7. Battle Of Valmy (1792)
The French Revolution was a huge turning point in the relationship between monarchs and their subjects. For thousands of years, 'God chosen' kings and queens had acted as they pleased, sending peasants to war for their selfish gains, imposed huge taxes to improve their own standard of living and not acted in the interest of the people. Revolution brought France into conflict with Austria and her allies, who were keen to restore the French monarch and extinguish the flames of revolution. Austria and Prussia had signed the Declaration of Pillnitz, which threatened military action if the Revolution progressed. The action back-fired, as Louis XVI was imprisoned and France declared war against Austria. The Prussian advance came to a halt as it confronted the Army of the North, led by General Charles Dumouriez, and the Army of the Center, led by General Francois Kellermann. Both sides swapped artillery fire, but, when the Prussian infantry advanced, the French didn't retreat, as their commander had hoped. Instead, under intense musketry fire, it was the Prussians who chose to retreat. The battle did not cause many deaths around 480 casualties on combined but France's determination and spirit inspired the revolution. Although the battle may not seem as important as the others featured on this list, it stopped the Prussian advance and continued the Revolution. If the Prussian forces had been victorious, it would have been likely that the French monarchy would've been put back in power, which would have dealt a blow to democratic idealists around the world. The day after the victory, the French monarchy was abolished and the First French Republic declared.