Ruqayyah Snyder
On April 20, 1792, the French Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria, marking the beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars and the War of the First Coalition. This declaration came amidst rising tensions between the king and the Assembly, with the latter favouring war to showcase the Revolution's strength and protect its achievements. The Assembly accused the Court of Vienna of granting protection to rebel Frenchmen and conspiring with other European monarchs to restore pre-revolutionary authority. The war was initially supported by some who believed it would consolidate the gains of the revolution and spread it across Europe. However, it was met with opposition from those who argued that France was ill-prepared and risked losing the progress made during the Revolution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 20 April 1792 |
| Reason | To spread the revolution and destroy other monarchies, defend the achievements of the revolution and prevent a return to an absolutist regime |
| Assembly | Girondin majority |
| King | Louis XVI |
| War | War of the First Coalition |
| Outcome | Disaster for the French |
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What You'll Learn
The French Revolutionary Wars
In the years leading up to the war, the French Revolution had become increasingly radical, breaking with old institutions and targeting defenders of the Ancien Régime. King Louis XVI, suspecting the king of conspiring with other European monarchs to restore his pre-revolutionary authority, attempted to escape with his family in June 1791 but was captured. This, along with the Declaration of Pillnitz issued by King Frederick William II of Prussia and Emperor Francis II of Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia, led to tensions between France and the monarchies of Europe.
The Girondin-majority Legislative Assembly favoured war, especially with Austria, to display the strength of the Revolution and defend its achievements. They believed that the Revolution needed to be spread to other countries and that France needed to strike first. On the other hand, leftist deputies within the Assembly, such as Robespierre, opposed the war, arguing that France was not ready and could lose the progress made during the Revolution. Despite these objections, the Assembly declared war on Austria on 20 April 1792, with Major-General Charles François Dumouriez appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
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The War of the First Coalition
In the lead-up to the war, there was a real risk that France would be overwhelmed by foreign forces if a large anti-French coalition were to form. This led to opposition to the war within the Assembly, with figures like Robespierre arguing that France was not ready for war and risked losing the progress made during the Revolution. However, the Girondin majority in the Legislative Assembly favoured war, particularly with Austria, to demonstrate the strength of the Revolution and defend its achievements. They also wanted to spread the Revolution to other countries and were urged to 'liberate' the Low Countries by Dutch Patriots and Belgian-Liégois rebels.
The war began disastrously for the French, with Prussia joining Austria in the war in June 1792. An army composed of Prussians, Austrians, Hessians, and French émigrés under the Duke of Brunswick invaded France, with smaller armies on its flanks. The Assembly declared the 'nation in danger' and commanded 100,000 National Guards (Fédérés) to strengthen the defence of Paris, but the king's veto of this decision was ignored. The Brunswick Manifesto, issued on 25 July 1792, further inflamed republican sentiment in France.
The war continued with varying fortunes for both sides, with the French scoring victories at the Siege of Toulon and against the Prussians in the Rhineland and the Spanish in the Pyrenees in 1794. However, by 1793, the French Republic was in a dire situation, facing enemy armies on all fronts. The First Coalition eventually collapsed, with Prussia withdrawing from the war in 1795 and Austria exiting in 1797, leaving only Britain still at war with France.
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The Girondin majority
On 20 April 1792, King Louis XVI of France declared war on Austria, marking the beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars. This declaration of war was influenced by the Girondin majority in the Legislative Assembly, who favoured war, particularly with Austria, for several reasons. Firstly, they wanted to showcase the strength of the Revolution and protect its achievements, such as the Declaration of the Rights of the Man and of the Citizen of 1789, and the emergence of parliamentary democracy. They also wanted to counter the potential restoration of an Enlightened absolutist regime. The Girondin majority cited the Declaration of Pillnitz, which exposed the hostility of the émigrés who appeared to collaborate with Austria and Prussia, as justification for the urgent need to strike first.
However, not everyone in the Assembly supported the war. Leftist deputies like Robespierre opposed it, arguing that France was unprepared and risked losing the progress made during the Revolution. Despite these objections, the Girondin majority, driven by their desire to defend the Revolution and spread its ideals, influenced King Louis XVI's declaration of war on Austria, which marked the beginning of a prolonged period of conflict in Europe.
The war declaration had significant consequences for France and King Louis XVI. Tensions intensified between the king and the Legislative Assembly, with the latter blaming the king and his ministers for the initial military failures. The Girondins, who had pushed for the war, also faced repercussions as their relationship with the king deteriorated. The war's outcome further fuelled the flames of the French Revolution, with radicals calling for preemptive action against perceived threats. The war declaration thus set in motion a series of events that would shape the course of French history.
In conclusion, the Girondin majority in the Legislative Assembly played a pivotal role in the declaration of war on Austria on 20 April 1792. Their motivations centred on safeguarding the Revolution's achievements and countering the threat of a return to absolutism. The subsequent war had far-reaching impacts on France, intensifying tensions, sparking political realignments, and further radicalising the Revolution. The Girondins' influence on this pivotal moment in history underscores their significance in shaping the trajectory of the French Revolutionary Wars.
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The Declaration of Pillnitz
Since the French Revolution of 1789, Leopold had become increasingly concerned about the safety of his sister, Marie Antoinette, and her family. 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 June 1791, in what became known as the Flight to Varennes, they were captured and returned to the city.
The declaration called on European powers to intervene if Louis was threatened, intending 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 other major European powers also went to war with France. The declaration was largely symbolic, as Austria and Prussia vowed to commit troops only if all major European leaders intervened, which was highly unlikely.
The National Assembly of France interpreted the declaration as a threat to its sovereignty, and it radicalised the French revolutionaries, increasing tensions. The Assembly voted for the French annexation of the Comtat Venaissin, including Avignon, from the Papal States in September 1791. Austria and Prussia concluded a defensive alliance in February 1792. On 20 April 1792, France declared war on Austria, launching the first of several French Revolutionary wars that engulfed Europe for nearly a decade.
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The Brunswick Manifesto
On the 20th of April 1792, the French Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria, marking the beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars and the War of the First Coalition. This declaration was influenced by the radicalisation of the French Revolution, which targeted defenders of the Ancien Régime, and suspicions that King Louis XVI was conspiring with other European monarchs to restore his pre-revolutionary authority.
In the context of this escalating tension, the Brunswick Manifesto was issued on the 25th of July 1792 by Charles William Ferdinand, the Duke of Brunswick, who commanded the combined army of Prussians, Austrians, Hessians, and French émigrés under the supreme command of King Frederick William II of Prussia. The manifesto was written primarily by Louis Joseph, Prince of Condé, who led a large group of French émigrés in Brunswick's army.
> "I desire to announce to the inhabitants of that kingdom the motives which have determined the policy of the two sovereigns and the purposes which they have in view. After arbitrarily violating the rights of the German princes in Alsace and Lorraine, disturbing and overthrowing good order and legitimate government in the interior of the realm, committing outrages and brutalities against the sacred person of the king and his august family… those who have usurped the reins of government have at last completed their work by declaring an unjust war on his Majesty the emperor… [I exhort] all the inhabitants of the kingdom not to oppose the movements and operations of the troops which I command, but rather, on the contrary, to grant them everywhere a free passage and to assist and aid them with all goodwill as circumstances shall demand."
The manifesto also expressed the intention to put an end to the anarchy in France, restore royal authority, and place the king in a position to exercise his legitimate power. It reflected the close alliance between the King of Prussia and the Emperor of Austria, united by a defensive pact.
The impact of the Brunswick Manifesto on the French populace is a subject of historical debate. Traditional interpretations suggest that it created fear and anger, fuelling the revolutionary spirit and leading to the storming of the Tuileries Palace on August 10. However, recent research challenges this view, arguing that the manifesto was met with humour and satire, and that the French radical left considered the threat of an external foe trivial.
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Frequently asked questions
The Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria on 20 April 1792.
The French Revolution began in 1789 and gradually radicalised, breaking with old institutions and practices. The Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria to defend the Revolution's achievements and spread the Revolution to other countries.
The war initially started as a disaster for the French. It led to the fall of the French monarchy and the establishment of the First Republic in 1792.
The war caused tensions between the Legislative Assembly and the king, Louis XVI. The Assembly passed decrees sentencing priests denounced by citizens to deportation and dissolving the King's guard. The Legislative Assembly ceased to exist in September 1792 when it was replaced by the National Convention as the new de facto government of France.
