Damon Mcknight
The French Revolutionary Wars, which lasted from 1792 to 1802, saw France pitted against several countries, including Austria and Prussia. The conflict arose from the French Revolution, which began in the late 18th century and caused outrage among the monarchies of Europe, including Austria and Prussia, who considered intervening to restore the monarchy in France. In 1791, Austria and Prussia issued the Declaration of Pillnitz, threatening consequences if anything happened to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. When Austria refused to recall its troops from the French border, France declared war on Austria and Prussia in 1792, leading to their coordinated invasion. This resulted in a series of military engagements, including the Battle of Valmy, where the French successfully repelled the Prussian and Austrian forces.
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What You'll Learn
The French Revolution
As early as 1791, these monarchies considered intervening in support of King Louis XVI, or to take advantage of the chaos in France. In that year, Austria and Prussia issued the Declaration of Pillnitz, which threatened consequences should anything happen to the King and Queen. Austria refused to back down and recall its troops from the French border, and France declared war on Austria and Prussia in 1792. This led to a coordinated invasion of France by Austria and Prussia, which was turned back at the Battle of Valmy in September 1792.
The French victory at Valmy was a significant boost to the morale of the revolutionaries, and the Prussian army retreated to preserve its forces. The French then went on the offensive, with multiple armies attacking from different fronts. They occupied Belgium, the Rhineland, and the southern Netherlands, and advanced into Germany, taking Aachen. The French also invaded Spain, making successful incursions into Catalonia and Navarre. The French established the Batavian Republic as a sister republic and gained control of the Left Bank of the Rhine.
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The Declaration of Pillnitz
The declaration expressed concern for the King of France and called on European powers to intervene and restore the monarchy if he was threatened. It stated that the situation was a matter of common interest to all sovereigns of Europe and that they should use their resources to place the King in a position to establish a monarchical form of government. The wording was carefully chosen by Leopold to avoid being forced into war, as he knew the British did not support it. However, it was interpreted as a threat to the sovereignty of the new French government and radicalised the French revolutionaries, increasing tensions.
The declaration stated:
> "Their Majesties, the Emperor and the King of Prussia, having heard the wishes and representations of Monsieur, the Count of Artois, jointly declare that they view the situation in which the King of France currently finds himself as a subject of common interest for all of Europe's sovereigns."
The French government saw this as a provocation and, after several months of debate, declared war on Austria on 20 April 1792. This was the first of several French Revolutionary Wars, which lasted for nearly a decade and included the rise to power of Napoleon Bonaparte.
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Prussia and Austria's mistrust of each other
Both countries had a history of rivalry and conflict prior to the French Revolution. For instance, during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748), Prussia occupied the Austrian province of Silesia, undermining the Anglo-Austrian Alliance. This action demonstrated Prussia's willingness to challenge Austrian power and territorial control.
During the French Revolution, Prussia and Austria found themselves on opposing sides, with Austria taking a more conservative stance and seeking to preserve the monarchy, while Prussia was open to revolutionary ideas. This ideological difference likely contributed to their mutual mistrust.
In the context of the French Revolutionary Wars, Prussia and Austria's mistrust of each other was influenced by their differing strategies and levels of commitment to the invasion of France. Prussia and Austria, along with other European monarchies, were concerned about the upheaval caused by the French Revolution and considered intervening to restore the monarchy. However, Prussia and Austria hesitated to commit significant forces to the invasion. Prussia provided only 42,000 troops to the initial invasion force, while Austria contributed 29,000. This reluctance may have been due to their mistrust of each other's intentions and their fear of potential betrayal.
Additionally, Prussia and Austria had competing interests in Poland, which further strained their relationship. While they were nominally allies during the French Revolutionary Wars, they mistrusted each other regarding their intentions toward Poland. Prussia's hesitation to fully commit to the invasion of France may have been influenced by its desire to maintain focus on Poland.
The mistrust between Prussia and Austria was not limited to the French Revolutionary Wars but extended to their broader rivalry and competition for power and influence in Central Europe. This rivalry would later escalate into the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, which resulted in Prussian dominance over the German states and further diminished Austrian hegemony.
In summary, the mistrust between Prussia and Austria during the French Revolutionary Wars was influenced by a combination of factors, including ideological differences, competing interests in Poland, and differing levels of commitment to the invasion of France. This mistrust reflected the broader rivalry and power struggle between the two nations for dominance in Central Europe.
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The Battle of Valmy
In the lead-up to the battle, Prussian troops under the command of the Duke of Brunswick were advancing towards Paris with the aim of restoring the French monarchy. The Prussians were supported by the Austrian Empire and Great Britain, and they intended to crush the growing radicalization of the French Revolution. The French forces, a mix of volunteers and experienced regulars, were led by Generals François Kellermann and Charles Dumouriez. Kellermann took up a position on the high ground around Valmy, directly in front of the Prussians, while Dumouriez placed his troops against the Prussian line of march.
The battle itself was more of a skirmish than a full-scale engagement, with both sides exchanging long-range artillery fire that resulted in few casualties. However, the French held their ground, and the Prussians ultimately retreated. The total Prussian casualties were fewer than 500, but the unexpectedness of their defeat had a significant impact on the morale of their army. The victory at Valmy gave the French a much-needed breathing space and allowed them to renew their invasion of the Austrian Netherlands.
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The War of the First Coalition
As early as 1791, Austria and Prussia, along with other European powers, considered intervening in France, either in support of King Louis XVI or to take advantage of the chaos. In August 1791, they issued the Declaration of Pillnitz, threatening consequences if anything happened to the King or Queen Marie Antoinette, who was the sister of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II. France declared war on Austria in April 1792, and Prussia followed suit in June. The two countries responded with a coordinated invasion, which was turned back at the Battle of Valmy in September.
The First Coalition consisted of Britain, Russia, Prussia, Spain, Holland, and Austria. However, there was no common pact or understanding of aims among the allies, and the coalition was hampered by distrust between Prussia and Austria, as well as their mutual distrust of Russia with regard to Poland. The coalition's attack on France was further weakened by the mass conscription and mobilisation of the vast French population, as well as the defection of French officers and the deepening divisions within the nation.
The French, led by generals such as Pichegru, Moreau, Jourdan, and Dumouriez, launched offensives on multiple fronts, driving the coalition forces beyond the Rhine and occupying Belgium, the Rhineland, and the southern Netherlands. The French also advanced into Germany and took Aachen. The war ended in 1797, with the collapse of the First Coalition, although France remained at war with Britain.
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Frequently asked questions
Prussia and Austria attacked France in response to a French declaration of war on Austria in April 1792. The French Revolution had begun at the end of the 18th century, and the other monarchies of Europe considered intervening to prevent the spread of revolution. Austria and Prussia issued the Declaration of Pillnitz, threatening consequences if anything happened to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. When Austria refused to back down and recall its troops from the French border, France declared war.
The war between France, Austria, and Prussia was part of the French Revolutionary Wars, which lasted from 1792 to 1802. The war was divided into two periods: the War of the First Coalition (1792-1797) and the War of the Second Coalition (1798-1802). During this period, France had conquered territories in the Italian peninsula, the Low Countries, and the Rhineland.
The French Revolution was driven by revolutionary rights and a desire to overthrow the monarchy, with commoners seeking to take charge from the King. The revolution was seen as anarchic and dangerous by the rulers of Europe, including Prussia and Austria, who wanted to restore the monarch as a counter-revolutionary mandate.
