The French prepare a great advance on three fronts, with Jourdan and Moreau on the Rhine, and Bonaparte in Italy.

The three armies are to link up in the Tyrol and march on Vienna.Jourdan and Moreau advance rapidly into Germany, and Moreau has reached Bavaria and the edge of Tyrol by September, but Jourdan is defeated by Archduke Charles, and both armies are forced to retreat back across the Rhine.Napoleon, on the other hand, is completely successful in a daring invasion of Italy.

He separates the armies of Sardinia and Austria, defeats them in detail, and forces a peace on Sardinia while capturing Milan and besieging Mantua.

He defeats successive Austrian armies sent against him under Wurmser and Alvintzy while continuing the siege.The rebellion in the Vendée is also finally crushed in 1796 by Hoche, but Hoche's attempt to land a large invasion force in Ireland is unsuccessful.

An expedition to Ireland, led by General Hoche, sets sail in 1796.

Accompanied by United Irishmen leader Wolfe Tone, it attempts to land at Bantry Bay, County Cork, but strong gales prevent a successful landing.