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Absolutism and the French Revolution
Absolutism within France was a political system associated with kings such as Louis XIII and, more particularly, Louis XIV. Absolutism or absolute monarchical rule was developing across Europe during the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. -
Rousseau & the Social Contract
The Social Contract Summary. Rousseau begins The Social Contract with the notable phrase "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains." ... Rousseau's solution to the problem of legitimate authority is the "social contract," an agreement by which the people band together for their mutual preservation. -
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Napoleon as Emperor
Napoleon I, also called Napoléon Bonaparte, was a French military general and statesman. Napoleon played a key role in the French Revolution , served as first consul of France and was the first emperor of France . Read about the impact of Napoleon's rule on France. -
When King Louis XVI married Marie Antoinette
Louis XVI was the last Bourbon king of France who was executed in 1793 for treason. In 1770 he married Austrian archduchess Marie-Antoinette, the daughter of Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I. After a slew of governing missteps, Louis XVI brought the French Revolution crashing down upon himself. -
Tennis Court Oath
Finding themselves locked out of their usual meeting hall at Versailles on June 20 and thinking that the king was forcing them to disband, they moved to a nearby indoor tennis court. There they took an oath never to separate until a written constitution had been established for France. -
Bastille is Stormed
A mob stormed the Bastille Prison is search of weapons. This was considered the"spark" that started the French Revolution -
Bastille is Stormed
A mob stormed the Bastille Prison in search of weapons. This was considered the "spark" that started the French Revolution. -
Women’s March on Versailles
A crowd of women demanding bread for their families gathered other discontented Parisians, including some men, and marched toward Versailles, arriving soaking wet from the rain.The King agreed to meet with some of the women and promised to distribute all the bread in Versailles to the crowd. -
The Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror or simply The Terror was a period of about 11 months during the French Revolution. During this time, French people who did not support the revolution were executed at the guillotine. The Reign of Terror was started on 5 September, 1793. -
Defeat in Russian Campaign
In June 1812, Napoleon led his army into Russia. His army was made up of soldiers from the several nations now under his control. Napoleon expected a short war, to punish Czar Alexander I for his misbehavior in leaving the Continental System. Napoleon took around 600,000 men into Russia. -
Battle of Waterloo
In June 1815, Napoleon's forces marched into Belgium, where separate armies of British and Prussian troops were camped. At the Battle of Ligny, on June 16, Napoleon defeated the Prussians under the command of Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher. However, the French were unable to totally destroy the Prussian army.
