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King Louis XVI calls the Estates General
King Louis calls a meeting of the Three Estates, at the behest of the Assembly of Notables. At this Estates General, the Third Estate would grow angry and issue the Tennis Court Oath and found the National Assembly to address their own concerns that they felt were eclipsed by the first two Estates, despite representing the largest proportion of French citizens. -
First and Second Estates join the Third Estate in the newly formed National Assembly
The first two Estates joined the Third Estate in the National Assembly after attempts by Louis XVI to sabotage the Assembly and keep the three estates separated. This joining of forces led the Assembly to be the effective government of France up until the war. -
The storming of the Bastille
A prison, the Bastille, was stormed by the French peasantry who were angry at the French government and ultimately taken over. This event and other peasant uprisings led the National Assembly to issue the Decree Abolishing the Feudal System, which nominally ended the social hierarchy of the feudal system in efforts to mitigate peasant violence. It was one of the most important acts of the National Assembly, and its passage solidified its position as a governing body. -
The National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
Because the members of the National Assembly had for so long felt disaffected by the government, they wrote the Declaration to affirm and protect the natural rights of Frenchmen. This document took influence from the Social Contract theory and the concept of natural rights. Its adoption represented a turn towards democracy in the advent of the Revolution. -
The Constitution of 1791 sets up a constitutional monarchy in France
As a result in the collapse of the absolute monarchy in France, the National Assembly created the Constitution to implement a constitutional monarchy, which would ultimately also collapse, paving way for the execution of Louis XVI and the Reign of Terror -
The Legislative Assembly declares war on Austria
The Legislative Assembly was the governing body of France that replaced the National Assembly after the passage of the Constitution of 1791. The Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria because they thought an external war would unify the nation, which grew into a world conflict, in which Napoleon was a highly successful military operant. The French would make large territorial gains, later increased by Napoleon. -
Louis XVI is executed at the guillotine
The former King of France was executed after years of a struggle towards democratization, a symbolic victory for democracy and a turning point towards the Reign of Terror -
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Robespierre's Reign of Terror
Due to foreign conflict with nations like Austria, and domestic civil war, the Jacobins, radical revolutionists led by Robespierre, took over France, forming the Committee of Public Safety. During this time, mass executions, violence, and mass incarcerations took place to "preserve the revolution." This period created great unrest and a strong desire for stability (which Napoleon would soon look to provide), and only ended with the execution of Robespierre. -
The Directory is installed
The First Directory of France is installed, ending Robspierre's Reign of Terror officially. The Directory would later be overthrown by Napoleon and some of his allies and replaced with the Consolate, from which Napoleon would derive his imperial power. -
Napoleon's coup d'etat, overthrowing the Directory
Napoleon and his allies overthrew the Directory that had been formed to end the Reign of Terror during this Coup of 18 Brumaire. After overthrowing the Directory, the Consulate was formed, a group of three men who governed France, with Napoleon being named First Consul with a term limit. Later, a constitutional amendment and Napoleon's popularity would allow him to be First Consul for life, a platform he'd use to declare himself Emperor later. -
Napoleon is declared Emperor Excessive spending and poor harvests lead to a financial crisis in France
Napoleon declares himself Emperor on this day, after two years of being "First Consul for Life." Though as First Consul he had been essentially an emperor, now he had an official title, given during a lavish ceremony at Notre Dame. -
Napoleon is defeated by Horatio Nelson
The Battle of Trafalgar demonstrated the strength of the British navy and disallowed the French from taking over more of Europe. It proved the strength and superiority of the British navy, something it would maintain until overtaken by the American naval forces sometime later. It prevented France from ever invaded Britain and greatly weakened Napoleon and his forces, stopping his momentum. -
The Continental System is implemented
Because Napoleon had been able to conquer the majority of Europe, save Britain and Russia, he viewed these two, particularly Britain after his defeat at Trafalgar, as his greatest opponents. In order to damage the British economy, he imposed this system, which ultimately backfired as Britain issued the retaliatory Orders in Council. -
Napoleon is defeated at Leipzig (Battle of the Nations)
Napoleon's devastating defeat at Leipzig ended French domination in Germany and Poland. This defeat was somewhat of a final straw for Napoleon, who shortly thereafter abdicated and would be exiled for the first time to Elba -
Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo
Napoleon returned from his first exile in the Hundred Days Campaign, in which he attempted to wage an offensive war with most of Europe who had allied against him. The French were defeated in the Battle of Waterloo by the Seventh Coalition, Anglo-Allied, and Prussian armies, forcing Napoleon to once again abdicate and return to exile, this time in St. Helena.
