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The end of the Old Regime
In July and August 1789, opposition to the Old Regime became more radical. -
Feudal rights
It abolished feudal rights, such as the privileges of the nobility and the taxes (or tithe) paid to the Church. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
This was a statement of principles in support of personal liberty, equality before the law and the right of property. -
Constitutional monarchy
France´s first written constitution ended royal absolutism, establishing a constitutional monarchy. Under the separation of powers, legislative power was held by the Assembly, executive by the king, and judicial by independent courts. Only adult males over the age of 25, and with a certain level of income, could vote in elections. -
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Opposition to the constitutional monarchy
A Legislative Assembly was formed in October 1791, and France now had a contitutional monarchy.
This assembly lasted for less than a year. -
War of France
Abroad, other European monarchs felt threatened by the ideas of the French Revolution. Austria and Prussia declared war of France. -
Insurrection
France suffered some early defeats in the war, and the king was widely blamed. There was an insurrection: the Tuileries Palace was attacked, and the royal family was taken prisioner. -
National Convention
Following the insurrection of August 1792, a National Convention governed France. This assembly was elected by all adult males. -
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The birth of the French Republic
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First Coalition
The convention judged and condemned Louis XVI for treason, and he was executed by guillotine. This produced a horrified reaction abroad and led to the formation of the First Coalition, in wich Britain and the Ducht Republic joined the other countries that were already fighting France. -
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The Reign of Terror
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Robespierre
Robespierre gradually lost support. Moderate revolutionaries arrested Robespierre and his followers, who were then executed by guillotine. -
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The Directory
Following the execution of the most radical revolutonaires, a new Constitution established limited suffrage based on property ownership. A moderate government was led by a five-member Directory while legislative power was held by 2 chambers. The new regime never had very much support, and it faced challenges on all sides. -
Conquered most of Italy
In Europe, France won a series of victories against its enemies. The French general Napoleon Bonaparte conquered most of Italy on behalf of the Directory between 1796 and 1799. -
Second Coalition
France´s enemies, led by Britain, formed a Second Coalition that reconquered many of the regions that France had occupied. -
Consulate
Napoleon Bonaparte carried out a coup d´état.
A consulate was created, in wich authority was supposed to be shared between three consuls; but in fact Napoleon was now the real ruler of France.
