Austria and the French Revolution

As the French Revolution began, French nobility fled their tumultuous homeland. Most of this nobility, known as emigres, went to live in Austria. Furthermore, they prompted Austria to put an end to the revolution at home. Thus, Austria signed the Declaration of Pillnitz in 1791. It stated that if other nations were to invade France that Austria would help these other nations. France, seeing Austria's move as obvious opposition, took the declaration as a sort of declaration of war. Prussia allied with Austria in their quest for a balance of power against Napoleon and his empire.