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King Louis XVI calls the Estates General
Tensions between the estates increase as the Third Estate pushed for more representation and equality. These frustrations culminated in the First and Second Estates joining the Third Estate in the National Assembly in June 1789, laying the foundation for the Revolution. -
First and Second Estates join the Third Estate in the newly formed National Assembly
This was a step toward dismantling the old regime’s feudal hierarchy. It set the stage for the Storming of the Bastille as tensions between the king and revolutionaries grew. -
Storming of the Bastille
The fall of the Bastille became a defining moment of the French Revolution, emboldening the revolutionaries. It also triggered the Great Fear in the countryside, where peasants revolted against landlords in fear of counter-revolutionary reprisals. -
The Great Fear in the Countryside: July-August 1789
A period of widespread panic and peasant revolts, fueled by rumors of noble plots to suppress the Revolution. -
The National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
A revolutionary document asserting individual rights and equality before the law, inspired by Enlightenment ideas. -
The Constitution of 1791 sets up a constitutional monarchy in France
The National Assembly adopted a constitution that limited the king’s power, created a constitutional monarchy, and established a system of separation of powers. This was a response to revolutionary demands for reform and equality. This paved the way for Napoleon's eventual rise as France sought stability after years of revolution and chaos. -
Louis XVI is executed at the guillotine
King Louis XVI was convicted of treason and executed during the radical phase of the Revolution.
His death marked the monarchy's end and radical republicanism's rise. It directly contributed to the Reign of Terror, as Robespierre and the Jacobins sought to defend the Revolution from internal and external enemies. -
Beginning of Robespierre's Reign of Terror
A period of mass executions of perceived enemies of the Revolution, led by Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety. -
End of Robespierre's Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror discredited radical leadership and paved the way for a more conservative phase of the Revolution, eventually leading to Napoleon's coup d'etat in 1799. -
Battle of the Nile
A major naval engagement during Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign, where Horatio Nelson’s British fleet decisively defeated the French navy.
This defeat stranded Napoleon’s army in Egypt, limiting his broader ambitions in the Middle East. This setback also weakened French dominance and allowed Britain to solidify its naval superiority. -
Napoleon's coup d'etat, overthrowing the Directory
Napoleon seized power, ending the ineffective Directory and establishing the Consulate.
This marked the end of the French Revolution and the beginning of Napoleon’s rule. His leadership would culminate in his declaration as Emperor in 1804. -
Napoleon is declared Emperor
Napoleon crowned himself Emperor, consolidating his power and establishing a new imperial regime.
This solidified his dominance in Europe, but his imperial ambitions led to conflicts such as the Battle of Trafalgar and eventually his downfall at the Battle of Leipzig and Waterloo. -
Battle of Trafalgar
A decisive British naval victory under Admiral Nelson against the French and Spanish fleets during the Napoleonic Wars.This battle confirmed British naval dominance and prevented Napoleon from invading Britain. It forced Napoleon to focus on land-based campaigns in Europe, eventually leading to his overreach with the disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. Trafalgar also established Britain as a key player in the coalitions that would eventually defeat Napoleon. -
Napoleon is defeated at Leipzig (Battle of the Nations)
A decisive coalition victory that weakened Napoleon’s grip on Europe. This loss forced Napoleon to retreat, ultimately leading to his first abdication and exile to Elba in 1814. -
Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena
After his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon was permanently exiled to the remote island of St. Helena, where he spent the rest of his life. This marked the end of the Napoleonic era and a return to European monarchies under the Congress of Vienna.