The
French Revolutionary Wars were a series of sweeping military conflicts, lasting from 1792 until 1802, resulting from the
French Revolution. Primarily fought between the
French First Republic and several European monarchies, they are traditionally divided in two periods: the
War of the First Coalition (1792–1797) and the
War of the Second Coalition (1798–1802). Initially confined to Europe, the wars gradually assumed a global dimension as the political ambitions of the Revolution expanded. After a decade of constant warfare and aggressive diplomacy, France had succeeded in seizing and conquering a wide array of territories, from the
Italian Peninsula and the
Low Countries in Europe to the
Louisiana Territory in North America. French success in these conflicts ensured the spread of revolutionary principles over much of Europe and the Middle East. The wars also led to the rebirth of professional armies and the emergence of
total war, which defined all future modern conflicts.