Treaty of Defensive Alliance between Russia and the Two Siciliescated delineation of the new Franco-Prussian border and
declared that the territory surrounding this border would
remain neutral.
2.1112 Triple Alliance among Austria, Great
Britain, and Russia
Alliance Members:Austria, Great Britain, and Russia
Signed On:September 17, 1795, in the city of St. Petersburg
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 52, p. 481.
SUMMARY
Prussia’s vow of neutrality and Spain’s defeat to France in the War of
the Pyrenees left a void in the allied powers during the First Coalition
of the French Revolutionary Wars. To compensate, Austria and Great
Britain courted Russia, resulting in the Triple Alliance of St. Petersburg
in September 1795. Almost immediately, however, a string of French
victories in Italy and Austria forced Austria to make peace with France
in 1797. Russia never became involved in the First Coalition.
Russia did participate in the Second Coalition of the French Revolu-
tionary Wars that started in 1798. The Russian general, Alexander
Suvorov, led a military campaign in Italy that successfully drove the
French out of the peninsula before a series of setbacks led the Russians
to withdraw Suvorov from Italy.
Description of Terms
This triple alliance was signed by Austria, Great Britain, and
Russia. The allies pledged friendship, communication, and
mutual defense in order to reestablish the tranquility in Europe.
2.1113 Treaty of Defensive Alliance between
Austria and the Two Sicilies
Alliance Members:Austria and the Two Sicilies
Signed On:May 19, 1798, in the city of Vienna
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 54, p. 245.
SUMMARY
Austria never accepted the terms of the peace signed with France in
1797, but it was weary from several years of fighting. With Napoleon
out of Europe preparing a military expedition to Egypt, Austria began
a slew of new alliance negotiations. One resulted in this alliance
between Austria and Naples (the Two Sicilies) in May 1798.
The foray into the Second Coalition proved to be an unwise move for
the Neapolitan king, Ferdinand IV. Naples had never fared well in mil-
itary conflicts against the better-organized French forces, and this
trend continued. By 1799, Ferdinand IV had fled Naples, and upon the
arrival of the French forces into the city proper, a short-lived
Parthenopaean Republic—a French puppet state—was established in
his kingdom.
Although King Ferdinand IV was able to return a year later and topple
the client republic, he eventually signed the Treaty of Florence in 1801,
resulting in territorial transfers to France and the closure of Neapoli-
tan harbors to British commerce.Description of Terms
In this defensive alliance Austria promised to keep ready an
army of 60,000 men until the continental peace was established.
The Two Sicilies would keep ready an army of 30,000 men and
three or four warships in the Adriatic Sea. If the situation
required it, the allies would not hesitate to raise the numbers of
their troops to 80,000 for Austria and 40,000 for the Two
Sicilies. Each side would take care of its own troops during the
war. Both parties agreed not to make peace or conclude a cease-
fire without the other ally.2.1114 Treaty of Defensive Alliance between
Russia and the Two Sicilies
Alliance Members:Russia and the Two Sicilies
Signed On:November 29, 1798, in the city of St. Petersburg
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 54, p. 325.SUMMARY
Russia had agreed to a Triple Alliance with Great Britain and Austria
against France, but the First Coalition collapsed before Russia was able
to fully intervene. In the interlude following the Treaty of Campo
Formio and Napoleon’s distraction in Egypt, Russia and the kingdom
of Naples (the Two Sicilies) agreed to an alliance in November 1798,
specifically outlining Russian assistance with Naples in Italy.
Although Alexander Suvorov, a Russian general, had resounding suc-
cess against France in Italy in 1799, Alexander Korsakov was given
control of the troops and fared badly, resulting in Suvorov’s famed
retreat from Italy and eventual withdrawal to Russia. By 1800, Russia
had grown distrustful of the British and friendly with the French and
thus withdrew from the coalition.
Naples did not fare well in its military efforts against Italy. Naples
eventually made several territorial concessions to the French in the
1801 Treaty of Florence.Description of Terms
Russia pledged to give to the Two Sicilies nine battalions and
200 Cossacks for the war against the French. Russia would pay
for the soldiers and the munitions, and the Two Sicilies would
provide the rest of the necessary maintenance. The Russian
troops would be under the orders of the Two Sicilies, and, as
much as possible, the auxiliary troops would not be separated
and would have freedom of religion.
If Russia needed the troops because it was attacked, it could
recall the troops after giving the Two Sicilies two months’
notice. Neither of the two parties would make a separate peace
with France. Russian aid was meant only for the current war
against the French, and this treaty was set to last for eight years.