Alfred de Besancenet
This historical work presents a documentary-style account of French Revolutionary military and political affairs during the period of the Directory and late Convention, focusing on the campaigns of 1796–1797 and the internal political crisis surrounding the coup d’État of 18 Fructidor (1797).
Structured as a “general’s portfolio,” the book combines narrative history with archival material to illustrate both military operations and the political environment in which French Revolutionary armies operated. It covers the activities of the Army of Germany (Armée d’Allemagne) and the proposed Army of England (Armée d’Angleterre), two major formations central to French strategic planning during this phase of the Revolutionary Wars.
A significant portion of the work examines the 1796 Rhine campaign, where French forces operated against Austrian and Coalition armies in Germany. It describes troop movements, command decisions, and the broader coordination (and occasional lack thereof) between French field armies operating across multiple fronts.
The book also addresses the political instability of the Directory period, especially the Fructidor coup of 1797, which reshaped the French government and had direct consequences for military leadership and strategy. It highlights how political decisions in Paris influenced army command structures and operational planning in the field.
While the focus is on French internal and external operations, the broader context includes Coalition forces in Germany and the Rhine theater, where Austrian and various German contingents—including Hessian units in broader Coalition service—participated in opposing French armies.
