France

UNITED IRISHMEN AND FRANCEFinal way of mobilising challenge to

the state - military assistance

Revolutionary regime initially pacifist

1792 - at war with Austria

1793 - at war with Britain

Exporting revolution - republics in Netherlands, Italy

Revolutionary regime initially pacifist

1792 - at war with Austria

1793 - at war with Britain

Exporting revolution - republics in Netherlands, Italy

Civil war in Vendée - royalist Catholic opposition - with British aid

FRENCH INVASION?

• Not a new consideration

• 1760 - French land in Carrickfergus

• 1788 - French fleet off Cork

UNITED IRISH EMISSARIES TO FRANCE

• Continuous presence

• Wolfe Tone in Paris from April 1796


Disadvantages

• Different priorities - French want Irish to rise first, Irish want French landing first


Disadvantages

• Different priorities - French want Irish to rise first, Irish want French landing first

• Other competing countries - Poland, Netherlands


Advantages

• Support of 2 figures

• Lazare Carnot - member of Directory

• Lazare Hoche - most prominent soldier

• Both had fought in Vendée - wanted attack on Britain

HOCHE’S EXPEDITION, DECEMBER 1796 • sailed from Brest

• 15,000 men – another 15,000 in reserve

• Tone on board

• Escaped British blockade

HOCHE’S EXPEDITION, DECEMBER 1796 • Scattered by storms

• Part of fleet reached Bantry Bay

HOCHE’S EXPEDITION, DECEMBER 1796 • Scattered by storms

• Part of fleet reached Bantry Bay

• No Hoche, no landing

• Fleet returned to France, 1/3 sunk, 5,000 soldiers drowned

CONSTERNATION IN IRELAND

NO DEFENCES IN CORK

MAJOR RECRUITMENT TO UNITED IRISHMEN

STATE MOVES INTO FULL COUNTER-INSURGENCY MODE

FRANCE AFTER 1796

• Hoche fighting in Germany

• Prepare fleet in Netherlands summer 1797 - invasion of Ulster

• Blockade successful

• Death of Hoche

• Removal of Carnot in coup, Sept. 1797

Rebellion in Ireland, summer 1798

Took French by surprise

Prepared fleets - Brest 4,000 soldiers, Rochefort 1,000 soldiers

Rochefort force lands in Mayo August 1798 - General Humbert

Humbert expedition

Local recruits armed

Castlebar taken

‘Republic of Connaught’

Waited a week - set off for Ulster

Humbert expedition

Local recruits armed

Castlebar taken

‘Republic of Connaught’

Waited a week - set off for Ulster

Met larger army in Ballinamuck - surrendered

French force repatriated - Irish volunteers killed

• Force from Brest sails Sept. 1798

• Intercepted by British navy off Donegal

• Tone captured

• Death of Tone

REASONS FOR FAILURE

• Ireland low in French priorities - fighting on multiple fronts - Germany, Italy, Egypt

• Possibility of invading Britain directly

• Superiority of British navy• Warships 120/55, Other craft 400/65

REASONS FOR FAILURE

• Dilemna of United Irishmen• Exaggerated numbers - French

commit proportionately less

IF FRENCH INVASION HAD SUCCEEDED?Short term• Instructions to Humbert: establish

governmental structures, appoint Irish men

Independent Irish republic?Not the experience elsewhere -

Frenchmen in charge of continental republics

IF FRENCH INVASION HAD SUCCEEDED?Longer term:

End of war with Britain Probably returned to BritainRepression, Act of Union

Documents

France