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Beginning of the Estates-General
The Estates-General was convened by King Louis XVI to address France's financial crisis. It eventually led to the formation of the National Assembly and the start of the French Revolution. -
Storming of the Bastille
A pivotal event in the French Revolution, when revolutionary crowds stormed the Bastille prison in Paris, symbolizing the end of royal tyranny and sparking widespread revolt. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
A fundamental document of the French Revolution, proclaiming the rights and freedoms of citizens, including liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. -
Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Citizen
Written by Olympe de Gouges, this declaration sought to extend the principles of the 1789 declaration to women, advocating for gender equality and women’s rights. -
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The Terror
A period during the French Revolution marked by mass executions, political purges, and a government-led campaign to protect the revolution from its enemies, largely led by Maximilien Robespierre. -
Execution of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine after being found guilty of treason. This event marked the end of the monarchy in France and solidified the revolution. -
Coup d'État of Thermidor
The fall of Maximilien Robespierre and the end of the Reign of Terror. Robespierre was arrested and executed, signaling a shift in the revolutionary government towards a more moderate direction. -
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The Directory
A five-member executive body that governed France after the fall of Robespierre. The period was marked by political instability, corruption, and military conflict. -
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The Consulate
After the Coup of Brumaire, Napoleon became First Consul of France, effectively holding dictatorial power. It marked the end of the French Revolution and the beginning of Napoleon’s rule. -
Coup d'État of Brumaire
Napoleon Bonaparte seized power in a coup, overthrowing the French Directory and establishing the Consulate, marking the beginning of his rise to dictatorship. -
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The Empire
The period when Napoleon declared himself Emperor of France and expanded his empire across Europe, leading to significant military and political changes. -
Battle of Austerlitz
One of Napoleon's most significant victories, where his forces decisively defeated the Russian and Austrian armies, cementing his dominance over Europe for a time. -
Exile in Elba
After his abdication following his defeat in the War of the Sixth Coalition, Napoleon was exiled to the island of Elba, off the coast of Italy. -
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Exile in St. Helena
After his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon was exiled to the remote island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean, where he spent the final years of his life. -
Battle of Waterloo
The decisive battle where Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated by the British and Prussian forces, leading to his final abdication and end of the Napoleonic Wars. -
Death of Napoleon
Napoleon died in exile on St. Helena, likely from stomach cancer. His death marked the end of an era in European history.