The French Revolution

  • Opening of the État-général at Versailles.

    Opening of the État-général at Versailles.
  • Period: to

    The French Revolution

  • Representatives of the tiers état form a National Assembly swearing not to leave until a new constitution is established.

  • National Assembly declares itself Constituent Assembly.

  • Armed citizens storm and capture the Bastille.

  • National Assembly decrees Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen

  • Constituent Assembly decrees expropriation of Church property

  • Abolition of nobility and titles

  • Civil Constitution, subordinating the Church to the civil government, inaugurated by Louis XVI.

  • Abolition of Royal guilds and monopolies

  • Louis XVI attempts to flee to Varennes but is recognised and forcibly returned to Paris.

  • Assembly declares King inviolable and restores his prerogatives

  • National Guard fires on crowd protesting against restoration of the King.

  • Food riots across Paris.

  • Food riots across Paris.

  • Jacobin Insurrection, again thwarted by gestures by the King, but Jacobins continue to defy the Assembly

  • Jacobin

    Jacobin masses storm the Tuileries Palace, massacring the Swiss Guard, and the King imprisoned.
  • Royalist riots in the Vendée, Britanny; armies suffer setbacks at Langwy and Verdun

  • Danton

    Danton instigates the massacre of about 1,200 Royalists held in Parisian prisons.
  • Trial of the king begins

  • Louis XVI executed

  • Food riots in Paris

  • Committee of Public Safety established