French Revolution/Age of Napoleon

  • May 5, 1789 Meeting with Estates General

    The heads of each estate of France met to discuss issues in their lives. Because nothing was accomplished, the 3rd Estate left the government to make their own government.
  • June 20, 1789 Tennis Court Oath

    This was a dramatic act of defiance by representatives of the nonprivileged classes of the French nation at the beginning of the revolution. Despite the event name, this event literally took place on an old tennis court.
  • July 14, 1789 Storming of the Bastille

    Bastille (which was a state prison on the east side of Paris) was attacked by an angry and aggressive mob. The prison had become a symbol of the monarchy's dictatorial rule, and the event became one of the defining moments in the Revolution.
  • August 26, 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man

    The French National Constituent Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, which defined individual and collective rights in the revolution.
  • October 5, 1789 Women's March on Versailles

    Also known as just the March on Versailles, this would give more confidence in the power of the people over the king to the people that participated in the revolution. This lasted about 6 hours.
  • January 21, 1793 Execution of King Louis XVI

    The King was convicted and condemned to death by the majority of people. He was brought to trial for treason and was later on decapitated by the guillotine.
  • Period: to

    Reign of Terror

    The Reign of Terror was a period where many first, second, and third estate members were targeted and executed. As a result, paranoia and mistrust spread across the people of France.
  • July 28, 1794 Maximilien Robespierre's Execution

    On the day before his execution, he was arrested and taken to today's Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine was sitting with a cheering crowd surrounding them.
  • March 21, 1804 The Napoleonic Code is Established

    Also known as the Civil Code (back when it wasn't renamed yet), it addressed mainly matters relating to property and family.
  • December 2, 1804 Napoleon Crowns Himself Emperor

    He also made Josephine the Empress on the day of the ceremony, which took place in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris.