Freedom, Equality, Fraternity

The French Revolution of 1789. The young republic was intent on bringing their ideas and values to Germany in 1792. They invaded the Palatinate and Rheinhessen together with Mainz, which surrendered without a fight.

The siege of Mainz in 1793

A coalition was formed between Austria, Prussia, Hesse and Saxony to reconquer Mainz. Their troops were able to surround the city until the beginning of 1793. In the end, about 23,000 besieged French soldiers faced over 40,000 German and Austrian troops. Peaceful negotiations were   unsuccessful. As a result, at the beginning of June, the coalition began bombarding Mainz for a period of about 4 weeks.

The troops from Prussia, Saxony and Hesse, whose canons were being fired in the blockade, raised their camps here on this wide stretch of land between Hochheim, Kostheim and Kastel.

The consequences

were horrible. The area between the cathedral and Schillerplatz was all but completely destroyed. The cathedral itself was badly damaged. Other places such as the castle, the Favorite, the  Liebfrauen church, Jesuit church, the house of the cathedral provost and numerous manors and houses were completely obliterated. At the same time, the occupied town of Kostheim, was also heavily bombarded and laid to waste. Even the beautiful Baroque Church, which was only 30 years old at the time, was burnt down and later demolished.  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who was residing in Mombach at the time, observed the horrors of the bombardment and the fires, from surrounding viewpoints. In a letter he summarised his feelings: “Deprived and close to desolation, I sit in one of the most beautiful places in Germany and see nothing but destruction and misery”.

On July 23, 1793 the French handed over the capitulation deed and returned to France. However, they returned again at the end of 1794, this time as besiegers – but without success. When they returned three years later, they succeeded in capturing Mainz, which became department capital. The French occupied the City until the end of the “liberation wars” in 1814. During this time the Rhine formed the boundary between France and Germany.