France Invades Belgium: The Revolutionary Wars Erupt
France declared war on Austria on April 20, 1792, and French troops crossed into the Austrian Netherlands on April 28, beginning what would become two decades of continental warfare. The initial campaign was disastrous: French soldiers, poorly trained and led by officers of questionable loyalty, broke and fled at the first encounter near Tournai. General Theobald Dillon was murdered by his own troops during the retreat. The failures were exploited by revolutionary factions in Paris, who blamed treasonous generals and the royal court. The early defeats radicalized French politics, leading to the September Massacres, the abolition of the monarchy, and the execution of Louis XVI. The wars continued in various coalitions until Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo in 1815.
April 28, 1792
234 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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