French Revolution Timeline

By kmeg
  • Louis XVI takes over the throne

    Louis XVI takes over the throne
    Succeeded his grandfather Louis XV as the king of France
  • France enters American War

    At war with Britain
  • Estates General assemble at Versailles

    Prepare grievance notebooks. Delegates take the tennis court oath. The Third Estate declare themselves the National Assembly in June.
  • Parisians storm the Bastille starting the Revolution

    https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french-revolutionaries-storm-bastille
    Over 800 Parisians took over the Bastille killing the commander and five guards. The French still celebrate this day as their national independence day.
  • "Great Fear" begins

    Peasants unleash fury on nobles and revolt against feudalism
  • Period: to

    National Assembly abolishes feudalism

    Ends special priveledges for nobles
  • National Assembly approves "Declaration of the Rights of Man"

    Modeled after the Declaration of Independence
  • "October Days"

    Women's march on Versailles- Anger directed at Marie Antoinette (wife of Louis XVI) for her lavish lifestyle
  • Church property nationalized

    The Church is placed under state control; priests and bishops become elected, salaried officials under the Civil Constitution. Papal authority over the French Church is ended and the change is rejected by many.
  • Declaration of Pilnitz

    Issued by Austria and Prussia threatening to intervene to help French monarch and end the Revolution
  • Monarchy is abolished

    Monarchy is abolished
    Tensions led to violence and the "September Massacres" where French citizens attacked prisons and killed 1200 people- mainly prisoners but included 100 priests
  • King and Queen executed

    Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are executed by radicals which leads to the Reign of Terror
  • Napoleon overthrows the Directory

    Another Constitution was passed in 1795 that set up a 5-man directory and bicameral legislature. Corrupt leaders lined their pockets and chaos pushed them to turn to Napoleon
  • Napoleon crowns himself emperor of France

    Outwitted politicians to become ruler of France
  • Napoleon invades Russia

  • Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo in Belgium

    Defeated by two of the armies of the Seventh Coalition led by the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher.