] 3. The French Revolution and Europe

The events of the summer of 1789 made it clear to people throughout theEuropean continent that something extraordinary was occurring in France. The rapid succession of ever more drastic changes in the next four years, culminating in the proclamation of the republic and the execution of the king – both truly astonishing to contemporaries – only heightened that impression. As one might expect, intellectuals were particularly impressed, and the implications of the revolutionary events were passionately debated by British romantic poets, German students of philosophy, and Italian Enlightened authors. The statesmen and diplomats of the European powers, as well as members of the upper classes more generally interested in public affairs, followed closely developments in the continent’s leading military power, and also reflected on the implications of the revolutionary reordering of France for domestic policy.