Leslie Massey
Leopold I of Austria was involved in three wars against France: the Franco-Dutch War, the Nine Years' War, and the War of the Spanish Succession. Leopold's rivalry with France and its king, Louis XIV, was a defining feature of his 47-year reign. The French Revolution, which began in 1789, marked a turning point in relations between the two nations, with Leopold joining forces with Prussia in 1791 to issue the Declaration of Pillnitz, threatening the use of force to restore the French monarchy. In April 1792, France declared war on Austria, leading to a prolonged period of conflict between the two countries. Leopold's successor, Leopold II, faced significant challenges due to the ongoing wars with Revolutionary France, which ultimately resulted in five wars and numerous defeats for Austria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for war | Leopold fought three wars against France: the Franco-Dutch War, the Nine Years' War, and the War of the Spanish Succession |
| Leopold's rivalry with Louis XIV of France | |
| French expansionism, especially the seizure of the Duchy of Lorraine in 1670, threatened the Holy Roman Empire | |
| Leopold's sister, Marie Antoinette, was the queen of France, and the French Revolution endangered her life | |
| Leopold's refusal to assent to the partition of the kingdom of the King of Spain, Charles II, who was related to both the Austrian and French royal houses | |
| Leopold's predecessor, Ferdinand III, had allied with Poland, and Leopold expanded this alliance to include Austrian troops |
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What You'll Learn
Leopold's rivalry with Louis XIV
Leopold I of Austria's reign was marked by rivalry with his cousin, Louis XIV of France. Leopold's first war was the Second Northern War (1655–1660), which set the tone for the rest of his public life, which was largely dedicated to the arrangement and furtherance of wars. Leopold fought three wars against France: the Franco-Dutch War, the Nine Years' War, and the War of the Spanish Succession.
Leopold and Louis XIV were cousins, and their rivalry was driven by competing claims and ambitions. Leopold was the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, and Louis XIV was the sole ruler of France from 1661. Louis XIV was intent on extending France's territories by military means, particularly at the expense of the Holy Roman Empire and the Spanish Netherlands (present-day Belgium). This brought him into direct conflict with Leopold.
In the late 1660s, Leopold and Louis XIV engaged in secret negotiations at Vienna, which resulted in the Secret Treaty of Vienna in 1668. The treaty was designed to divide the spoils of the Spanish Monarchy, which was facing the extinction of the male line of the Spanish Habsburgs. The treaty left the core of the Spanish Monarchy to the Austrian Habsburgs, with several territories, including the Spanish Netherlands and the Spanish possessions on the North African coast, going to France.
However, the peace between France and the Holy Roman Empire did not last. In 1688, Louis XIV attacked the Holy Roman Empire without a formal declaration of war, leading to a war that lasted for almost ten years and ended with the Peace of Rijswijk. The close of the century brought a new conflict: the War of the Spanish Succession. The King of Spain, Charles II, was related to both the Austrian Habsburgs and the French royal house. When Charles died childless in 1700, he left his crown to Philippe, Duke of Anjou, a grandson of Louis XIV. Leopold refused to consent to any partition of the Spanish kingdom and sought to give his younger son the entire Spanish inheritance, disregarding Charles II's will. This started a war that soon engulfed much of Europe and lasted until 1714, outliving Leopold, who died in 1705.
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French expansionism
Leopold I of Belgium fought against Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1806, after the Battle of Austerlitz, French troops occupied the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg, forcing Leopold and his father, Francis, to take refuge in Saalfeld. Napoleon abolished the Duchy's sovereignty and confiscated the properties of Leopold's family, keeping Leopold and his mother confined to a section of one of the confiscated castles. Leopold refused Napoleon's offer to join the French army. In 1813, Leopold joined the Russian army and participated in the liberation of German states from Napoleonic France, fighting in several battles against French troops.
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War of the Spanish Succession
Leopold I of Austria fought three wars against France: the Franco-Dutch War, the Nine Years' War, and the War of the Spanish Succession. This answer will focus on the War of the Spanish Succession.
The War of the Spanish Succession was one of the conflicts in which Leopold I of Austria was involved. The King of Spain, Charles II, was childless and had no direct heirs. Charles II was a Habsburg by descent and was related by marriage to the Austrian branch of the family, while a similar tie bound him to the royal house of France. Leopold I sought to give his younger son, Charles, the entire Spanish inheritance, disregarding the will of the late Charles II.
Leopold I started a war that soon engulfed much of Europe. The early years of the war went fairly well for Austria, with victories at Schellenberg and Blenheim. However, the war dragged on until 1714, nine years after Leopold I's death, with little effect on the warring states. When peace returned with the Treaty of Rastatt, Austria could not be said to have emerged triumphant.
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor, and son of Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I, also had a role in the conflict with France. Leopold II's sister, Marie Antoinette, was the queen of France during the French Revolution, and he was preoccupied with her perilous situation. Leopold II joined with the Prussians in issuing the Declaration of Pillnitz in 1791, appealing to European sovereigns to use force to assure the maintenance of monarchical government in France. In 1792, Leopold II signed the Treaty of Pillnitz with Prussia, which provided for possible common action by these two powers against France, making war extremely likely. However, Leopold II died less than two months before France declared war on Austria in the same year.
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Leopold's involvement in the Second Northern War
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, was involved in the Second Northern War (1655–1660), which was his first war. In this conflict, King Charles X of Sweden attempted to become King of Poland with the support of allies such as György II Rákóczi, Prince of Transylvania. Leopold's predecessor, Ferdinand III, had previously allied with King John II Casimir Vasa of Poland in 1656. Leopold expanded this alliance in 1657 to include Austrian troops, who were paid by Poland. Together, they defeated the Transylvanian army and campaigned as far as Denmark. The war concluded with the Treaty of Oliwa in 1660.
Leopold's rivalry with Louis XIV was shaped by their personal dynamics and power struggles. Leopold's public life was largely dedicated to the arrangement and pursuit of wars, reflecting his status as a warrior-king. However, he lacked the dominant personality and power that defined Louis XIV, which resulted in Leopold being overshadowed by his French counterpart.
In addition to his rivalry with France, Leopold I also faced conflicts with the Ottoman Empire. The interference of the Ottoman Empire in Transylvania led to a war with the Holy Roman Empire, which began in 1663. Leopold played a crucial role in this conflict by appealing to the princes and securing their assistance. The war culminated in a notable victory for the Imperial general Raimondo Montecuccoli at Saint Gotthard in August 1664.
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French Revolution
Leopold I of Austria fought three wars against France: the Franco-Dutch War, the Nine Years' War, and the War of the Spanish Succession. Leopold's rivalry with France and its king, Louis XIV, characterised much of his 47-year reign.
Now, here is some information focused on the French Revolution:
The French Revolution erupted in the summer of 1789, and the initial Austrian policy was to leave France alone. Leopold I's successor, Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and Emperor of Austria, at first reacted cautiously to the French Revolution. However, in July 1791, Leopold II wrote to the rulers of England, Prussia, Spain, and Russia, expressing his indignation at the arrest of the French royal family and appealing for a common declaration to prevent any desperate decisions and preserve the dignity of the crown. In August 1791, Leopold II joined with the Prussians in issuing the Declaration of Pillnitz, appealing to European sovereigns to use force to assure the maintenance of monarchical government in France. This declaration was interpreted as a threat to its sovereignty by the French government, which responded with provocations that led to France declaring war on Austria in April 1792.
Leopold II's attention was increasingly drawn to the perilous situation of his sister, Marie Antoinette, who was Queen of France by marriage to King Louis XVI. Marie Antoinette sent him passionate appeals for help as the growing revolutionary disorders in France endangered her life. Leopold II's preoccupation with the affairs of France led him to put pressure on Great Britain by threatening to cede his part of the Low Countries to France. Assured of British support, he was able to baffle the intrigues of Prussia and secure his coronation as King of Hungary in November 1790.
In February 1792, Leopold II signed the Treaty of Pillnitz with Prussia, providing for possible common action against France, making war extremely likely. However, Leopold II died less than two months before France declared war on Austria in April 1792. This declaration of war inaugurated a period of almost continuous conflict between Austria and France, with the two nations fighting five wars over 23 years, with Austria losing all but the last.
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Frequently asked questions
Leopold I went to war with France three times: the Franco-Dutch War, the Nine Years' War, and the War of the Spanish Succession.
Leopold I refused to consent to any partition of the Spanish kingdom. When the King of Spain, Charles II, died in November 1700, he left his crown to Philippe, Duke of Anjou, a grandson of Louis XIV, and all hopes of a peaceful settlement vanished.
French expansionism threatened the Holy Roman Empire, especially the seizure of the strategic Duchy of Lorraine in 1670.
Leopold II of Austria did not go to war with France. He died in 1792, two months before France declared war on Austria.
Leopold II was preoccupied with the affairs of France and his sister, Marie Antoinette's, perilous situation. In 1791, he issued the Declaration of Pillnitz with Prussia, which was interpreted as a threat to France's sovereignty and led to a French declaration of war on Austria.
