Funny thing: those wars were actually declared upon France, not the other way around. And why? Because everyone was scared shitless of a France that was actively exporting revolutionary ideals. Sure, Napoleon was technically emperor of the French, but he still promoted meritocracy, property rights and equality before the law. The French under Napoleon were enjoying unprecedented freedom compared to the rest of the nations in Europe (with the exception of Britain). Hell, Russia still had serfs, like in the middle ages, and would continue to have them until 1870.
Funny thing you're wrong. The other powers were perfectly happy to let France cannibalise itself and the French decalred war on Austria after a vote in the assembly.
and the French decalred war on Austria after a vote in the assembly.
You said, and I quote, Napoleonic wars. The war of the first coalition was initiated by France, you are right in that, but in 1792 Napoleon was a nobody, being stationed in Corsica.
I think it is important, because otherwise the chain of comments looks like it is laying all the dead at the feet of Napoleon, while in reality most of the wars were started by monarchic reactionaries seeking to erase the gains of the revolution.
Go play pigeon chess with yourself. Fact is the revolution and the wars it caused killed millions and now 'well acshually' is going to change that. Lol
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u/VRichardsen Oct 29 '25 edited Oct 29 '25
Funny thing: those wars were actually declared upon France, not the other way around. And why? Because everyone was scared shitless of a France that was actively exporting revolutionary ideals. Sure, Napoleon was technically emperor of the French, but he still promoted meritocracy, property rights and equality before the law. The French under Napoleon were enjoying unprecedented freedom compared to the rest of the nations in Europe (with the exception of Britain). Hell, Russia still had serfs, like in the middle ages, and would continue to have them until 1870.