Cüstine und die Erstürmung Frankfurt's am Main durch die Hessen im Jahre 1792

Adam Philippe, Comte de Cüstine 

Cüstine und die Erstürmung Frankfurt's am Main durch die Hessen im Jahre 1792

Cüstine und die Erstürmung Frankfurt’s am Main durch die Hessen im Jahre 1792 is a 19th-century historical study that examines the capture of Frankfurt am Main during the early phase of the French Revolutionary Wars, focusing on the role of Hessian forces from the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel and the opposing French command under General Adam Philippe, Comte de Custine.

The work centers on the military and strategic events of 1792, when French revolutionary armies advanced into the German states and occupied key cities along the Rhine. Frankfurt am Main, an important imperial city, became a focal point of these operations and subsequent counteractions. The author describes how Hessian troops participated in the effort to retake or secure the city in response to French military pressure.

A significant portion of the study is devoted to the interaction between Custine’s forces and the opposing German contingents, analyzing command decisions, troop movements, and the shifting control of territory during the campaign. The narrative typically emphasizes operational detail, including the deployment of infantry units, urban security measures, and the logistical challenges of conducting military operations in and around Frankfurt.

The Hessian perspective is presented through the lens of their role as a disciplined regional force within the broader coalition opposing Revolutionary France. The work highlights their contribution to defensive and offensive operations in the Rhineland theater, situating them within the wider framework of German state military cooperation during the conflict.

Epilogue: 

When Custine and his French Revolutionary Army were forced to withdraw from Frankfurt by the Prussian army, and later failed to take offensive action against Austrian forces in northern France, he came under suspicion of treason. He was accused of having conspired with the enemies of the French Republic.

Custine was subsequently brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal in Paris, a court established to try individuals accused of crimes against the state during the Revolution. He was found guilty of treasonable conduct and sentenced to death by guillotine. The Comte de Custine was executed on August 28, 1793.

Extracted From:

Deutsche Kulturbilder aus dem achtzehnten Jahrhundert: nebsteinem Anhang, Goethe als Rechtsanwalt. Georg Ludwig Kriegk, 1874.

Deutsche Kulturbilder aus dem achtzehnten Jahrhundert: nebst einem Anhang, Goethe als Rechtsanwalt by Georg Ludwig Kriegk, published in 1874, is a cultural and social historical study of 18th-century German life. Rather than focusing on political or military events alone, the work reconstructs everyday society, institutions, and intellectual culture in the German states during the Enlightenment period.

The main section, “Kulturbilder” (“cultural images”), presents a series of essays or case studies illustrating aspects of German society in the 1700s. These typically include discussions of urban life, legal practice, administration, education, and social customs. Kriegk’s approach is descriptive and interpretive, aiming to capture the lived cultural environment of the period rather than provide a strict chronological narrative.

A notable feature of the book is its attention to legal and administrative culture, reflecting the importance of law, bureaucracy, and civic institutions in late 18th-century German territories. This includes depictions of court procedures, professional roles, and the functioning of local governance within the fragmented political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire.

The appendix, “Goethe als Rechtsanwalt”, focuses on the early legal career of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, examining his activities as a practicing lawyer in Frankfurt. This section uses Goethe’s experience as a lens through which to explore the broader functioning of legal practice and intellectual life in the period, blending biography with cultural history.