French Timeline

By marynicole
  • French Revolution ends rule of monarchy. Followed by establishment of the first republic.

    French Revolution ends rule of monarchy. Followed by establishment of the first republic.

    French Revolution ends rule of monarchy. Followed by establishment of the first republic.
  • Napoleon Bonaparte leads coup to overthrow government; consolidates position with new constitution.

    Napoleon Bonaparte leads coup to overthrow government; consolidates position with new constitution.

    Napoleon Bonaparte leads coup to overthrow government; consolidates position with new constitution.
  • Napoleon crowns himself emperor of First French Empire; series of military successes brings most of continental Europe under his control.

    Napoleon crowns himself emperor of First French Empire; series of military successes brings most of continental Europe under his control.

    Napoleon crowns himself emperor of First French Empire; series of military successes brings most of continental Europe under his control.
  • Napoleon defeated in Battle of Waterloo; monarchy reestablished.

    Napoleon defeated in Battle of Waterloo; monarchy reestablished.

    Napoleon defeated in Battle of Waterloo; monarchy reestablished.
  • Fall of King Louis-Philippe; Louis-Napoleon, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, proclaimed president of Second Republic.

    Fall of King Louis-Philippe; Louis-Napoleon, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, proclaimed president of Second Republic.

    Fall of King Louis-Philippe; Louis-Napoleon, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, proclaimed president of Second Republic.
  • Franco-Prussian War, ending in French defeat, loss of Alsace-Lorraine and end of the Second Empire; Third Republic lasts until 1940.

    Franco-Prussian War, ending in French defeat, loss of Alsace-Lorraine and end of the Second Empire; Third Republic lasts until 1940.

    Franco-Prussian War, ending in French defeat, loss of Alsace-Lorraine and end of the Second Empire; Third Republic lasts until 1940.
  • Republicans win general elections, ending hopes of a monarchist revival.

    Republicans win general elections, ending hopes of a monarchist revival.

  • World War I - Massive casualties in trenches in north-east France; 1.3 million Frenchmen are killed and many more wounded by the end of the war.

    World War I - Massive casualties in trenches in north-east France; 1.3 million Frenchmen are killed and many more wounded by the end of the war.

  • Anglo-French offensive - backed by fresh American troops - forces Germany to an armistice on 11 November.

    Anglo-French offensive - backed by fresh American troops - forces Germany to an armistice on 11 November.

  • Peace Treaty of Versailles. France regains Alsace-Lorraine; Germany agrees to reparations.

    Peace Treaty of Versailles. France regains Alsace-Lorraine; Germany agrees to reparations.

  • Rise of the Popular Front, an alliance of left-wing forces.

    Rise of the Popular Front, an alliance of left-wing forces.

  • World War II - Germany occupies much of France. Vichy regime in unoccupied south collaborates with Nazis. General de Gaulle, undersecretary of war, establishes government-in-exile in London and, later, Algiers. Rise of French Resistance.

    World War II - Germany occupies much of France. Vichy regime in unoccupied south collaborates with Nazis. General de Gaulle, undersecretary of war, establishes government-in-exile in London and, later, Algiers. Rise of French Resistance.

  • Allied forces land at Normandy leading to liberation of France. De Gaulle sets up provisional government. Purge against former collaborators.

    Allied forces land at Normandy leading to liberation of France. De Gaulle sets up provisional government. Purge against former collaborators.

  • De Gaulle resigns as provisional president, replaced by Socialist Felix Gouin.

    De Gaulle resigns as provisional president, replaced by Socialist Felix Gouin.

  • Fourth Republic is marked by economic reconstruction and the start of the process of independence for many of France's colonies.

    Fourth Republic is marked by economic reconstruction and the start of the process of independence for many of France's colonies.

  • France joins West Germany and other European nations in the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) - leading to the formation in 1957 of the European Economic Community (EEC).

    France joins West Germany and other European nations in the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) - leading to the formation in 1957 of the European Economic Community (EEC).

  • First Indochina War ends - French defeated at Battle of Dien Bien Phu in north-west Vietnam.

    First Indochina War ends - French defeated at Battle of Dien Bien Phu in north-west Vietnam.

  • De Gaulle returns to power on back of Algerian crisis and founds the Fifth Republic, with a stronger presidency.

    De Gaulle returns to power on back of Algerian crisis and founds the Fifth Republic, with a stronger presidency.

  • De Gaulle leaves office. Georges Pompidou elected president.

    De Gaulle leaves office. Georges Pompidou elected president.

  • De Gaulle dies of stroke.

    De Gaulle dies of stroke.

  • Centre-right victory in legislative elections of 1986 leads to "co-habitation" - a left-wing president and a right-wing prime minister, Jacques Chirac.

    Centre-right victory in legislative elections of 1986 leads to "co-habitation" - a left-wing president and a right-wing prime minister, Jacques Chirac.

  • Jacques Chirac elected president, ending 14 years of Socialist presidency.

    Jacques Chirac elected president, ending 14 years of Socialist presidency.

  • June - Landslide victory in legislative elections for centre-right UMP. Jean-Pierre Raffarin's centre-right government confirmed in office, marking an end to the "cohabitation" years when Chirac had to work with Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

    June - Landslide victory in legislative elections for centre-right UMP. Jean-Pierre Raffarin's centre-right government confirmed in office, marking an end to the "cohabitation" years when Chirac had to work with Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

  • October-November - Deprived, largely immigrant, communities in north-east Paris are hit by riots after two youths of North African origin are electrocuted in an electricity substation. The authorities deny that they were being chased by police at the time

    October-November - Deprived, largely immigrant, communities in north-east Paris are hit by riots after two youths of North African origin are electrocuted in an electricity substation. The authorities deny that they were being chased by police at the time

  • May - Nicolas Sarkozy, the former interior minister and leader of the ruling conservative UMP, wins a decisive victory in the second round of the presidential election.

    May - Nicolas Sarkozy, the former interior minister and leader of the ruling conservative UMP, wins a decisive victory in the second round of the presidential election.

  • October - Francois Hollande chosen as Socialist presidential candidate after a novel primary campaign that attracted more than two million voters.

    October - Francois Hollande chosen as Socialist presidential candidate after a novel primary campaign that attracted more than two million voters.

  • The Senate approves a bill making it a crime to deny genocide was committed by Ottoman Turks against Armenians during World War I. President Sarkozy is expected to sign it into law by the end of February. Turkey threatens retaliatory measures.

    The Senate approves a bill making it a crime to deny genocide was committed by Ottoman Turks against Armenians during World War I. President Sarkozy is expected to sign it into law by the end of February. Turkey threatens retaliatory measures.