-
King Louis began constructing the palace of Versailles in 1661, making it a symbol of absolute monarchy -
To centralize his power and control, the French nobility, King Louis XIV moved the royal court and government from Paris to Versailles the political and cultural heart of France. -
The wedding took place in Vienna, marrying the Dauphin and future Louis XVI, the grandson of Louis XV. -
The French Revolution was a period of political and societal change in France. It was a response to economic hardship, corruption, and inequality in France.
-
After being locked out of their meeting hall, members of the Third Estate swore an oath in a nearby indoor tennis court, vowing not to disband until they created a new constitution. -
Revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison in search of weapons and gunpowder, seeing it as a symbol of royal tyranny. -
This document, inspired by Enlightenment ideals, proclaimed the rights of liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression for all men. It became a foundation for democratic principles in France and influenced future revolutions worldwide. -
Thousands of Parisian women, angry over bread shortages and economic hardship, marched to Versailles and forced the royal family to move to Paris. -
Convicted of treason by the National Convention, King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine in Paris. His death marked a turning point in the Revolution, leading to increased radicalization -
Led by the radical Jacobins under Robespierre, the Reign of Terror saw mass executions of perceived enemies of the Revolution, including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. Over 16,000 people were guillotined. -
Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the weak and corrupt French Directory in a bloodless coup known as the Coup of 18 Brumaire. This marked the beginning of his rule as First Consul, eventually leading to his dictatorship. -
Napoleon established a new legal system that emphasized equality before the law, property rights, and secular governance. The Napoleonic Code influenced legal systems worldwide and remains a cornerstone of French law today. -
In a grand ceremony at Notre Dame Cathedral, Napoleon took the crown from the pope and placed it on his own head, symbolizing his authority over both church and state. This act solidified his absolute power and ended the French Republic. -
The Napoleonic era from 1799 to 1815 was marked by Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power in France. He became Emperor in 1804 and sought to expand French influence across Europe. Major events include the Napoleonic Wars, the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and Napoleon's exile to Elba and later to Saint Helena.
-
Napoleon’s invasion of Russia ended in disaster as his Grand Army faced extreme winter conditions, starvation, and Russian scorched-earth tactics. Out of 600,000 soldiers, only about 100,000 survived, marking the beginning of his downfall. -
After his first defeat, Napoleon was exiled to Elba in 1814, but he escaped and briefly regained power during the Hundred Days. -
Napoleon’s final battle ended in defeat against the British and Prussian forces led by the Duke of Wellington and General Blücher. This loss led to his second exile and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France. -
Following his final defeat at Waterloo, he was exiled to Saint Helena in 1815, where he remained until his death in 1821.