List of battles of the War of the First Coalition facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The War of the First Coalition was a big conflict in Europe that lasted from 1792 to 1797. It was fought between France and a group of European powers known as the First Coalition. This group included countries like Austria, Prussia, Great Britain, and Spain. They were worried about the French Revolution and wanted to stop its spread.

This list tells you about the important battles and sieges that happened during this war. A siege is when an army surrounds a city or fortress to try and capture it. A battle is a fight between two armies.

The war took place in many different areas:

The Low Countries, also known as the Flanders campaign (1792–1795).
The Rhine region (1792–1796), which included several campaigns.
Parts of Switzerland in April 1792.
The Italian campaigns (1792–1797).
Naval battles in the Mediterranean Sea.
The War of the Pyrenees (1793–1795) between France and Spain.
Naval and colonial battles overseas.
Important events in Paris that affected the French government.

However, this list does not include battles from other conflicts happening at the same time, like the War in the Vendée, the Chouannerie, the Haitian Revolution, or the East Indies theatre of the French Revolutionary Wars. These were separate conflicts and did not directly involve the First Coalition.

Key Battles and Events of the War
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Key Battles and Events of the War

This section highlights some of the most important battles and sieges from the War of the First Coalition. You'll see who fought, where it happened, and who won.

Early Clashes in 1792

The war began with several smaller battles, mainly in the Low Countries and near the Rhine River.

28 April 1792 – Capture of Porrentruy: In Switzerland, the French Kingdom won against the Habsburg Monarchy.
28 April 1792 – 1st Battle of Quiévrain: In Flanders, the French Kingdom won against the Habsburg Monarchy.
29 April 1792 – Battle of Marquain: In Flanders, the Coalition (Habsburg Monarchy) won against the French Kingdom.
30 April 1792 – 2nd Battle of Quiévrain: In Flanders, the Coalition won again.
10 August 1792 – Insurrection of 10 August 1792 (Storming of the Tuileries): In Paris, French Republicans won a key victory against French Royalists. King Louis XVI was captured during this event.
19 – 23 August 1792 – Capture of Longwy: Near the Rhine, the Kingdom of Prussia won against the French Kingdom.
29 August 1792 – Battle of Verdun (1792): Near the Rhine, the Kingdom of Prussia won against the French Kingdom.
20 September 1792 – Battle of Valmy: Near the Rhine, the French Kingdom won a big strategic victory against the Habsburg Monarchy and Prussia. After this battle, the French Republic was declared.
25 September – 8 October 1792 – Siege of Lille (1792): In Flanders, the French Republic won against the Habsburg Monarchy.
6 November 1792 – Battle of Jemappes: In Flanders, the French Republic won a very important victory against the Habsburg Monarchy.

Major Conflicts in 1793

The war intensified in 1793, with significant battles across multiple fronts.

6 February – 2 March 1793 – Siege of Maastricht (1793): In Flanders, the Coalition (Dutch Republic, Habsburg Monarchy, Prussia) won against the French Republic.
1 March 1793 – Battle of Aldenhoven (1793): In Flanders, the Habsburg Monarchy won a key victory against the French Republic.
18 March 1793 – Battle of Neerwinden (1793): In Flanders, the Coalition (Habsburg Monarchy, Dutch Republic) won a key victory against the French Republic.
14 April – 23 July 1793 – Siege of Mainz (1793): Near the Rhine, a large Coalition force won against the French Republic.
29 August – 19 December 1793 – Siege of Toulon: In the Mediterranean, the French Republic won a major victory against a Coalition force that included Great Britain, Spain, and French Royalists. This siege was an early success for Napoleon Bonaparte.
6 – 8 September 1793 – Battle of Hondschoote: In Flanders, the French Republic won against Great Britain and Hanover.
17 September 1793 – Battle of Peyrestortes: In the Pyrenees, the French Republic won against Spain.
15 – 16 October 1793 – Battle of Wattignies: In Flanders, the French Republic won against the Habsburg Monarchy and the Dutch Republic.
26 – 29 December 1793 – Second Battle of Wissembourg (1793): Near the Rhine, the French Republic won a strategic victory against the Habsburg Monarchy and Prussia.

Campaigns of 1794

Battles continued fiercely in 1794, with France gaining some ground.

5 February – 24 March 1794 – Battle of Martinique (1794): Overseas, Great Britain won against the French Republic.
7 February – 10 August 1794 – Invasion of Corsica (1794): In the Mediterranean, Great Britain won against the French Republic.
11 April – 10 December 1794 – Invasion of Guadeloupe (1794): Overseas, the French Republic won against Great Britain.
24 – 28 April 1794 – Second Battle of Saorgio (1794): In Italy, the French Republic won against the Habsburg Monarchy and Sardinia.
10 – 12 May 1794 – Battle of Courtrai (1794): In Flanders, the French Republic won against the Habsburg Monarchy and Great Britain.
18 May 1794 – Battle of Tourcoing: In Flanders, the French Republic won against the Habsburg Monarchy and Great Britain.
1 June 1794 – Glorious First of June: In the Atlantic, Great Britain won a tactical victory, but France achieved a strategic victory by protecting a vital convoy.
26 June 1794 – Battle of Fleurus (1794): In Flanders, the French Republic won a decisive victory against the Habsburg Monarchy, the Dutch Republic, and Great Britain. This battle was a turning point.
22 November 1794 – 7 June 1795 – Siege of Luxembourg (1794–95): In Flanders, the French Republic won a key victory, marking the end of the Flanders campaign.

Shifting Alliances in 1795

1795 saw some changes in the alliances and continued fighting.

24 January 1795 – Capture of the Dutch fleet at Den Helder: In Flanders, the French Republic and the Batavian Republic (a new French-allied state) won against the Dutch Republic.
14 March 1795 – Battle of Genoa (1795): In Italy, the Coalition (Great Britain, Naples) won against the French Republic.
23 June 1795 – Battle of Groix: Overseas, Great Britain won against the French Republic.
23 June – 21 July 1795 – Invasion of France (1795) (Battle of Quiberon): Overseas, the French Republic won against Great Britain and French Royalists.
5 October 1795 – 13 Vendémiaire: In Paris, French Republicans won a key victory against French Royalists.
23 – 24 November 1795 – Battle of Loano: In Italy, the French Republic won against the Habsburg Monarchy and Sardinia.

Napoleon's Rise in 1796

Napoleon Bonaparte became a major figure in the Italian campaigns of 1796, leading to significant French victories.

10 – 28 April 1796 – Montenotte campaign: In Italy, the French Republic, led by Napoleon, won a key victory against the Habsburg Monarchy and Sardinia. This led Sardinia to seek peace.
10 – 11 April 1796 – Battle of Montenotte: In Italy, the French Republic won.
13 – 14 April 1796 – Battle of Millesimo: In Italy, the French Republic won.
14 – 15 April 1796 – Second Battle of Dego: In Italy, the French Republic won.
21 April 1796 – Battle of Mondovì: In Italy, the French Republic won.
10 May 1796 – Battle of Lodi: In Italy, the French Republic won against the Habsburg Monarchy.
30 May 1796 – Battle of Borghetto: In Italy, the French Republic won.
4 July 1796 – 2 February 1797 – Siege of Mantua (1796–97): In Italy, the French Republic won against the Habsburg Monarchy.
5 July 1796 – Battle of Rastatt (1796): Near the Rhine, the French Republic won.
3 – 4 August 1796 – Battle of Lonato: In Italy, the French Republic won.
5 August 1796 – Battle of Castiglione: In Italy, the French Republic won.
3 September 1796 – Battle of Würzburg: Near the Rhine, the Habsburg Monarchy won a decisive victory against the French Republic.
4 September 1796 – Battle of Rovereto: In Italy, the French Republic won.
8 September 1796 – Battle of Bassano: In Italy, the French Republic won.
19 – 22 October 1796 – French reconquest of Corsica (1796): In the Mediterranean, the French Republic won against Great Britain.
15 – 17 November 1796 – Battle of Arcole: In Italy, the French Republic won a key battle against the Habsburg Monarchy.

Final Stages of the War in 1797

The war concluded in 1797 with more French victories, especially in Italy.

14 – 15 January 1797 – Battle of Rivoli: In Italy, the French Republic won a decisive victory against the Habsburg Monarchy.
22 – 24 February 1797 – Battle of Fishguard: In Britain, Great Britain won against the French Republic.
16 March 1797 – Battle of Tagliamento: In Italy, the French Republic won.
21 – 23 March 1797 – Battle of Tarvis (1797): In Italy, the French Republic won.
17 – 25 April 1797 – Veronese Easter: In Italy, the French Republic won against local rebels, leading to the fall of Venice.
18 April 1797 – Battle of Neuwied (1797): Near the Rhine, the French Republic won.
11 October 1797 – Battle of Camperdown: Overseas, Great Britain won a decisive victory against the Batavian Republic.

The War of the First Coalition officially ended on 18 October 1797.