French Revolution and Liberal Revolts

The Tennis Court Oath

Jun 15, 1789

Representatives of the Third Estate met in the Tennis court and proclaimed themselves the National Assembly. They swore to be assembled to write a constitution for all the French men.

The Storming of the Bastille

Jul 14, 1789

The revolutionaries ,with 30,000 rifles and 12 cannons , attack the Bastille. In that moment the Bastille was a Fortress-Prison with 6 prisoners, was a symbol of the Ancien Regime

Women’s march on Versailles

Oct 5, 1789

Women in Paris , protested against the shortage of bread and demanded the king sign the decree abolishing manorialism. The king had to abandon and move to Tuileries Palace

Execution of the King Louis XVIth

Jan 21, 1793

Louis is executed in the guillotine for treason. The last words of the king to the crowd were “ People, I die innocent!”

Reign of Terror

Jul 23, 1793

Under the control of the Jacobins, the government imposed a dictatorship . Freedoms were suspended. Those who protested or criticissd the government were executed in the guillotine. Between 10.000 - 40.000 persons were executed. That’s why is called “The Terror”.

Execution of Marie Antoinette

Oct 16, 1793

Marie Antoinette was taken to the guillotine for treason. The queen was executed at 11 o'clock in the morning by her executioner, Henri Sanson.

Execution of Maximilien Robespierre

Jul 28, 1794

The leader of The Jacobins, Maximilien Robespierre, is executed. The Girondins gained power.

The Civil Code

Mar 21, 1804

The civil code , also known as Napoleon Code, was created for all the citizens to organize the society.

Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emperor

Dec 2, 1804

Napoleon crowned himself Emperor in the cathedral of Notre Dame.

Napoleon invaded Spain

May 2, 1808

Napoleon's troops entered the peninsula to invade Portugal. Spain let them enter because they were allies. But Napoleon betrayed them and conquered Spanish cities and finally conquered Spain

Napoleon’s failure invading Russia

Jun 24, 1812

The army of Napoleon entered Moscow but the citizens had abandoned the city. The fire broke out across the city leaving the army with no means to survive the Russian winter.This caused the death of almost 500.000 soldiers.

Battle of Waterloo

Jun 18, 1815

Napoleon and his army were defeated by Great Britain and Prussia, in Waterloo (Belgium)

The death of Napoleon in Santa Helena

May 5, 1821

After being defeated in Waterloo, he was sent into exile to the island of Saint Helena in 1816. He died 5 years later, at the age of 51.