The Declaration of War 20th April 1792

The monarchs of Europe had looked on with increasing concern at the events unfolding in France.  None more so than the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II who worried for his sister Marie Antoinette. As emigres flooded across the borders away from France more tales of the rapid erosion of traditional society.  They worried that the Revolution may spread to their own realms and upset their place.  They did not want war as yet despite issuing the Declaration of Pillnitz in August 1791.  In France this was seen as a threatening manoeuvre in the first steps towards a European wide counter revolution.

Girondin ministers such as Brissot clamoured for action.  Some believing that only a war would consolidate the gains of the revolution.  An ultimatum was sent to Austria demanding they withdraw their troops from France’s borders.  When the response was not quite to their liking the Assembly voted and declared war on 20th April 1792.  The swift victory they expected and the rising of fellow revolutionaries across Europe did not transpire.

Marat the on debate concerning the declaration of war.  Taken from Jean Paul Marat: The People’s Friend by Ernest Belfort Bax, Grant Richards, London (1901) p173-174

"The war, will it take place? Everybody is for it. We are assured that it is the opinion that has prevailed in the Cabinet, after the representations of Sieur Mottier (Gilbert Mottier, Marquis de Lafayette), who without doubt has given it as the only way of distracting the nation from internal matters by occupying it with foreign affairs ; making it drown home troubles in the news of the gazettes, wasting the national wealth in military preparations, crushing the State under the burden of taxes, killing the patriots of the army of the line and of the citizen army, leading them to slaughter under the pretext of defending the frontiers of the empire.  If the war takes place, whatever may be the bravery of the defenders of liberty, one need not be an eagle to foresee that our armies will be overwhelmed in the first campaign. I imagine that the second will be less disastrous, and that the third may even be glorious, for it is impossible that we should not gain some instruction at our own cost.  

Madam De La Tour Du Pin on the Declaration of War and its implications.   Taken from Escape from the Terror The Journal of Madam De La Tour Du Pin, The Folio Society, London (1979) p129

I am convince if war had not been declared and if the emigres had returned, as the king seemed to wish, the excesses of the Revolution would have been over.  But the king and queen believed in the good faith of the European powers.  There was mutual misunderstanding but France lived on and won glory in the defence of her territory.

Lord Gower British Ambassador on the possibility of war between Austria and France in March 1792.  Taken from Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London (1989) p159

If this ministry should continue, and there is every reason to suppose it will, as it is supported by the majority, comprehending the most active and ardent of the people, war will be inevitable, however ill prepared this country may be for it.  It is true that they are not in want of men… but real soldiers will undoubtedly be scarce.

The Marquis de Bouille discusses hearing the French declaration of War against Austria .  Taken from Memoirs Relating to the French Revolution by the Marquis de Bouille, Cadell and Davies, London (1797) p459

You are very happy that the French are the aggressors, otherwise, you would have had no war." This prince (the Swedish King whom he was in correspondence with), as well as myself, regarded a war as absolutely necessary, not only for the purpose of re-establishing order in France, but, likewise, to preserve the general tranquility of Europe, through every part of which the Jacobins disseminated their principles, whose dangerous tendency soon appeared, as revolutions began already to be apprehended in the neighbouring states.

Barère on the declaration of war against Austria.  Taken from Memoirs of Bertrand Barère Volume 2, H. S. Nichols, London (1896) p11

The Jacobins were firmly opposed to war, while the Girondins of the Legislative Assembly urgently demanded it. Brissot, a deputy, and Dumouriez, who was then Minister for Foreign Affairs, were the first to call for war against Austria. To them Robespierre and the Jacobins replied: "Before declaring war against Europe overthrow the Court and appoint new generals." How did they answer us ? They made excuses for the Court, and it was objected that to speak ill of Lafayette and the generals would be to disturb military discipline and to serve the enemies of the country. It was pointed out to us that all nations, especially Belgium, were ready to join the French, and we were shown the standard of liberty floating over the palaces of kings.

Lord Gower British Ambassador on the Assembly’s hopes for the coming war.  Taken from Witnesses to the Revolution American and British Commentators in France 1788-1794, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London (1989) p160

I find it to be a very general notion, at least in the Assembly, that if France can preserve neutrality with England she will be able to cope with all the rest of Europe united.  This notion is encouraged by a persuasion that the influence of Jacobinism and an inoculation of their principles will occasion an insurrection, which according to their language is “le plus saint des devoirs” (the most sacred of duties), in every country whose government shall dare to oppose them in arms.

The Generals seem to place their greatest confidence in the desertion of the enemy’s forces.  Corruption of every sort and in every manner is employed without reserve, and this mode of making war seems to be the boast of the Assembly as well as of the ministry.