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A Marriage
Prince Dauphin, later to become King Louis XVI, marries Mary Antoinette of Austria. -
Period: to
The French Revolution timeline
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Ascension to the Throne
King Louis XVI is crowned king at a young age of 19 a month after his father's death (King Louis XV). -
Favorite Finance Minister Fired
Popular finance minister Jacques Necker is fired by the Queen (Marie Antoinette). The Queen was known for dismissing people that she disliked, for example, their appearances. -
Finance Problems Arise
The Assembly of Notables is assembled to discuss France's financial situation. (France was deep in debt) Charles de Calonne (the new Finance Minister) meets and is opposed by the Assembly regarding tax reforms. Calonne believed it would help solve the debt problem. The Assembly believed it would take more money out of their pockets instead. -
Charles de Calonne Dismissed
Calonne is dismissed by King Louis XVI, and he withdrew to England four months later. -
Necker is back again
Finance Minister Etienne Brienne (the successor of Calonne) is fired, and Necker is re-hired as Finance Minister once again. -
The New Voting Order
The Estates General commences: voting will be done by authority, not by majority. -
The National Assembly
The Third Estate, made of the common people, declare themselves as the National Assembly. -
Meeting at the Tennis Courts
When the National Assembly is locked out of their usual meeting place by the King, they instead meet at a tennis court, and there they take the Tennis Court Oath. The Oath was to "not separate, and to reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the kingdom is established" -
The Fall of Bastille
The mob attacked the royal prison and fortress, 'the Bastille'. The King's guards and troops that were guarding the fortress were sent to disperse the mod, but failed, and were brutally massacred. The important political prisoners that were held there were then set free. Later, citizens formed a new army, called 'the National Guard'. -
The Beginning of the National Assembly's Rise
The National Assembly abolishes all feudal rights, ending serf dom, and declares that all people are equal under law. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
The National Assembly passes the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, meaning that people (including the commoners) now have rights that the law cannot overlook, and it limits the power of the government, as well. -
Flight to Varennes
The royal family attempts to escape and flee to Montmedy, a fortress near Austria. However, they were captured in Varennes, and sent back to Paris. -
The Legislative Assembly
The National Guard dissolves, and their power is tranferred over to the newly formed Legislative Assembly, and they meet the next day. -
Food Shortages
People riot due to food shortages throughout France. (Exact date is not given, due to it being a short time-span) -
War on Austria
The Legislative Assembly declares war on Austria. -
Storming of the Palace
The Tuileries Palace is stormed by Parisians (Jacobins); King Louis XVI is imprisoned by the Legislative Assembly. -
Massacre of the Royalists
In the first week of September 2, the royalists (people who were still loyal to the king) were massacred. -
The National Convention
The Legislative Assembly dissolves, and transfers their power over to the newly created National Convention. -
The Voting
The National Convention votes to abolish monarchy once and for all in France. They also choose a new calendar system, relying on a 10 month years. -
Louis Capet on Trial
King Louis XVI is put on trial, and instead of being called Louis XVI, he is instead referred as Louis Capet, symbolizing the end of monarchy. -
The End of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI (Louis Capet) is executed by guillotine. -
John-Paul Marat Assassinated
John-Paul Marat is assassinated by commoner Charlotte Corday, with a knife wound to his torso. -
The Start of the Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror is commenced by Robespierre during this time. -
The Death of the Last Queen of France
Mary Antoinette of Austria is executed by decapitation on the guillotine. -
The Flag of France
The modern flag of France is introduced. The colors of the flag were blue, red, and white placed side to side in that order. The red, white and blue represents liberty, equality and fraternity, which were the ideals of the French Revolution. -
Georges Danton Executed
Georges Danton and his followers were exectued. -
The End of the Reign of Terror and Robespierre
Maximillian Robespierre and others were executed without trial, thus ending the Reign of Terror. Aproximately 37,000 people were excuted on the "national razor". For the remainder of the year, things begin to quell and there are less deaths. -
A New Government System
The French Constitution of 1795 was created, establishing a Directory government. -
Coup D'etat
The remaining royalists attempt a coup d'etat, with Napoleon preventing it, making his name known. A coup d'etat is an attempt to take over the government by a small group of people, usually with violence. -
The National Convention Dissolves
The National Convention dissolves in favor of a dictatorship within the Directory. -
A New Ruler
Napoleon Bonaparte is consecrated and deemed Emperor over France. Note that he is not king, but rather emperor, or ruler.
