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The formal opening of the Estates-General took place on May 5, 1789, in Versailles. It was called by King Louis XVI to solve France’s financial crisis. The meeting gathered representatives of the three estates: clergy, nobility, and commoners, marking the start of the French Revolution. -
The French National Constituent Assembly (1789–1791) was created during the French Revolution to write a new constitution for France. Formed by members of the Third Estate, it ended absolute monarchy and gave power to the people. The Assembly abolished feudal privileges, approved the Declaration of the Rights of Man, and reformed the Church. In 1791, it finished the constitution and was replaced by the Legislative Assembly.
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The Tennis Court Oath happened on June 20, 1789, when members of the Third Estate found themselves locked out of their usual meeting hall at Versailles. They gathered in a nearby indoor tennis court and swore a solemn oath not to separate until they had written a new constitution for France. This event showed their unity and became a turning point in the French Revolution. -
The Storming of the Bastille took place on July 14, 1789, in Paris. Angry citizens attacked the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal power and tyranny, to seize weapons and free prisoners. Its fall showed the people’s strength against the monarchy and became a key event marking the start of the French Revolution -
The August Decrees were issued in August 1789 by the National Constituent Assembly during the French Revolution. They abolished feudal privileges, tithes, and special rights of the nobility and clergy. These reforms aimed to create equality among citizens and marked a major step toward ending the old feudal system in France -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted in August 1789 by the National Constituent Assembly. It proclaimed that all men are born free and equal, with rights like liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. It became a fundamental document of the French Revolution and inspired future human rights ideas. -
The Flight to Varennes happened on June 20–21, 1791, when King Louis XVI and his family tried to escape Paris to join royalist forces. They were caught in Varennes and returned under guard. This event destroyed trust in the king and increased support for a republic during the French Revolution. -
The French Legislative Assembly (1791–1792) was the government after the National Constituent Assembly. It ruled during the French Revolution under the new constitution. Its members were mostly new and divided into political groups. The Assembly faced economic problems, royal opposition, and war with Austria. Growing tensions and unrest led to the fall of the monarchy and the rise of the National Convention.
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On April 20, 1792, the French Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria. Leaders feared foreign monarchies wanted to stop the Revolution. France faced battles against powerful European armies, and the war increased internal tensions, political divisions, and the radicalization of the Revolution. -
The Storming of the Tuileries Palace happened on August 10, 1792, in Paris. Revolutionaries attacked the king’s residence, where Louis XVI and his family lived, demanding an end to the monarchy. The Swiss Guards were killed, the royal family was imprisoned, and this event led to the fall of the monarchy and the rise of the French Republic. -
The French National Convention (1792–1795) replaced the Legislative Assembly during the French Revolution. It abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic. The Convention judged and executed King Louis XVI and faced internal revolts and foreign wars. It was divided between Girondins and Jacobins, leading to the Reign of Terror. In 1795, it ended and was replaced by the French Directory.
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The French Directory (1795–1799) was the government after the Reign of Terror. It had five directors who shared power to avoid another dictatorship. The period brought some stability but also corruption and economic problems. France faced wars in Europe and protests inside the country. In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the Directory in the Coup of 18 Brumaire, ending it and starting the French Consulate.
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King Louis XVI was executed on January 21, 1793, by guillotine in Paris. He was tried for treason against the French Republic. His death shocked Europe, ended the monarchy, and strengthened the revolutionaries control, leading to more radical phases like the Reign of Terror. -
Maximilien Robespierre was executed on July 28, 1794, by guillotine in Paris. He had led the Reign of Terror, sending thousands to death in the name of the Revolution. His fall marked the end of the most radical phase of the French Revolution and a move toward a more moderate government under the Directory -
The French Consulate (1799–1804) was France’s government after the Revolution. Napoleon Bonaparte became First Consul and soon held most power. He made reforms in education, economy, and law, creating stability and the Napoleonic Code. The Consulate ended in 1804 when he crowned himself Emperor, starting the First French Empire.
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The French Empire (1804–1815) began when Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor. He expanded France across Europe through many wars, creating a powerful empire. Napoleon made reforms in law, education, and the economy. However, his ambition led to conflicts and defeats, especially in Russia and Waterloo. In 1815, he was exiled, and the empire ended, marking the fall of one of history’s greatest military leaders.
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The Battle of Trafalgar happened on October 21, 1805, off the coast of Spain. The British navy, led by Admiral Nelson, defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets. This victory secured British naval supremacy, ended Napoleon’s plans to invade England, and became one of the most famous naval battles in history. -
The Battle of Austerlitz took place on December 2, 1805, during the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon’s French army defeated the larger Russian and Austrian forces in what is considered one of his greatest victories. This battle strengthened Napoleon’s power in Europe and showed his skill as a military strategist -
The Battle of Leipzig, also called the Battle of Nations, took place from October 16 to 19, 1813. Napoleon’s French army fought against the allied forces of Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Sweden. The French were defeated, marking a turning point that led to Napoleon’s retreat from Germany and eventually his first exile to Elba. -
The Battle of Waterloo took place on June 18, 1815, in present-day Belgium. Napoleon’s French army faced the British-led forces under Wellington and the Prussian army under Blücher. Napoleon was defeated, ending his rule and the Napoleonic Wars, and leading to his final exile on Saint Helena.