War of the Second Coalition

The War of the Second Coalition ran from 1798 to 1802 and was the second major war between revolutionary France and a league of European monarchies. Britain, Austria and Russia led the coalition, joined by the Ottoman Empire, Portugal, Naples and several German states, while Prussia stayed out and Spain supported France. Britain and Russia wanted to halt French expansion and restore the monarchy, and Austria hoped to recover ground lost in the previous war. In the first half the allies drove the French back in Italy, Germany and Holland but could not invade France or win a decisive battle. In the second half Napoleon and Moreau won major victories and most of the coalition was defeated. Differences in allied strategy helped the French, and the Treaty of Lunéville in February 1801 confirmed French gains and gave Austria Venetia. The sources report casualties by side, including 79,000 Habsburg troops killed in combat.