Spain had declared war on the newly formed French Republic in the War of the First Coalition, joined the Coalition in attempting to restore the Bourbon Monarchy.

The main Spanish general, Antonio Ricardos, had failed to secure a decisive victory, despite initial successes.

French forces elsewhere had quickly overrun the Austrian Netherlands after the Battle of Fleurus, and the Dutch Republic had collapsed under huge pressure.

The Spanish were having similarly bad times.

The Spanish navy had done little, with the exception of combining with the British and participating in the Siege of Toulon.

The French Republic had gained a huge advantage following the Battle of the Black Mountain, and by 1795, the Peace of Basel had been signed, forcing the Kingdom of Spain and Kingdom of Prussia to exit the Coalition.

In 1796, Manuel Godoy, encouraged by massive French gains in the Rhine Campaign and Italian Campaign, signs the Second Treaty of San Ildefonso, establishing a Franco-Spanish alliance and common war against Great Britain.

The hope is that victorious France will also win over land and money for Spain.