Declaration of Pillnitz
| Declaration of Pillnitz |
| The Declaration of Pillnitz on August 27, 1791, was a statement issued at the Castle of Pillnitz in Saxony (south of Dresden) by the Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II and Frederick William II of Prussia. Calling on European powers to intervene if Louis XVI of France was threatened, this declaration was intended to serve as a warning to the French revolutionaries not to infringe further on the rights of Louis XVI and to allow his restoration to power. The statement helped begin the French Revolutionary Wars.— Excerpted from Declaration of Pillnitz on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. |
His Majesty the Emperor and his Majesty the king of Prussia, having given attention to the wishes and representations of Monsieur, and of Monsieur le Comte d'Artois, jointly declare that they regard the present situation of his Majesty the king of France as a matter of common interest to all the sovereigns of Europe. They trust that this interest will not fail to be recognized by the powers, whose aid is solicited; and that in consequence they will not refuse to employ, in conjunction with their said majesties, the most efficient means, in proportion to their resources, to place the king of France in a position to establish, with the most absolute freedom, the foundations of a monarchical form of government, which shall at once be in harmony with the rights of sovereigns and promote the welfare of the French nation. In that case their said majesties the emperor and the king of Prussia are resolved to act promptly and in common accord with the forces necessary to obtain the desired common end.
In the meantime they will give such orders to their troops as are necessary in order that these may be ready to be called into active service.
LEOPOLD.
FREDERICK WILLIAM.
PILLNITZ, August 27, 1791
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This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. |
