French Revolution timeline

Meeting of the estates general

Jun 5, 1789

After 174 years of not meeting, the incommpetence of the king forces him to call a medting of the estates general, a three-vote parliament that has one vote for the clergy, one vote for the commons , and one vote for the nobility.

storming of the bastille

Jul 14, 1789

common folk storm a political prison named the bastille, and overthrow the guards inside it, killing all who stand in their way. They gain munitions and powder for the rebbelion that has erupted

Attempted escape of the royal family

Jun 20, 1791

Louis xvi and Marie antoinette attempt to escape to Austria after they are effectively locked in Paris. They are recognised, and the king arrested.

Louis xvi executed

Jan 21, 1793

after being found guiilty of treason for trying to escape the country, louis xvi is executed publicly via guillotine

Begining of the reign of terror

Sep 5, 1793

The revolutionaries torture and kill anyone who is even thought of conspiring to restore the monarchy. Parading of heads on pikes becomes common.

Robespierre executed

Jul 28, 1794

Revolutionary Maximillian Robespierre is executed for not being radical enough and blamed for a man's death. He is executed without trial and guillotined

napoleon crowns himself emperor

Dec 2, 1804

after a vicious civil downfall, Napoleon Bonaparte rises from the ashes and crowns himself as the emperor of France, turning the republic into an empire.

Napoleon becomes king of Italy

Mar 17, 1805

after the republic of Italy became the kingdom of italy, Napoleon becomes effective king, as he was the president beforehand

invasion of Portugal

Nov 8, 1807

france invades portuugal and occupies it after giving an unltimatum and having portugal accept the demands.

napoleon retreats from russia

Dec 14, 1812

after a failed attempt to invade Russia (in the winter) Napoleon is forced to retreat and reevaluate. Russia could withstand the cold, and had no problem buring their own villages so that the French army could not live off it.

Congress of Vienna

Sep 17, 1814

conference of ambassadors from various european states. objective was to provide a long- term peace plan in the wake of Napoleon.

Battle of Waterloo/Napoleons's 2nd vindication and exile

Jun 18, 1815

Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo and is removed from power and eciled 4 days later. This ended his 100 day return from his previous exile.