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Storming of the Bastille
An angry mob attacked the Bastille, a prison in France. The mob wanted access to the large ammunition and weapon supplies inside the prison. When the prison governor denied them access, they charged and, after a violent battle, the mob took control of the prison. The governor of the prison was killed, and his head was carried around the streets on a pike. This event symbolizes the beginning of the French Revolution, and the day is still celebrated as a French national holiday. -
The March on Versailles
Due to the social system and lack of money for the lower class, bread was scarce and heavily priced. People were near rioting, and on the morning of October 5th, they did just that. Thousands of people raided the city armory for weapons, and marched to confront the king at Versailles. After a violent confrontation, the mob besieged Versailles and forced the king, his family, and most of the French Assembly to return with them to Paris. -
Flight to Varennes
King Louis XVI and his family attempted to flee France. At midnight, the royal family disguised themselves as common people and took a large, six-horse carriage to try and escape to the heavily fortified citadel of Montmedy. Along the road, the conspicuous carriage draws the attention of many, and the king is recognized by a postmaster in one of the towns. The king and his family were later arrested in the town of Varennes and were transported back to France and confined to the Tuileries Palace. -
Signing of the New Constitution
After lots of negotiation, King Louis XVI finally signed a new Constitution. This limited the power of the king and government was restricted by the document, and France was ruled by representatives. -
September Massacres
Paris was under threat of being attacked by Royalist armies, and thought perhaps the inmates of their prisons would be freed and would join the Royalists. To prevent this, the prison guards were ordered to kill the prisoners, and urged other French cities to do the same. From September 2-7, half the population of prisoners in Paris had been killed (1200-1400 people). The killings were repeated in many other cities. Despite some political repercussions, nobody was prosecuted for the massacre. -
King's Murder
At the end of 1792, King Louis XVI was put on trial for treason. It was said that he had been conspiring with Austria, where he had once attempted to flee, and other foreign nations. The king was convicted by the court and condemned to death by the guillotine. After his death, his wife was also convicted for treason, and was executed by the guillotine nine months after her husband. -
The Committee of Public Safety is Formed
The Committee of Public Safety is formed. It is formed to help protect France from foreign attacks and internal rebellion. -
The Reign of Terror Begins
Maximilien Robespierre, the leader of the Committee of Public Safety, begins his attempt at ruling the people of France by using fear and violence. During the next year, there was 16,594 death sentences in France. The total number of deaths during this time period is much higher when including death in imprisonment, suicide, and in war. -
The Reign of Terror Ends
Robespierre is overthrown by the rest of his committee and by those who opposed the government. During the arrest, Robespierre tried shooting himself, but wasn't able to kill himself. Regardless, Robespierre was executed by the guillotine the next day. Following his death, the Committee of Public Safety was ended, and its powers were reduced little by little. New members were chosen for government roles with limited terms. -
The French Directory Forms
The French Directory forms to replace the Committee of Public Safety, and had the goal of bringing France out of the Reign of Terror and ending the mass executions. The Directory consisted of 5 men, and they elected a legislature consisting of only people who supported the execution of King Louis XVI. During the 4 years of the Directory, there was an economic crisis as prices on all items were greatly increased. France was constantly at war and soon lost the support of all political parties. -
Napoleon's Rise to Power (and the end of the French Revolution)
Napoleon took the lack of support the Directory was receiving to take power of France himself. After commanding many battles in France's many wars, Napoleon lost most of his troops and abandoned them to return to France. There, he helped overthrow the Directory, and became one of France's leading political figures. Napoleon helped restore the government, improved education and banking, supported the arts and created the Napoleonic Code, a basic of the French legal system still used today.