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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
UNITED IRISH EMISSARIES TO FRANCE
Disadvantages
• Different priorities - French want Irish to rise first, Irish want French landing first
UNITED IRISH EMISSARIES TO FRANCE
Disadvantages
• Different priorities - French want Irish to rise first, Irish want French landing first
• Other competing countries - Poland, Netherlands
UNITED IRISH EMISSARIES TO FRANCE
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
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