montagnards would eventually lead to their downfall.

The Girondins wanted war with Austria for several reasons. Firstly, they believed that war would militarise and energise the revolution, bringing a wave of patriotism that would increase public support for the republic. They also saw it as an opportunity to test the loyalty of King Louis XVI, whose powers had been diminished by the revolution. Furthermore, the Girondins wanted to destroy the threat of the émigrés—clergymen, aristocrats, and military officers who had fled France during the Revolution and were now settled just across the border. The Girondins blamed the émigrés for the depreciation of the assignat and alleged that they were working with the Austrians, who had openly opposed the Revolution with the Declaration of Pillnitz.

Additionally, the Girondins wanted to spread the principles of the Revolution to the rest of Europe, carrying them "on the point of a bayonet." They believed that the armies of Europe were comprised of enslaved men forced to fight the wars of kings, and that these men would welcome the French citizen armies as liberators. They saw the war as a "universal crusade" that would bring liberty to all oppressed peoples.

Finally, the Girondins may have also wanted war as a means to consolidate their own power. They knew that a successful war would increase their popularity, and some even hoped that it would allow them to claim credit for the victory and regain some authority. However, their plan backfired when early defeats led to mass hysteria and incidents like the Storming of the Tuileries Palace, which marked the end of the monarchy. The Girondins themselves would become victims of the Reign of Terror, executed in October 1793.

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