CHAPTER XXV THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND THE FRENCH REPUBLIC The French States-General met in May 1789. In April 1792 France declared war against Austria ; and from that time until the midsummer of 181 5 she was always at war with i t The Era one power and often with many, except for four- of Convulsion, teen months during 1802-3, and for twelve months in 1 814-15. Throughout this period of twenty-six years, French affairs over- shadow those of the rest of Europe ; they are the pivot on which nearly all European questions turn. We shall therefore open this chapter with some preliminary explanations, chiefly as to extraneous matters, in order to avoid interrupting the course of the narrative. In Prussia Frederick the Great had already been succeeded by his nephew Frederick William 11., a prince lacking both in energy and in ability, who reigned till 1797. In The European Russia, Catharine it. was still Tsarina, her reign Powers, lasting till the end of 1795. Her interests were concerned mainly with Turkey and Poland, and her proceedings necessarily affected both Prussia and Austria and the mutual relations of those powers. Joseph II. was still emperor. Early in 1790 he was succeeded by his very able brother Leopold 11. ; but Leopold reigned for barely two years, and his successor Francis 11. was not of the calibre to make an efficient leader for Europe. He reigned throughout the period. In England George in. was king. The British Empire had been torn in two, and one portion of it had become the American nation in 1783; but from that time till the end of the century, and in 347
