French Revolutionary Wars
Background
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of sweeping military conflicts, lasting from 1792 until 1802, resulting from the French Revolution. They pitted the French Republic against Great Britain, Austria and several other monarchies. They are divided in two periods: the War of the First Coalition (1792–97) and the War of the Second Coalition (1798–1802). Initially confined to Europe, the fighting gradually assumed a global dimension as the political ambitions of the Revolution expanded.
War of the First Coalition
The War of the First Coalition was the first major effort of multiple European monarchies to contain Revolutionary France. It aimed to restore the French absolute monarchy and was waged from 1792 to 1797. It was the first of the French Revolutionary Wars.
Prelude
The French Revolutionary Wars began in 1792 and ultimately featured spectacular French victories that facilitated the conquest of the Italian Peninsula, the Low Countries and most territories west of the Rhine – achievements that had defied previous French governments for centuries.
The Coalition
The War of the First Coalition was an effort to stop the revolution, or at least contain it to France. France declared war on the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria on 20 April 1792, and the Kingdom of Prussia joined the Austrian side a few weeks later.
Course of the War
The French armies were successful in the early stages of the conflict, defeating the allied armies of Prussia and Austria. However, the tide turned in 1793 when French forces were defeated in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Aftermath
The War of the First Coalition ended in 1797 with the Treaty of Campo Formio, which marked a significant shift in the balance of power in Europe.
War of the Second Coalition
The War of the Second Coalition (1798–1802) was the second war on revolutionary France by most of the European monarchies, led by Britain, Austria and Russia, and including the Ottoman Empire, Portugal and Naples.
Prelude
The War of the Second Coalition was a reaction to the territorial gains made by France during the First Coalition. The countries of Europe united against France, hoping to curb the expansion of the French Republic and restore the monarchy.
The Coalition
The War of the Second Coalition was marked by several major battles, including the Battle of Marengo in Italy and the Battle of Hohenlinden in Germany. The coalition was ultimately defeated, and the Treaty of Lunéville marked the end of the conflict.
Course of the War
The War of the Second Coalition saw France facing a new coalition of European powers. Despite initial setbacks, the French armies emerged victorious, marking a turning point in the Revolutionary Wars.
Aftermath
The War of the Second Coalition ended with the Peace of Amiens in 1802, which marked the end of the French Revolutionary Wars.
Impact
The French Revolutionary Wars had a profound impact on the course of European history. They marked the end of the ancien régime in France, and set the stage for the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.