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The French Revolutionary Wars, which lasted from 1792 to 1802, saw France pitted against several European powers, including Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia. The conflict arose from the French Revolution, which threatened the monarchies of Europe, and was divided into two periods: the War of the First Coalition (1792-1797) and the War of the Second Coalition (1798-1802). France's initial declaration of war on Austria in April 1792 was followed by Prussia's declaration of war on France in June of the same year. The fighting, which began in Europe, gradually spread globally, with France conquering territories in the Italian peninsula, the Low Countries, and the Rhineland. The war concluded with the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, though lingering tensions led to the Napoleonic Wars just over a year later.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of war declaration | April 1792 |
| Countries involved | France, Austria, Prussia, Great Britain, Russia, and several others |
| Cause of war | France's declaration of war on Austria |
| Battles | Hohenlinden, Marengo, Valmy, Neerwinden, Hondschoote, Fleurus |
| Outcome | French victory, Treaty of Lunéville signed in 1801 |
| End date | 1802 |
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What You'll Learn
The French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802)
The French Revolutionary Wars began in April 1792 when France's Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria, despite fears that the Austrians might ally with the powerful Prussian military. This decision was shaped by the French Revolution and its upheavals, which outraged the other monarchies of Europe. Austria and Prussia had already stationed significant troops on their French borders and issued the Declaration of Pillnitz in 1791, threatening consequences if anything happened to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. In response, France abolished the monarchy and declared war on Austria and Prussia in the spring of 1792, turning back their coordinated invasion at the Battle of Valmy in September.
The French Revolutionary Army achieved a series of victories, but this momentum abruptly ended with a defeat at Neerwinden in the spring of 1793. The condition of the French forces was poor, with low morale and efficiency, and the nation was deeply divided due to the Revolution. Despite these challenges, France managed to conquer territories in the Italian peninsula, the Low Countries, and the Rhineland through constant warfare and aggressive diplomacy. French success in these conflicts ensured military occupation and the spread of revolutionary principles over much of Europe.
The tide turned again in 1800 when Napoleon arrived from Egypt and reorganized the French army. They achieved decisive victories against the Austrians at the Battle of Marengo and Hohenlinden, forcing the Austrians to seek peace and leading to the Treaty of Lunéville in 1801. With Austria and Russia out of the war, Britain found itself isolated and agreed to the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, concluding the Revolutionary Wars. However, tensions remained high, and the Napoleonic Wars began over a year later, continuing the series of Coalition Wars.
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The Declaration of Pillnitz (1791)
The Declaration of Pillnitz was a joint statement issued on 27 August 1791 by Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and King Frederick William II of Prussia. The declaration appealed to all European powers to unite against the French Revolution (1789-99) and restore King Louis XVI of France, who had been reduced to a constitutional monarch, to his full powers. It declared the joint support of the Holy Roman Empire and Prussia for King Louis XVI of France against the French Revolution. Since the French Revolution of 1789, Leopold, who was Marie Antoinette's brother, had become increasingly concerned about her safety. 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.
The declaration stated that Austria and Prussia viewed the situation of the King of France as a "subject of common interest for all of Europe's sovereigns". They called on these powers to use the most efficient means to place the King of France in a position to be totally free to consolidate the bases of a monarchical government. The wording of the declaration was carefully crafted to give the impression of firmness while not committing Austria or Prussia to any specific policies or military action. They knew that the British Prime Minister, William Pitt, did not support war with France, so they only vowed to commit troops if all major European leaders intervened, an unlikely event.
The National Assembly of France interpreted the declaration as a threat to its sovereignty, and it led to further radicalization of the French revolutionaries. The declaration was used as a pretext to declare war on Austria on 20 April 1792, leading to the campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars. The Declaration of Pillnitz thus contributed to the escalation of tensions and the breakdown of peace in Europe.
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Battles of Hohenlinden and Marengo (1800)
The Battles of Hohenlinden and Marengo were fought in 1800 during the French Revolutionary Wars, which lasted from 1792 to 1802. The wars were a series of sweeping military conflicts resulting from the French Revolution, pitting France against several countries, including Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia.
The Battle of Hohenlinden took place on December 3, 1800, and resulted in a decisive French victory over an Austrian and Bavarian force. General of Division Jean Victor Marie Moreau's 56,000-strong army defeated an Austrian and Bavarian force of 64,000 led by the 18-year-old Archduke John of Austria. Moreau's forces ambushed the Austrians as they emerged from the Ebersberg forest, and he successfully encircled and smashed the largest Austrian column. This victory forced the Austrians to request an armistice, effectively ending the War of the Second Coalition.
The Battle of Marengo, which took place on June 14, 1800, was also a significant French victory. Napoleon Bonaparte's victory over the main Austrian army in Northern Italy was expected to be the decisive event that would end eight years of war with France and compel the Habsburgs to sue for peace. However, despite Bonaparte's subsequent propaganda, the Battle of Hohenlinden was the true turning point. The French victory at Marengo, coupled with Hohenlinden, forced the Austrians to seek peace for a second time, leading to the Treaty of Lunéville in 1801.
The Battles of Hohenlinden and Marengo played a crucial role in ending the War of the Second Coalition and bringing a temporary conclusion to the French Revolutionary Wars. With Austria and Russia out of the war, Britain found itself increasingly isolated and agreed to the Treaty of Amiens with Napoleon's government in 1802. However, lingering tensions remained, and the Napoleonic Wars began just over a year later.
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Treaty of Lunéville (1801)
The Treaty of Lunéville, also known as the Peace of Lunéville, was signed on 9 February 1801, bringing an end to the war between France and Austria. The treaty was signed by the French Republic and Emperor Francis II, who signed on behalf of the hereditary domains of the House of Austria and the Holy Roman Empire. The signatories were Joseph Bonaparte and Count Ludwig von Cobenzl, the Austrian foreign minister.
The Treaty of Lunéville formally ended Austrian and Imperial participation in the War of the Second Coalition and the French Revolutionary Wars, as well as the Imperial Kingdom of Italy. The Austrian army had suffered defeats at the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Marengo in June 1800 and at the Battle of Hohenlinden in December of the same year. These crushing defeats forced the Austrians to seek peace, and the Treaty of Lunéville was the result.
The treaty largely confirmed the terms of the Treaty of Campo Formio (17 October 1797), which itself had confirmed the Treaty of Leoben (April 1797). The independence and sovereignty of the Cisalpine, Ligurian, Batavian, and Helvetic republics were recognised, and the entire left bank of the Rhine, including the Austrian Netherlands, was ceded to France. The treaty also required Austria to enforce the conditions of the earlier Treaty of Campo Formio.
The Treaty of Lunéville was a significant development in the French Revolutionary Wars, which had begun in 1792 when France declared war on Austria and Prussia. The wars resulted from the French Revolution, which had sparked outrage and intervention from the other monarchies of Europe. The Treaty of Lunéville ended the war on the continent, although the naval war with the United Kingdom continued, along with the blockade of France. The Treaty of Lunéville was followed by the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, which concluded the Revolutionary Wars, although tensions remained and the Napoleonic Wars began just over a year later.
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War of the First Coalition (1792-1797)
The War of the First Coalition (April 1792–October 1797) was the first of seven wars waged by various military alliances of great European powers, known as Coalitions, against Revolutionary France and its allies. The war was fought between several loosely allied European powers, including Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, and the constitutional Kingdom of France, and then the French Republic that succeeded it.
The war was a result of the French Revolution, which began at the end of the 18th century. The five great powers of Europe at the time—Great Britain, France, Austria, Russia, and Prussia—all had different reactions to the Revolution. While Prussia and Austria were outraged and considered intervening to prevent the spread of revolution, Britain, Russia, and Sweden had their own problems and were not interested in getting involved.
In August 1791, Leopold II, the Holy Roman Emperor and brother of Queen Marie Antoinette of France, along with King Frederick William II of Prussia, issued the Declaration of Pillnitz, which threatened consequences if anything happened to the King and Queen of France. In March 1792, Leopold II died and the Austrian throne passed to his 24-year-old son, Francis II. In April 1792, France's Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria, which had allied with Prussia, and the two countries responded with a coordinated invasion.
The French Revolutionary Army won several victories, including the Battle of Valmy in September 1792, which gave them time to reorganize and led to the abolition of the monarchy. However, the French also suffered defeats, such as at Neerwinden in the spring of 1793, which caused despair in France. By 1794, the situation improved for the French with major victories against the Austrians and Dutch at Fleurus and against the Spanish at the Black Mountain. By 1795, the French had captured the Austrian Netherlands and the Dutch Republic, and in 1796, a hitherto unknown general named Napoleon Bonaparte began his first campaign in Italy, defeating the Habsburg forces and evicting them from the Italian peninsula.
By 1797, the French had defeated the First Coalition and occupied the Low Countries, the west bank of the Rhine, and Northern Italy. The Austrians sued for peace and agreed to the Treaty of Campo Formio in October 1797, ending the First Coalition against the Republic.
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Frequently asked questions
France declared war on Austria in April 1792, and on Prussia in June of the same year.
The French Revolution of 1789 and the subsequent abolition of the monarchy in 1792 caused outrage among the monarchies of Europe. In 1791, Austria and Prussia issued the Declaration of Pillnitz, which threatened consequences if anything happened to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. This was seen as a serious threat by the revolutionary leaders in France, and tensions between the countries escalated.
The French Revolutionary Wars lasted from 1792 until 1802 and resulted in a series of military conflicts across Europe and beyond. France conquered territories in the Italian peninsula, the Low Countries, and the Rhineland. The wars ended with the Treaty of Lunéville in 1801, which was signed by Austria and Russia, and the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, which was signed by Britain. However, tensions remained, and the Napoleonic Wars began just over a year later.
During the 23 years of conflict between Austria and France, they fought five wars, with Austria losing all but the last.
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