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Beginning of the Estates General
In May 1789, King Louis XVI convened the Estates-General to address the financial crisis, which ultimately led to the formation of the National Assembly and the start of revolutionary actions. -
Storming of the Bastille
On July 14, 1789, Parisian revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison, symbolizing the start of the French Revolution. It marked the fall of royal authority and the rise of popular movements. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
On August 26, 1789, the National Assembly adopted this document, declaring the natural rights of man, including liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. -
Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Citizen
In 1791, Olympe de Gouges published this document advocating for gender equality and women's rights, asserting that women should have the same rights as men in the revolution. -
Execution of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI was tried and found guilty of treason, and on January 21, 1793, he was executed by guillotine, marking the end of the monarchy in France. -
The Terror
From September 1793 to July 1794, the Revolutionary government, led by Robespierre, executed thousands of perceived enemies of the revolution, creating a period of extreme violence and fear. -
Coup d'état of Thermidor
In July 1794, a faction within the revolutionaries overthrew Robespierre, ending the Reign of Terror. Robespierre was arrested and executed, signaling the collapse of his radical leadership. -
The Directory
From 1795 to 1799, France was governed by a five-member Directory, characterized by corruption, instability, and ineffective leadership, which eventually led to its overthrow by Napoleon. -
The Empire
From 1804 to 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte ruled France as Emperor, establishing an empire that expanded across much of Europe before collapsing due to military defeats. -
Coup d'état of Brumaire
On November 9, 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte staged a coup, overthrowing the Directory government and establishing the Consulate, with Napoleon as First Consul, marking the end of the French Revolution. -
The Consulate
After the coup of Brumaire, Napoleon established the Consulate, where he held supreme power as First Consul. It lasted until 1804 when Napoleon declared himself Emperor of France. -
Battle of Austerlitz
On December 2, 1805, Napoleon's forces decisively defeated the Russian and Austrian armies at Austerlitz, one of his greatest victories, solidifying his dominance over Europe. -
Exile in Elba
After his defeat in 1814, Napoleon was exiled to the island of Elba in the Mediterranean, where he was given sovereignty but remained under watch. -
Battle of Waterloo
On June 18, 1815, Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo by a coalition of European forces, marking the end of his rule and the Napoleonic Wars. -
Exile in St. Helena
After his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon was exiled to the remote island of St. Helena, where he lived under British supervision until his death in 1821. -
Death of Napoleon
Napoleon died on May 5, 1821, in exile on St. Helena, likely from stomach cancer, marking the final end of his long and turbulent reign.