Peace of Basel between France and Prussia is made.

The Peace of Basel, signed on 5 April 1795, was a major turning point in the French Revolutionary Wars. Concluded between Revolutionary France and Prussia at Basel in Switzerland, the treaty ended Prussia’s participation in the War of the First Coalition. After several years of costly warfare and growing political pressures in eastern Europe, particularly concerning the partition of Poland, Prussia chose to withdraw from the anti-French alliance. In doing so, it became one of the first major powers to make peace with the French Republic, signaling a shift in the European balance of power.

One of the most significant terms of the treaty was Prussia’s recognition—initially in a secret article—of French control over the territories on the west bank of the Rhine. In return, France agreed to restore lands east of the Rhine that it had occupied during the conflict. This arrangement effectively acknowledged French territorial gains and weakened the unity of the coalition opposing France. By securing peace with Prussia, France was able to concentrate its military efforts against Austria and other remaining enemies, strengthening its position on the continent.

The Peace of Basel had consequences far beyond the immediate end of hostilities between France and Prussia. It marked the beginning of the collapse of the First Coalition, as other states soon followed Prussia’s example and sought separate agreements with France. For Prussia, the treaty allowed it to redirect attention eastward toward Polish affairs and territorial expansion. For France, it represented a diplomatic triumph that confirmed the success of its revolutionary armies and helped establish the Republic as a dominant European power in the years leading up to Napoleon’s rise.