Threats from outside France, stir threats inside.
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The Constituent Assembly closed on 30 September 1791- the
Legislative Assembly was formed in its place.
◦ Consisted of 745 deputies elected on high property qualification- rich men
 It was almost completely bourgeois, containing few nobles, 23 clergy
and no urban workers or peasants.
◦ Initially controlled by conservatives, yet radicals slowly gained control.
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Refractory priests
◦ Increasing resistance to reforms to the church, eg. 90% refusal rate (to take oath) in
the Vendee, south-west France.
◦ The assembly passed harsher laws
 They must take the oath of loyalty or lose their government pension
 Those who twice refuse were declared suspects- subjected to policy surveillance
and deported.
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Emigres
◦ Increased emigration of nobles- joined armies gathering on the borders of France.
 Some 6000 army officers had fled by late 1791- reduced French army by 60%
◦ Assembly introduced government by Terror- laws to intimidate the revolution’s
enemies.
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The Jacobin Club
◦ The Jacobins- devastated by its split with the moderate Feuillants- began
recovering under Robespierre’s leadership- their support growing within
the assembly influencing its radicalisation.
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The King
◦ The King took advantage of his veto power (outlined in the Constitution of
1791)- blocking radical laws against nobles and priests.
◦ This caused doubts about the King’s loyalty.
During 1791-1792, the revolution faced the new threat of foreign
intervention.
 Initially (1789) foreign leaders had hailed the beginning of
constitutional monarchy in France.
 Disturbed by the imprisonment of the royal family following the flight
to Varennes- Austrian Emperor Leopold II demanded their safety.
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◦ His Declaration of Pillnitz (27 August 1791) warned that the European
monarchies might restore Louis’ authority.
◦ The assembly ignored the Austrian-Prussian challenge.
His majesty the Emperor and His Majesty the King of Prussia...jointly declare that they regard the present position of His Majesty the King of
France as a matter of common concern to all the sovereigns of Europe. They trust that the powers whose aid is supplicated will not fail to
recognize this fact; and that, accordingly, they will not refuse to co-operate with their said Majesties in employing, in proportion to their
forces, the most effective means for enabling the King of France to consolidate with complete freedom the foundations of a monarchical
government, equally suited to the rights of sovereigns and the welfare of the French nation. In which case their said Majesties, the Emperor
and the King of Prussia, are resolved to act promptly, in mutual accord, with the forces necessary to attain the proposed common objective.
In the meantime, they will give their troops such orders as are necessary to have them ready for active service.
LEOPOLD FREDERICK WILLIAM, Pillnitz, 27 August 1791
Source: Mark Fielding and Margot Morcombe, The Spirit of
Change, France in Revolution, McGraw Hill, NSW, 2001.
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During late 1791- discussion of war as an instrument of revolution increased- people of political
persuasions saw war as a solution for the revolutions problems.
◦ Prevent foreign governments harbouring emigrated nobles
◦ Carry revolutionary freedoms to oppressed people across Europe
◦ King, nobles and priests would be forced to declare their loyalty
◦ Draw attention away from political divisions at home and unify people under shared
patriotism.
◦ The war also suited the King and Marie-Antoinette- allow foreign armies to invade France
and restore their power.
Only Robespierre and some Jacobins saw the danger.
 In March 1792 support for war inside the assembly
increased- as pro-war Girondans began controlling
important ministries.
 War was declared on Austria on 20 April 1792- patriotic
fervour indulged the assembly.
The National Assembly, deliberating upon the formal proposal of the King, considering that the Court of Vienna, in contempt of treaties,
has continued to grant open protection to the French rebels; that it has instigated and formed a concert with several European
powers against the independence and security of the French nation;
That Francis II [succeeded Leopold following his death in February 1792], King of Hungary and Bohemia has refused, by his notes of 18
March and 7 April last, to renounce such concert;
That, in spite of the proposal made to him in the note 11 March, 1792, to reduce the frontier troops of both sides to peace footing, he has
continued and augmented hostile preparations;
That he has formally attacked the sovereignty of the French nation by declaring his wish to support the pretensions of the German princes
owning lands in France, and to whom the French nation has continued to offer indemnities;
That he has sought to divide French citizens and arm them against one another by offering support to malcontents through the concert of
powers;
Finally, considering that his refusal to reply to the last dispatches of the King of the French leaves no hope of obtaining amicable
negotiations, the redress of these several grievances, and is equivalent to a declaration of war;
The National Assembly declares that the French nation, faithful to the principles consecrated by its Constitution not to undertake any war
with a view to making conquests, and never to employ its forces against liberty of any people, takes arms only to maintain its liberty
and independence...
Source: Mark Fielding and Margot Morcombe, The Spirit of Change, France in Revolution, McGraw Hill, NSW, 2001.
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The ‘Grand Coalition against France’, included Austria, Prussia, Spain, England and
Russia
The initial optimism towards the war was ill-founded – France suffered one defeat
after another.
Austria and Prussia had strong armies- while the French revolutionary armies were
inexperienced.
◦ When the French Army advanced into the Netherlands (29 April 1792), it retreated into
panic to Lille- murdering their own commander.
◦ By May 1792, defeat was common, the three commanders of the French armies
recommended peace.
◦ Meanwhile the Austrian/Prussian armies invaded France- possibility that the revolution
might be crushed by foreign soldiers.
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Reports of defeat in the war created panic in France- this soon led to accusations.
People condemned the Brissotins and Girondans for starting the war.
Rumours spread of the king betraying military secrets to the enemy.
The King and his commanders were accused of betrayal- there was a growing fear that they may lead a
coup d’etat.
Counter-revolutionary activity began to increase in the provinces.
Foreigners in Paris were placed under surveillance.
The assembly ordered 20,000 National Guards into France to safeguard the revolution- yet the King
vetoed this measure- increasing suspicion.
Radicalism continued to increase.
Lafayette ordered the Assembly to curb the radical clubs- leading to suspicion that he may now lead a
coup.
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Response to tensions in Paris
The popular movement now began to demonstrate their power.
◦ They began criticising the active/passive citizens division- municipal meetings began admitting passive
citizens (working people) into their meetings.
◦ They declared those carrying pikes as the true defenders of the revolution.
◦ On the anniversary of the Tennis Court Oath 20th June- a demonstration was declared to defend the
revolution from its enemies (Lafayette and the King).
 The radical Cordeliers Club mobilised 8000 working people and radical National Guard
 They marched first to the Legislative Assembly parading a calf’s heart impaled on a pike, labelled ‘The Heart of
an Aristocrat’- the assembly sat in silence for three hours- helpless.
 They then invaded the Tuilleries Palace- surrounding Louis, making him wear a red bonnet and toast the
nation- they demanded the end of Louis’ veto power- Louis refused- the crowd withdrew.
◦ This insurrection made the Girondins more conservative and the Jacobins more radical.
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The National Guard was now opened to working people- stating that due to the
emergency situation anyone who possessed a pike would be useful to defend
the capital.
11 July 1792, the Assembly declared the homeland in danger, or a total war
emergency.
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25 July, 1792
Duke of Brunswick, Commanding Officer of the Austrian-Prussian armies
Issues a manifesto declaring his support for the restoration of the French
monarchy to its full ‘liberty’
Threatening retribution and ‘exemplary and ever-memorable vengeance’ on
the people of Paris should anything happen to the royal family.
Provided revolutionary republicans with proof of the treachery of the king
Sealed the fate of King Louis XVI and the French monarchy.
To these noble interests is added another aim equally important and very close to the hearts of the two sovereigns, - namely, to put an end to the anarchy in the interior
of France, to check the attacks upon the throne and the altar, to reestablish the legal power, to restore to the king the security and the liberty of which he is now
deprived and to place him in a position to exercise once more the legitimate authority which belongs to him.
Convinced that the sane portion of the French nation abhors the excesses of the faction which dominates it, and that the majority of the people look forward with
impatience to the time when they may declare themselves openly against the odious enterprises of their oppressors, his Majesty the emperor and his Majesty the
king of Prussia call upon them and invite them to return without delay to the path of reason, justice, order, and peace. In accordance with these views, I, the
undersigned, the commander in chief of the two armies, declare :
1. That, drawn into this war by irresistible circumstances, the two allied courts entertain no other aims than the welfare of France, and have no intention of enriching
themselves by conquests.
2. That they do not propose to meddle in the internal government of France, and that they merely wish to deliver the king, the queen, and the royal family from their
captivity, and procure for his Most Christian Majesty the necessary security to enable him, without danger or hindrance, to make such engagements as he shall see
fit, and to work for the welfare of his subjects, according to his pledges.
8. The city of Paris and all its inhabitants without distinction shall be required to submit at once and without delay to the king, to place that prince in full and
complete liberty, and to assure to him, as well as to the other royal personages, the inviolability and respect which the law of nature and of nations demands of
subjects toward sovereigns.; their Imperial and Royal Majesties hold all the members of the National Assembly, of the department, district, municipality, and
National Guard of Paris, the justices of the peace, and all other concerned personally responsible with their lives for whatever may happen, to be punished by
military law, without hope of pardon. Their said majesties further declare, on their word of honor as emperor and king, that if the chateau of the Tuileries is
entered by force or attacked, if the least violence be offered to their Majesties the king, queen, and royal family, and if their safety and their liberty be not
immediately assured, they will inflict an ever memorable vengeance by delivering over the city of Paris to military execution and complete destruction, and the
rebels guilty of the said outrages to the punishments they deserve.
Given at the headquarters at Coblenz, July 25, 1792.
CHARLES WILLIAM FERDINAND, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg
Source: Mark Fielding and Margot Morcombe, The Spirit of
Change, France in Revolution, McGraw Hill, NSW, 2001.
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The greatest challenge to the government was the radical popular movement.
Under the influence of the Jacobins, the municipal government of Paris was
transformed into a permanent public meeting for the workers excluded from the
national assemblies.
These became very radical with 47 out of 48 units demanding the deposition of
the King.
They planned a demonstration against the King for 10 August.
On the 9 August, they replaced the Paris Commune with the Insurrectionary
Commune.
Member ship was heavily working-class, artisans outnumbering bourgeois two to
one.
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By 10 August the Insurrectionary Commune had 20,000 people in the streets.
◦ Included, 400 volunteers from Marseilles and national Guard from the rest of
France
◦ Included a broad spectrum of classes.
◦ Less than 50% ordinary wage earners.
At the Tuilleries Palace Louis has only 900 mercenary Swiss guards, another 700
royalist volunteers and 2000
National Guards whose loyalty was
doubtful.
The King fled with his family to
the Legislative Assembly.
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At the palace the National Guards joined the demonstrators and they asked the Swiss
troops to surrender- they refused and began firing on the crowd.
The crowd surged the palace, murdering servants and Swiss guards.
Some were decapitated and their heads impaled on pikes, others thrown from
windows while still dying, and naked bodies of Swiss guards were dragged away for
further desecration.
About 300 defenders were killed in the actual fighting, while another 500 Swiss
guard were slaughtered in cold blood.
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The second revolution was an attack on both the monarchy and the Legislative
Assembly.
The Assembly was then forced to enact the Insurrectionary Commune’s
demands – the agenda of the working-class
It suspended the King, but did not depose him- leaving that to the next
assembly to decide – establishing an interim government.
It then created the National Convention.
The storming of the Tuilleries signalled the beginning of the terror in the
revolution.