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Accession of Louis XVI
Louis XVI's assuming of the French throne after the death of Louis XV. The new monarch ascended at the young age of 20, lacking the self-confidence and knowledge to effectively control his subjects. -
American Declaration of Independence
Document by American Revolutionaries claiming their independence from Britain. Involvement in the American Revolution by France would worsen their national debt in general, and this document would inspire the French people to later defy monarchical rule as the Americans had. -
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Paris Commune
Revolutionary government of Paris. Spread radical revolutionary views among the people of Paris and aimed to dechristianize people and churches. -
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Meeting of the Estates General
Summoning of the Estates General by Louis XVI. Discovery the voting would be done by power rather than by head, rendering the Third Estate's double representation useless, led to the creation of the National Assembly and start of the French Revolution. Though the meeting was intended to focus purely on taxation, it quickly turned into internal squabbles on class. -
Tennis Court Oath
Oath sworn by members of the national assembly to not dissolve until France had a constitution, spurred by the assembly being forced to meet in a tennis court. Provided some unity and common goal for the revolutionists. -
Storming of the Bastille
Seizure of the Bastille, a fort, armory, and prison built to protect Paris during the 100 Year's War by revolutionaries. Though the original purpose was the acquisition of gunpowder, this quickly became the primary symbol of the Revolution and was the first act of coordinated violence. -
"Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen" Adopted
Recognizing of universal, unalienable rights by the National Assembly. Early step towards a french constitution. -
Women's March on Versailles
Storming of the Palace of Versailles by protesters aiming to bring the monarchy back to Paris. Marie Antoinette was nearly killed on two separate occasions, and in the end she and her husband agreed to return to Paris. After this, nearly all monarchical power was stripped away and revolutionary governments began to take shape. -
Declaration of Pillnitz
Statement by Frederick William II and Leopold II promising action against France if Louis XVI or Marie Antoinette were harmed. Early instance of European powers ganging together to contain the revolution. Misinterpretation of Leopold's statement (would only go to war if all other major powers did) led to France declaring war on Austria -
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Early feminist work by Mary Wollstonecraft claiming women should receive the basics right of men and should be seen as people rather than objects. Although the work did gain her followers, it ultimately failed to produce results as the French Revolution largely sustained women's lower class. -
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Sans-culottes
Lower classes of revolutionary France who were often extremely radical and wished for rapid change and political upheaval. Extremely supportive of Robespierre due to his radical nature, their support was often used as a weapon to remove enemies due to their fanatic devotion to the revolution. -
Creation of the Republic
Establishment of the First French Republic, completely stripping the monarchy of all power. the republic was created due to growing social unrest caused by Austro-Prussian advances in the War of the First Coalition. -
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September Massacres
Outbreak of killings spurred by Austrian capture of Verdun. While this was aimed to eliminate political prisoners in order to prevent a counterrevolution, half of Paris' prison population was killed indiscriminately. Notably, the Jacobins not only approved of, but encourage the massacre, putting them on the stage as the radical party of the era. -
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Jacobins vs. Girondins
Political battle between the more conservative Girondins and the extremely radical and violent Jacobins. The Girondins were pushed out when the Jacobins had 22 of their members arrested an killed, allowing for the Reign of Terror to begin under Jacobin control. -
Execution of Louis XVI
Beheading of the former King Louis XVI via guillotine. Death set the stage for the reign of terror and heightened anti-revolution paranoia. -
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Committee of Public Safety
Provisional government of France, tasked with preventing foreign invasion and internal rebellion. As coalition wars continued against France, the Committee became increasingly powerful and authoritarian, overseeing the reign of terror. -
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Reign of Terror/Robespierre
Period of extreme paranoia and massive amount of executions for supposed anti-revolutionary activities; grew extremely unpopular and caused large amounts of public unrest. Robespierre was a radical Jacobin who oversaw the reign of terror. -
Marie Antoinette Executed
Beheading of Marie Antoinette after trial where she was given 1 day to prepare a defense and in which revolutionaries compelled her son to accuse her of incest (though that charge did not stick). The body was thrown into an unmarked grave, and she would not receive a christian burial until 1815. -
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Thermidorian Reaction
Period seeing the end of the reign of terror and decentralization of the previously authoritarian executive government. Also contained the deradicalization of French politics into more moderate views. -
Robespierre Executed
Arrest and beheading of Robespierre in response to fears of him purging the National Convention. Ended the reign of terror and Jacobin radicalism in Revolutionary France. -
Coup d’etat
Bloodless coup ending the Directory and putting one Napoleon Bonaparte at the helm of France. Generally considered to be the end of the French Revolution and led to the creation of the French Empire. -
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War of the 2nd Coalition
2nd War to reinstate the French monarchy, saw Great Britain, Portugal, the Ottomans, Naples, Sweden, and several German states face off France, Spain, and Denmark. France was victorious, securing both its government and all of its territorial holdings. After failure in Egypt, Napoleon abandoned his army and took control of the country. -
Concordat of 1801
Agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII that reconfirmed Catholicism as the majority church of France. Church finances and bishop selection were overseen by Bonaparte, and church land confiscated during the revolution was not returned. Many Catholic priests that hid from the revolution returned to public practice, but those who accepted the Civil Constitution of the Clergy were largely ostracized. -
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Napoleonic Code
Streamlined laws introduced in Napoleonic France and her conquered territories created to replace the convoluted feudal laws. Heavily influenced the Middle East, attempting to keep up with Europe through legal reforming. -
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Confederation of the Rhine
Group of 16 German states into 1 French client state. Provided a buffer between Austria & Prussia and France and allowed Napoleon to conscript German soldiers for his army. Notably not a very strong or unified German state, as it collapsed after Napoleon's loss at the Battle of Leipzig. -
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Continental System
Policy of embargo on the United Kingdom by enforced on continental Europe by Napoleon. Failure to comply with the Embargo led Napoleon to invade Spain and Russia, leading to his downfall in the War of the Sixth Coalition. -
Treaty of Tilsit
Treaties with Russia and Prussia ending the War of the Fourth Coalition. Drastically reduced Prussian land, created a pseudo-independent Duchy of Warsaw and Free City of Danzig, and allied Russia and Prussia with France. The ending of this war freed up the French troops necessary for the Peninsular War. -
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Russian Campaign
Invasion of Russia due to their lack of compliance to the Continental System. The Russians employed scorched-earth tactics, depriving Napoleon's massive Grand Armee the ability to feed itself. The army was decimated, and Napoleon never managed to win a decisive battle. After this failure the Sixth Coalition would rapidly push back the French until Napoleon was forced to abdicate and sent to exile. -
The Battle of Waterloo
Decisive military victory for the British Duke of Wellington against Napoleon after his dramatic return from exile. Ended Napoleon's ambitions and subsequently the Napoleonic Wars.
