Editing War of the First Coalition (section)

==Background==
===Revolution in France===
{{main|French Revolution}}

As early as 1791, other monarchies in Europe were watching the developments in France with alarm, and considered intervening, either in support of [[Louis XVI]] or to take advantage of the chaos in France. The key figure, the [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor|Leopold II]], brother of the French Queen [[Marie Antoinette]], had initially looked on the [[French Revolution|Revolution]] calmly. He became increasingly concerned as the Revolution grew more radical, although he still hoped to avoid war.

On 27 August 1791, Leopold and King [[Frederick William II of Prussia]], in consultation with ''[[émigré]]'' French nobles, issued the [[Declaration of Pillnitz]], which declared the concern of the monarchs of Europe for the well-being of Louis and his family, and threatened vague but severe consequences if anything should befall them. Although Leopold saw the Pillnitz Declaration as a way of taking action that would enable him to avoid actually doing anything about France, at least for the moment, Paris saw the Declaration as a serious threat and the revolutionary leaders denounced it.{{sfn|Holland|1911|loc=The king and the nonjurors}}

In addition to the ideological differences between France and the monarchical powers of Europe, disputes continued over the status of Imperial estates in [[Alsace]],{{sfn|Holland|1911|loc=The king and the nonjurors}} and the French authorities became concerned about the agitation of ''émigré'' nobles abroad, especially in the Austrian Netherlands and in the minor states of Germany. In the end, France declared war on Austria first, with the Assembly voting for war on 20 April 1792, after the presentation of a long list of grievances by the newly appointed foreign minister [[Charles François Dumouriez]], who sought a war which might restore some popularity and authority to the King.{{sfn|Holland|1911|loc=War declared against Austria}}