The French Revolutionary Wars (1792–1802) and Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815)

The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1792-1815) reshaped Europe by spreading revolutionary ideals through military conquest. Napoleon's armies dissolved feudalism, implemented legal reforms (Code Napoléon), and redrew national boundaries across the continent. The conflict's scale - involving coalitions of all major powers - pioneered modern total war and nationalism. France's eventual defeat at Waterloo restored monarchies temporarily, but couldn't erase the Enlightenment principles unleashed. These wars inspired independence movements globally while demonstrating how mass conscription and patriotic fervor could transform warfare, setting the stage for 19th-century revolutions and modern nation-states.