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French Revolution
A period of radical social and political upheaval in France. Experiencing an economic crisis from the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War, the common people of France became increasingly frustrated with King Louis XVI and revolted. -
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French Monarchy to Republic
In Revolutionary France, the Legislative Assembly votes to abolish the monarchy and establish the First Republic. -
The Third Estate
The Third Estate (Tiers Etat) begins to meet on its own, calling themselves "communes" (commons). -
National Assembly
The Third Estate (commons) declares itself to be the National Assembly. It was a transitional body between the Estates-General and the National Constituent Assembly. -
National Constituent Assembly
National Assembly constitutes itself as National Constituent Assembly. It dissolved on 30 September 1791 and was succeeded by the Legislative Assembly. -
The beginning of the Great Fear
The beginning of the Great Fear, the peasantry revolt against feudalism and a number of urban disturbances and revolts. Many members of the aristocracy flee Paris to become émigrés. Louis XVI accepts the tricolor cockade. -
Palace of Versailles stormed
On the morning of 5 October 1789, the march on Versallies began. Women in the marketplaces of Paris were near rioting over the high price and lack of bread. The crowd besieged the palace and successfully brought their demands to King Louis XVI. -
The Parlements are Abolished
The French parlements are abolished. -
Royal family's flight to Varennes
King Louis XVI of France, his wife Marie Antoinette, and their immediate family attempted to escape from Paris. Their escape only led them as far as the small town of Varennes, where they were recongnized and arrested. -
Louis XVI Forced to Return to Paris
After his arrest in Varennes King Louis XVI and his family are sent back to Paris. -
Louis XVI Accepts the Constitution
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France. One of the basic precepts of the revolution was adopting constitutionality and establishing popular sovereignty, this was the first step toward that goal. -
Legislative Assembly Meets
The Legislatice consisted of 745 members. The members were generally young middle class, and they largely lacked national political experience. -
Alliance of Austria and Prussia
Austria and Prussia join together as an enmy of France. -
France Declares War on Austria
Revolutionaries wanted war because they thought war would unify the country, and spread the ideas of the Revolution to all of Europe. So, France declared war on Austria. -
People Storm the Tuileries
French citizens storm the Tuileries Palace to capture King Louis XVI. The people found no king inside the palace, but murdered anyone within the walls that might have been associated with the king. -
Austria and Prussia Begin Invasion of France
Austria and Prussia threaten to invade France if any harm comes to the Royal Family. The Invasion of France occurs in support of the deposed, but still living French King Louis XVI. -
Louis XVI Brought to Trial
Louis XVI appears before the National Convention and is accused of "having committed a multitude of crimes in order to establish tyranny by destroying liberty". Robespierre argues that "Louis must die, so that the country may live". -
Louis XVI Killed
Louis XVI's execution, by guillotine, at the Place de la Révolution, made him the first victim of the Reign of Terror. -
Ratification of new Constitution
Ratification of new Constitution by National Convention, but not yet proclaimed -
Robespierre elected to Committee of Public Safety
He advocated against the death penalty and for the abolition of slavery, while supporting equality of rights, universal suffrage and the establishment of a republic. He opposed war with Austria and the possibility of a coup by the Marquis de Lafayette. -
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Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror, a period of violence that occurred after the onset of the French Revolution, was marked by mass executions of "enemies of the revolution". Tens of thousands were executed, many by guillotine.The guillotine became the symbol of the revolutionary cause. -
Queen Marie Antoinette is impeached
Queen Marie Antoinette is impeached and convicted for treachery against the country, and for incest with her child The Dauphin, and is condemned to be executed in the Place de la Revolution. -
Marie Antoinette Executed
Her hair was cut off and she was driven through Paris in an open cart, wearing a plain white dress. She was beheaded at the Place de la Révolution. -
National Convention establishes the Cult of the Supreme Being.
National Convention, led by Robespierre, passes decree to establish the Cult of the Supreme Being. -
Night of 9-10 Thermidor
Robespierre arrested, guillotined without trial, along with other members of the Committee of Public Safety. Commune of Paris abolished. End of the Reign of Terror. Also called The Thermidorian Reaction. -
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Thermidorian Reaction
The Thermidorian Reaction was a revolt in the French Revolution against the excesses of the Reign of Terror. -
Marseillaise Accepted as the French National Anthem
"Arise, children of the Fatherland, The day of glory has arrived! Against us tyranny, Raises its bloody banner. Do you hear, in the countryside, The roar of those ferocious soldiers? They're coming right into your arms To cut the throats of your sons and women!" -
Constitution Ratified
Bicameral system, executive Directory of five. -
Marriage of Napoleon Bonaparte and Joséphine de Beauharnais
The marriage was not well received by Napoléon's family, who were shocked that he had married an older widow with two children. Two days after the wedding, Bonaparte left to lead the French army in Italy. -
Cisalpine Republic Established
After the Battle of Lodi in May 1796, Napoleon proceeded to organize two states: the Cispadane Republic, the Transpadane Republic.The Cisalpine Republic was a French client republic in Northern Italy. -
Treaty of Campo Formio
The Treaty of Campo Formio was signed by Napoleon Bonaparte and Count Philipp von Cobenzl as representatives of revolutionary France and the Austrian monarchy. The treaty marked the victorious conclusion to Napoleon's campaigns in Italy, the collapse of the First Coalition, and the end of the first phase of the French Revolutionary Wars. -
Battle of the Nile
Nelson's victory isolates Napoleon in Egypt -
Alliance between Russia and Britain
Russia and Britian for an alliance against Napoleon and France. -
Napoleon Leaves Egypt
The end of Napoleon's conquest in Egypt. He makes his way back to France. -
Napoleon returns to France
Napoleon returns from his conquests in Egypt. -
Coup of Brumaire
Napoleon overthrows the Directory. -
Napoleon Elected First Consul of the Directory
Napoleon, as First Consul, established himself as the head of republican government in France while not declaring himself head of state. -
Constitution of the Year VIII
Constitution of the Year VIII - leadership of Napoleon established under the Consulate. French Revolution may be considered ended. -
Battle of Marengo
The Battle of Marengo was fought between France and Austria near the city of Alessandria, in Piedmont, Italy. The French overcame a surprise attack, driving the Austrians out of Italy, and enhancing Napoleon's position in Paris as First Consul of France. -
Napoleon Escapes an Assassination Attempt
On Christmas Eve, a massive bomb exploded near Napoleon's carriage as he went to the opening night of Haydn's opera Creation. -
Treaty of Lunéville.
A treaty between French Republic and the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, negotiating both on behalf of his own domains and of the Holy Roman Empire. Joseph Bonaparte signed for France, and Count Ludwig von Cobenzl, the Austrian foreign minister, signed for the Emperor. -
Battle of Algeciras
The Battle of Algeciras in attempt by a French navy to join a French and Spanish fleet at Cadiz during the French Revolutionary War. To reach Cadiz, the French had to pass the British naval base at Gibraltar. -
Legion of Honour Established
Legion of Honour was established to create a reward to commend civilians and soldiers with a recognition of merit rather than a new system of nobility. -
Treaty of Amiens
The Treaty of Amiens was a "Definitive Treaty of Peace" that temporarily ended hostilities between the French Republic and the United Kingdom. It was signed in the city of Amiens by Joseph Bonaparte and the Marquess Cornwallis. -
New Constitution Adopted
Plebiscite confirms Napoleon as First Consul for life -
Introduction of the Civil Code
Also known as Code Napoleon, the code forbade privileges based on birth, allowed freedom of religion, and specified that government jobs should go to the most qualified. -
Napoleon Crowns Himself Emperor
Napoleon's elevation to Emperor was overwhelmingly approved by the French citizens. Napoleon crowned himself Emperor, in the company of the Pope. -
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Napoleon Reigns As Emperor of France
Napoleon was the Emperor of Frace from 1804 to 1814, the first monarch of France bearing the title emperor since the 800s. -
Battle of Austerlitz
The Battle of Austerlitz was one of Napoleon's greatest victories. Austria and France signed the Treaty of Pressburg, which took Austria out of both the war, while it reinforced the earlier treaties of Campo Formio and of Lunéville. -
Battle of Ulm
The Battle of Ulm was a series of minor skirmishes at the end of Napoleon's Ulm Campaign. -
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was fought by the Royal Navy against the French and Spanish Navies. The British victory spectacularly confirmed the naval supremacy that Britain had established during the previous century. -
Battle of Caldiero
The Battle of Caldiero was fought by the French Armée d'Italie and an Austrian army. The Austrians began to retreat on the morning of 1 November. -
Napoleon Names His Brother King of Naples
Napoleon names his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, king of Naples, and appoints other family members to various other posts. -
Prussia Joins Britain and Russia Against Napoleon
Prussia joins Britain and Russia against Napoleon. -
The Berlin Decree
The Continental System was issued. -
Treaty of Tilsit
The Treaties of Tilsit were two agreements signed by Napoleon I of France in Tilsit after his victory. The first was signed with Tsar Alexander I of Russia. The second was signed with Prussia. The treaties ended the War of the Fourth Coalition at the expense of the Prussian king. -
Dos de Mayo Uprising
Spanish people rise up against France. Often referred to as Dos de Mayo Uprising. -
Joseph crowned King of Spain
Joseph crowned King of Spain, after Portugal revolts against the Continental System/Blockade Napoleon had put in place. Napoleon collected 5 armies to advance into Portugal and 'bullied' the Spanish royal family into resigning. -
Battle of Wagram
Battle of Wagram - Success for Napoleon, Austria loses territory and must enforce the Continental System -
Treaty of Schönbrunn
The Treaty of Schönbrunn was signed between France and Austria at the Schönbrunn Palace of Vienna. Austria had been defeated, and France imposed harsh peace terms. -
Napoleon's son born
Napoleon's son born, referred to as the "King of Rome" -
Napoleon Arrives in Moscow
Napoleon arrives in Moscow to find the city abandoned and set alight by the inhabitants; retreating in the midst of a frigid winter, the army suffers great losses. -
Beginning of the Great Retreat
Napoleon retreats from Russia. -
Napoleon in Battle
April 2: Battle of Luneburg
May 2: Battle of Lützen,
May 20–21: Battle of Bautzen,
June 4–26: Armistice of Poischwitz,
June 21: Battle of Vitoria,
August 15: Siege of Danzig,
August 23: Battle of Großbeeren,
August 26–27: Battle of Dresden,
August 26: Battle of Katzbach,
August 27: Battle of Hagelberg
August 29–30: Battle of Kulm,
September 6: Battle of Dennewitz.
September 16: Battle of the Göhrde.
September 28: Battle of Altenburg.
October 3: Battle of Wartenburg.
October 14: Battle of Liebert -
Six Days Campaign
The Six Days Campaign was a final series of victories by the forces of Napoleon, during which time he inflicted four major defeats in the Battle of Champaubert, the Battle of Montmirail, the Battle of Château-Thierry, and the Battle of Vauchamps. -
Battle of Paris
A battle between Russia, Austria, and Prussia and the French Empire. After a day of fighting in the suburbs of Paris, the French surrendered forcing Napoleon to go into exile. -
Napoleon Abdicates His Rule
Napoleon abdicates his rule and Louis XVIII, a Bourbon, is restored to the French throne. -
Treaty of Fontainebleau
Napoleon agrees to exile in Elba, the allies agree to pay his family a pension. -
Napoleon Escapes From Elba
On Elba, Napoleon was under the constant watch of Austrian and French guards. Napoleon managed to sneak past his guards, escape from Elba, and return to France. -
Napoleon Arrives in Paris
Napoleon returned to Paris and was welcomed him with celebration. People and troops began to rally around him. French police forces were sent to arrest him, but upon arriving in his presence, they kneeled before him. Louis XVIII fled to Belgium. -
Napoleon is Exiled to Saint Helena
When Napoleon got word that Prussian troops had orders to capture him dead or alive, he fled intending to escape to the United States, but British ships were blocking every port to prevent his escape. Napoleon was imprisoned and then exiled to the island of Saint Helena.
