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"What is the third Estate?"
Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes publishes his essay “What is the third Estate?”, Equality the common man and right to vote are all topics in the essay. -
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French Revolution and the Napoleanic Era
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Monarchy to Republic
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Election of the Estates Generals
The Generals of the estates were ellected by the nobles and other political entities. -
Meeting of the Estates General
King Louis called for a meeting of the Estates Generals in Versailles in wake of the recent financial crisis. At this meeting they decided to place new taxes on the third Estate, these events created the National Assembly. -
The Third Estate
The third Estate (mostly comprised of commoners and peasants) begins to meet on their own and call themselves “Communes”. -
National Assembly
Accepting the proposition of the delegate Abbé Sieyès, the Third Estate proclaims itself "The National Assembly" and defines itself as its own pollitical entity; It also invites the other two Orders to join in this new body of the nation. -
Tennis Court Oath
After being locked out of their meeting room, deputies of the Third Estate assembled on a tennis court and swore not to separate until a constitutional regime was established. -
Rejection of the "One Vote System"
Louis XVI makes various proposals for reform but continues to demand that each Estate be able to cast one vote. The Third Estate rejects this proposal. -
Joinign of the National Assembly
The King gives in to the Third Estate and orders the two other Estates comprised of Nobles and the Clergy, to join the National Assembly. -
Proclomation of the National Assembly
The National Assembly proclaims itself the Constituent National Assembly, with full authority and power to decree laws; their primary task is to draw up and adopt a constitution. -
Eradication of Church Power
The national Assembly passed the Civil Constitution to eradicate the chruch's power. Clergy would now be elected by the people, paid by the state and were required to take an oath of affiliance. -
The Fall of Bastille
Advocates of the National Assembly beleived the King was sending troops to stop the revolt, they then proceeded to raid the bastille in hopes of finding powder and weapons, this marks the beginning of the Revolution -
The Great Fear
Following the fall of the Bastille, peasants in many places in France revolted in order to demolish the remnants of "feudalism." -
Women's March on Versailles
Parisians, led by a large number of women, march upon Versailles and force the royal family back to Paris, where they take up residence at the Tuileries. -
Louis XVI Flees France
Attempting to flee France, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and their children are arrested at Varennes and brought back to Paris. The Constituent Assembly suspends the King’s authority until further notice. -
Reinstatement
On this day King Louis XVI is reinstated with his full power. -
Massacre of the Champ de Mars
The Champs de Mars Massacre occurred a year and three days after the Storming of the Bastille, when a crowd collected to draft a petition seeking the removal of King Louis XVI. After being fired on by assassins in the crowd, soldiers under the martial law orders of the mayor Jean-Sylvain Bailly opened fire upon the crowd. -
Slave Rebellion in Saint Domingue
Slaves in Saint-Domingue rebelled against their French masters. They destroyed plantations and towns. Toussaint-Louverture, a former slave, took control of the government and declared independence from France. -
Declaration of Pillnitz
The rulers of Austria and Prussia agree to combine forces against the French Revolution. They insist that England participate before they will act. -
Constitution of 1791
At this date the Constitution of 1791 is proclaimed to the people. -
Abolishment
At this time there was an abolition of slavery in France, but not in the colonies. -
Leopold II Dies
Death of Emperor Leopold II. His son Francis II succeeds him. -
The Guillontine
This was the first time the guillontine was used in an execution, it would come to symbolize the revolution. -
Brunswick Manifesto
The Duke of Brunswick, commanding general of the Austro–Prussian Army, in an inflammatory declaration, warns Parisians to obey Louis XVI. It threatens them with violent punishment if they do not. The Assembly is offended and orders the sections of Paris to ready themselves. The Manifesto creates both fear and anger in Paris -
Jacques Roux
Jacques Roux, a radical leader, makes one of several speeches in radical "sections" of Paris. Roux will become the leader of the Enragés, who demanded that the "aristocracy of the rich" as unfavorably as the nobility who had been stripped of their privileges in 1789. Jacques Roux and the Enragés would be attacked by the Girondists and the Jacobins, who both defended a central principle of the French Revolution, the right of property. -
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Reign of Terror
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Execution of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine infront of his people. -
Food RIots in Paris
The price of bread sky rocketed in this winter; this caused civil unrest and also caused food riots to erupt in France. -
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Thermidorian Reaction
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The Law of 22 Prairial
Judicial procedures are accelerated in all accusations against enemies of the revolution. The Terror is re–enforced. -
Constitution of 1793 is set aside
It is decided that the Constitution of 1793, the most liberal of all the revolutionary constitutions, will be set aside. A committee is charged with drafting a new constitution. The chief prosecutor of the Revolutionary Tribunal is tried. Conviction and execution follows. -
White Terror
The so–called White Terror had been developing throughout April, since the first decree on April 10 calling for the disarming of all "terrorists," or supporters of Robespierre. In Lyons, many Jacobin prisoners are massacred. Many murders of former terrorists by royalists continue through June. -
Louis XVII Dies
Louis XVII, son of Louis XVI and heir to the throne, dies in the Temple. The declaration of Verona put punishment of the regicides and reestablishment of the orders of society on the agenda for the Bourbon’s return. -
Bonaparte
Napoleon wins the Battle of Rivoli -
Democratic Republic
Democratic republic established by the Venetians. -
Independence Movement
The beginnings of the independence movement in Saint Domingue, present–day Haiti, led by Toussaint L’Ouverture. -
Bonaparte commands the French Army
Legislative councils transferred to Saint–Cloud. Sieyès, Ducos, and Barras resign. Bonaparte appointed commander of the army in Paris. Coup d’état of 18 Brumaire Year VIII supported. The Executive Directory and the two legislative councils are overthrown. -
Constitution of VIII
The Constitution of the Year VIII (the fourth since 1791) is submitted for approval in a plebiscite. This constitution is not preceded by the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. In a preface announcing the new constitution the following is declared: "Citizens, the Revolution is established upon its founding principles: the Revolution is over." -
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Napoleon
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Assassination Attempt
An assassination attempt on Bonaparte occurs in the rue Saint–Niçâise. -
Napoleon Crowned King
Napoleon is crowned King of Italy in Milan. -
Napoleon Victory
Napoleon defeats the Russians at Friedland. -
Peace Treaty of Tilsit
Peace Treaty of Tilsit; Franco–Russian alliance signed by Napoleon and Tsar Alexander I. -
Invasion of Spain
Invasion of Spain. From 1808–1813 there is war in Spain and Portugal. -
Spanish Rebellion
Spanish Rebellion begins. -
The King of Rome
Birth of the King of Rome, Napoleon’s son. -
Napoleon Defeated
Napoleon is defeated at Leipzig and withdraws from Germany. -
Bourbon Dynasty Restored
Louis XVIII enters Paris. Bourbon dynasty restored. -
Napoleon Exiled
Napoleon sent into exile at island of Elba. -
Napoleon Returns
Napoleon returns to France. Beginning of the Hundred Days. -
Napoleon Surrenders
Napoleon surrenders to the British. -
Holy Alliance Ended
The Holy Alliance between Russia, Prussia, and Austria is ended. -
Napoleon Exiled
Napoleon in exile on the mid–Atlantic island of St. Helena. -
Second Treaty of Paris
Second Treaty of Paris; France is now reduced to its 1790 frontiers.
