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Meeting with the Estate-General
This marked the start of the French Revolution. 1,200 deputies from all over France arrived at this event. It ended when the Third Estate formed into a National Assembly. -
Tennis Court Oath
This was a dramatic act of defiance by representatives of the non privileged classes of the French Nation. It took place in a tennis court that had been built in 1686. The vote was to "not to separate and resemble whenever necessary until the Constitution of the kingdom is established". -
The storming of the Bastille
The Bastille was attacked by a angry mob of people. The prison became a symbol of the monarchy's dictatorial rule. This became one of the defining moments in the revolution. -
Declaration of the Rights of Men
This is a human civil rights document from the French Revolution. It was formed by the assembly of the Estate General to draft a new Constitution. This defined individual and collective rights at the time of the French Revolution. -
Women's March on Versailles
The Women's March on Versailles is also known as the October March, the October Days, or simply the March on Versailles. This was one of the most earliest and most significant events of the French Revolution. It gave the revolutionaries confidence in power of the people over the king. -
Execution of King Louis XVI
King Louis was guillotined in the Place de la Revolution. This was a major event in the French Revolution. He was sentenced to death by the French National Convection. -
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Reign of Terror
This instituted the conscripted army which saved France by an invasion by other countries. A series of massacres and numerous public executions took place. It was also called the French Terror. -
Maximilien Robespierre's execution
He was executed by many of his supporters by guillotine. After a year of harsh rule by him many revolutionary leaders had enough of the Terror. After this he was arrested then executed. -
Napoleonic Code is established
This is a French civil code enacted and is still extant with revisions. THis was the main influence of the 19th century civil codes. It was drafted by a commission of four eminent jurist. -
Napoleon Crowns Himself Emperor
Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor and made Josephine Express. His coronation ceremony took place in the Cathedral of Notre-Dome in Paris. The royal court of the French emperor became a public spectacle of poom and elegance. -
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Peninsular War
This was the military conflict fought by Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal against the invading and occupying forces of France. It is considered to overlap with the Spanish War of independence. It is also called the War of Independence. -
Napoleon and his men march on Russia
Napoleon ordered the largest European military force ever assembled into Russia. The enormous army featured more than 500,000 soldiers and staff. This included contingents from Prussia, Austria and other countries under the sway of the French empire. -
Napoleon is exiled to Elba
Napoleon was forced to sign a act of abdication after the united forces of England, Prussia, Russia and Austria broke into Paris. He was then banished to the island of Elba. -
Napoleon dies
Napoleon was exiled to the remote British-held island of Saint-Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. He then developed stomach cancer and later died on the island.