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Foreign News
February 21, 1806
Virginia Argus
Richmond, Virginia
What is this article about?
Emperor Francis of Austria issues a declaration from Brunn on Nov. 13, expressing desire for peace with France but rejecting Napoleon's armistice demands that include evacuation of Venice, Tyrol, and disbanding Hungarian levies, reaffirming alliance with Russia and Prussia.
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IMPORTANT STATE PAPER.
Declaration of the Emperor Francis.
BRUNN, Nov. 13.
By the special order of his majesty the emperor and king who has for some days honored our town with his presence, the following notice has been published by the Resident of Police, the Baron Van Swieten:—
PROCLAMATION.
"His majesty the emperor and king had never a higher wish than the maintenance of peace. This wish lay in the principle of his government as well as in his heart. Without any, even the most distant project of enlarging his states, or of procuring an indemnification for the sacrifices he had made at Luneville and Ransbon to the tranquility of Europe, he desired nothing but that the emperor of France, actuated by a similar spirit of enlightened & humane policy, should return within the limits prescribed by the treaty of Luneville.
Whoever with a clear understanding took an interest in the fate of Europe, felt the justice and moderation of this desire.
"True to his principles, his majesty, in the progress of the present war, was ready every moment to hold out his hand to peace and amid the most brilliant victories, he would have thought and acted in the same way as under the influence of contrary occurrences.
"His majesty believed that the great and happy moment of this reconciliation, and of returning happiness to his people, was not far distant, when the emperor of France, on several occasions, publicly manifested corresponding dispositions, and expressed himself with precision in the same spirit to Austrian general officers, whom the fortune of war had made prisoners.
Full of confidence in such manifestations, and animated by an earnest wish to avert the approaching danger from the capital of Vienna, so dear to his heart, and in general, to free his good and faithful subjects from the pressure of a longer war, his majesty sent his lieut. field marshal, the count de Giulay, to the head quarters of the French emperor, in the name of himself and his allies, to obtain a confirmation of these pacific dispositions, to learn the further overtures which the emperor Napoleon might make on this occasion, and to treat for an armistice as preparatory to negociations for a general peace.
"But the hopes of his majesty were not fulfilled. As the basis of an armistice, limited to a few weeks, the emperor of France demanded,
"That the allied troops should return home; that the Hungarian levies should be disbanded; and that the duchy of Venice and the Tyrol, should be previously evacuated to the French armies.
"All Europe will feel the inconsistency between such demands, and the foregoing manifestations of the emperor.
His majesty the emperor and king had, by this first step, fulfilled a sacred duty which his heart had dictated.
"But he should have thought himself grievously injuring himself, the honor of his monarchy, the dignity of his house, the reputation of the good and great nation over which he rules, and the highest interests of the states, in the eyes both of the present and of future generations, if notwithstanding the duty incumbent on him to preserve all these entire, he had yielded to the severe but passing, pressure of the moment, and assented to conditions which would have been a death blow to his monarchy, and a breach of the relation in which he stood with all friendly states.
"His majesty wished for peace:—he wishes for it still, with sincerity and earnestness. But he never could, and never will, place himself in a defenceless state, where he and his people would be delivered over to the imperious and arbitrary decisions of a mighty foe.
"In such circumstances, nothing remains to his majesty, but to cleave to those great and unexhausted resources which he finds in the hearts, in the prosperity, in the loyalty, in the strength of his people: and in the as yet undiminished force of his high allies and friends, the emperor of Russia, and king of Prussia, and to persist in this firm and intimate connection till the emperor of the French, with that moderation which is the brightest gem in the crown of a great monarch, consents to conditions of peace which are not purchased by a sacrifice of the national honor and independence of a mighty state."
Declaration of the Emperor Francis.
BRUNN, Nov. 13.
By the special order of his majesty the emperor and king who has for some days honored our town with his presence, the following notice has been published by the Resident of Police, the Baron Van Swieten:—
PROCLAMATION.
"His majesty the emperor and king had never a higher wish than the maintenance of peace. This wish lay in the principle of his government as well as in his heart. Without any, even the most distant project of enlarging his states, or of procuring an indemnification for the sacrifices he had made at Luneville and Ransbon to the tranquility of Europe, he desired nothing but that the emperor of France, actuated by a similar spirit of enlightened & humane policy, should return within the limits prescribed by the treaty of Luneville.
Whoever with a clear understanding took an interest in the fate of Europe, felt the justice and moderation of this desire.
"True to his principles, his majesty, in the progress of the present war, was ready every moment to hold out his hand to peace and amid the most brilliant victories, he would have thought and acted in the same way as under the influence of contrary occurrences.
"His majesty believed that the great and happy moment of this reconciliation, and of returning happiness to his people, was not far distant, when the emperor of France, on several occasions, publicly manifested corresponding dispositions, and expressed himself with precision in the same spirit to Austrian general officers, whom the fortune of war had made prisoners.
Full of confidence in such manifestations, and animated by an earnest wish to avert the approaching danger from the capital of Vienna, so dear to his heart, and in general, to free his good and faithful subjects from the pressure of a longer war, his majesty sent his lieut. field marshal, the count de Giulay, to the head quarters of the French emperor, in the name of himself and his allies, to obtain a confirmation of these pacific dispositions, to learn the further overtures which the emperor Napoleon might make on this occasion, and to treat for an armistice as preparatory to negociations for a general peace.
"But the hopes of his majesty were not fulfilled. As the basis of an armistice, limited to a few weeks, the emperor of France demanded,
"That the allied troops should return home; that the Hungarian levies should be disbanded; and that the duchy of Venice and the Tyrol, should be previously evacuated to the French armies.
"All Europe will feel the inconsistency between such demands, and the foregoing manifestations of the emperor.
His majesty the emperor and king had, by this first step, fulfilled a sacred duty which his heart had dictated.
"But he should have thought himself grievously injuring himself, the honor of his monarchy, the dignity of his house, the reputation of the good and great nation over which he rules, and the highest interests of the states, in the eyes both of the present and of future generations, if notwithstanding the duty incumbent on him to preserve all these entire, he had yielded to the severe but passing, pressure of the moment, and assented to conditions which would have been a death blow to his monarchy, and a breach of the relation in which he stood with all friendly states.
"His majesty wished for peace:—he wishes for it still, with sincerity and earnestness. But he never could, and never will, place himself in a defenceless state, where he and his people would be delivered over to the imperious and arbitrary decisions of a mighty foe.
"In such circumstances, nothing remains to his majesty, but to cleave to those great and unexhausted resources which he finds in the hearts, in the prosperity, in the loyalty, in the strength of his people: and in the as yet undiminished force of his high allies and friends, the emperor of Russia, and king of Prussia, and to persist in this firm and intimate connection till the emperor of the French, with that moderation which is the brightest gem in the crown of a great monarch, consents to conditions of peace which are not purchased by a sacrifice of the national honor and independence of a mighty state."
What sub-type of article is it?
Diplomatic
War Report
What keywords are associated?
Peace Negotiations
Armistice Demands
Austrian Declaration
Napoleonic Wars
Venice Evacuation
Tyrol
Russian Alliance
What entities or persons were involved?
Emperor Francis
Emperor Of France
Count De Giulay
Baron Van Swieten
Emperor Of Russia
King Of Prussia
Where did it happen?
Brunn
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Brunn
Event Date
Nov. 13
Key Persons
Emperor Francis
Emperor Of France
Count De Giulay
Baron Van Swieten
Emperor Of Russia
King Of Prussia
Outcome
rejection of french armistice demands including evacuation of venice and tyrol, disbanding hungarian levies, and allied troop withdrawal; reaffirmation of alliances with russia and prussia for continued resistance until honorable peace terms.
Event Details
Emperor Francis declares his sincere desire for peace and recounts sending Count de Giulay to Napoleon's headquarters to negotiate an armistice based on French assurances, but rejects the demanded conditions as inconsistent and dishonorable, vowing to rely on his people and allies rather than submit.