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Palace of Versailles Built
The palace of Versailles was a royal residence constructed in 1634 under Louis XIII's guidance. -
Capital of France moved from Paris to Versailles
Before becoming the capital, Versailles was mostly used as a royal hunting lodge, but King Louis moved the capital there to escape the turmoil of Paris. -
Louis XVI married to Marie Antoinette
The marriage had been planned since 1760, but was not enacted until 1770. Marie and Louis married on April 19, 1770. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was written
Written by France's National Constituent Assembly in the summer of 1789, this document is a human rights document from the French Revolution -
Period: to
French Revolution
The French Revolution was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. -
Tennis Court Oath
The TCO was a commitment to a national constitution and representative government taken by delegates of the Estates-General at Versailles. -
Bastille is stormed
On 14 July 1789, a state prison on the east side of Paris, known as the Bastille, was attacked by an angry and aggressive mob. The prison had become a symbol of the monarchy's dictatorial rule, and the event became one of the defining moments in the Revolution that followed. -
Women's March on Versailles
The Women's March on Versailles, also known as the October March, the October Days or simply the March on Versailles, was one of the earliest and most significant events of the French Revolution. -
King Louis XVI is beheaded
King Louis XVI, last remaining king before the overthrowing of the monarchy, was beheaded for treason. -
The Reign of Terror
Robespierre declares Terror "the order of the day". This reign of terror will last almost a year, and will claim an estimated 18,000 to 40,000 lives. -
Napoleon launched a coup d'etat on the Directory
The Coup of Brumaire overthrew the system of government under the Directory in France and substituted the Consulate, making way for the despotism of Napoleon Bonaparte. The event is often viewed as the effective end of the French Revolution. -
Period: to
Napoleon as Emperor
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) is considered to be one of history's greatest military leaders. He rose to prominence during the French Revolution and served as emperor of France from 1804 to 1814, and again in 1815. -
Creation of the Napoleonic Code
The Napoleonic Code marked the first major revision and reorganization of laws since the Roman era. The Civil Code (renamed the Code Napoleon in 1807) addressed mainly matters relating to property and families. -
Napoleon crowns himself emperor
Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor, and made Josephine Empress. His coronation ceremony took place on December 2, 1804, in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, with incredible splendor and at considerable expense. -
Defeat in Russian Campaign
Napoleon and his Grand Army of 600,000 men invaded Russia on June 24, 1812. The conflict that ensued was justly called the Patriotic War by the Russians; in it, the strong resistance and outstanding endurance of an entire people were displayed. -
Napoleon's exile
Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of France and one of the greatest military leaders in history, abdicates the throne, and, in the Treaty of Fontainebleau, is banished to the Mediterranean island of Elba. -
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday, 18 June 1815, near Waterloo in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium. It marked the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte.